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Dani Deane #1
Never Gone
Alternate cover for ISBN 1479205079/9781479205073
Fifteen-year-old artist Dani Deane feels like the universe has imploded when her father dies. Days after his death, she sees him leafing through sketches in her room, roaming the halls at church, wandering his own wake. Is grief making her crazy? Or is her dad truly adrift between this world and the next, trying to contact her?
Dani longs for his help as she tries and fails to connect with her workaholic mother. Her pain only deepens when astonishing secrets about her family history come to light. But Dani finds a surprising ally in Theo, the quiet guy lingering in the backstage of her life. He persistently reaches out as Dani’s faith falters, her family relationships unravel, and she withdraws into a dangerous obsession with her father’s ghostly appearances. Will she let her broken, prodigal heart find reason to hope again?
From the skyscrapers of New York to the sheep-dotted English countryside, NEVER GONE explores life after loss with emotional honesty, humor, and a touch of romance.
"NEVER GONE is a ghost story for a new generation – a twisty journey through a young girl's battle with death, grief, and the discovery of family secrets that threaten to undo her world. Garver tackles difficult subjects with depth and grace, weaving the complexities of faith with the complexities of growing up." --Heidi Willis, author of Some Kind of Normal
Fifteen-year-old artist Dani Deane feels like the universe has imploded when her father dies. Days after his death, she sees him leafing through sketches in her room, roaming the halls at church, wandering his own wake. Is grief making her crazy? Or is her dad truly adrift between this world and the next, trying to contact her?
Dani longs for his help as she tries and fails to connect with her workaholic mother. Her pain only deepens when astonishing secrets about her family history come to light. But Dani finds a surprising ally in Theo, the quiet guy lingering in the backstage of her life. He persistently reaches out as Dani’s faith falters, her family relationships unravel, and she withdraws into a dangerous obsession with her father’s ghostly appearances. Will she let her broken, prodigal heart find reason to hope again?
From the skyscrapers of New York to the sheep-dotted English countryside, NEVER GONE explores life after loss with emotional honesty, humor, and a touch of romance.
"NEVER GONE is a ghost story for a new generation – a twisty journey through a young girl's battle with death, grief, and the discovery of family secrets that threaten to undo her world. Garver tackles difficult subjects with depth and grace, weaving the complexities of faith with the complexities of growing up." --Heidi Willis, author of Some Kind of Normal
Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
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About the author
Laurel Garver
17 books114 followersLaurel Garver holds degrees in English and journalism and earns a living as a magazine editor. She enjoys quirky independent films, word games, British television, and Celtic music. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurelGarver
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 17, 2012
Own on Kindle.
I don't usually read YA and I *never* read ghost stories. (I'm a scardey cat)
I couldn't put this one down.
I love how Garver wove the seemingly normal of the horror that is death into a net of confusion created by the main character, Dani. Events and people who should have been safe - who were trying their best to help - became seemingly sinister through eyes that couldn't see clearly. The reader is able to sympathize with Dani while remaining aloof enough to see she is making completely irrational decisions.
The main night of confusion in the story reminded me strongly of Madeleine L'Engle's Ring of Endless Light after Vickie holds Robin. Not in style, but in feel. The scrambling, jumbling, overlapping, confused thoughts were a great device to bring the story to a head.
I think by not reading much YA, nor much contemporary fiction, some things that are typical to the genres stood out to me - like all the references to pop culture. It is normal for teens to think and react and be influenced by these things - Harry Potter, retro music (U2 and Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears, yipes!), and Lord of the Rings movies. But those were jolts out of the story for me because I'm not used to them in my reading.
I appreciated the specifically Christian thinking throughout the book. The disconnect between what we know and believe and what we think and do can cause such confusion sometimes.
Glad I read it. It gave me a lot to think about. Until 1 AM. Crying. That's a test of a good book ;)
I don't usually read YA and I *never* read ghost stories. (I'm a scardey cat)
I couldn't put this one down.
I love how Garver wove the seemingly normal of the horror that is death into a net of confusion created by the main character, Dani. Events and people who should have been safe - who were trying their best to help - became seemingly sinister through eyes that couldn't see clearly. The reader is able to sympathize with Dani while remaining aloof enough to see she is making completely irrational decisions.
The main night of confusion in the story reminded me strongly of Madeleine L'Engle's Ring of Endless Light after Vickie holds Robin. Not in style, but in feel. The scrambling, jumbling, overlapping, confused thoughts were a great device to bring the story to a head.
I think by not reading much YA, nor much contemporary fiction, some things that are typical to the genres stood out to me - like all the references to pop culture. It is normal for teens to think and react and be influenced by these things - Harry Potter, retro music (U2 and Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears, yipes!), and Lord of the Rings movies. But those were jolts out of the story for me because I'm not used to them in my reading.
I appreciated the specifically Christian thinking throughout the book. The disconnect between what we know and believe and what we think and do can cause such confusion sometimes.
Glad I read it. It gave me a lot to think about. Until 1 AM. Crying. That's a test of a good book ;)
September 17, 2012
Never Gone is a young adult novel that deals delicately and truthfully with a teen's struggles and triumphs while dealing with a loss of a parent. Fifteen year old Dani is a typical teen finding her place amoung her family, her friends, and boys, but the sudden loss of her Dad spins her world. Grieving, she begins to 'see' her Dad, believing he still has something to tell her. Gripping to find a truth to fall on solid ground again, she searches him out. But the truth she finds is not what she expected but much more satisfying.
From the sky-scrapers of New York, to the hills of England, Garver brings you on a lyrical journey that rolls with highs and lows, full of valleys of tenderness. I would recommend this book to both adults and teens.
From the sky-scrapers of New York, to the hills of England, Garver brings you on a lyrical journey that rolls with highs and lows, full of valleys of tenderness. I would recommend this book to both adults and teens.
July 30, 2017
I've never read anything like this before and I loved it.
I've been very so-so about some of the YA fiction produced by big name Christian publishers, which borders on the edge of pushy, fake, corny or trying too hard to be cool. This felt very real. Religion doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in this story; it is simply part of Dani's life. This is a book I would readily recommend to anyone, not just Christian readers; it has an appeal that is universal, sort of like the great classic story The Chosen by Chaim Potok.
The very first page caught me, as Dani talks about the elevator game she played with her father - before he died in a tragic accident. I've never experienced grief on the level as Dani, but I felt like I was going through her grief with her, her confusion and frustration and yearning - I was drawn that close to her character. "It's like I woke up in another country and all the maps in my head have only made me more lost."
To balance the depth of her grief, Dani also had a light wry voice that I fell in love with: "If he recognizes my voice....Eh, what does it matter? I'll be back by then and can make up a story about Somnambulant Crank Call Disorder. It'll be fine."
Though I'm generally not a fan of ghost stories this book intrigued me because I couldn't tell for sure if Dani's father was a ghost or a projection of Dani's grief. The author expertly leads you along in this mystery, first one direction and then another.
I was just getting a handle on some of the other characters when Dani leaves them all and arrives in England for her father's memorial and I had to meet a whole new set of characters. This part confused me for a bit, partially because Dani's already familiar with these characters from previous trips to her father's homeland, but as a reader I felt a little lost in the new setting for a few chapters. And I missed Theo: a possible love interest of Dani's she leaves behind in New York. Dani's and Theo's long distance relationship development while she's in England made me impatient for more than I was getting. I mean, this is a young man whose grin could "power galaxies" - and if that sounds corny, trust me, it isn't. This is pure Theo. Maybe a touch too perfect for a teenage boy, but he also came across as real to me.
The ending came together beautifully with some interesting eye-openers, on several levels, most importantly with Dani's mom and their strained relationship. Near the end, the writing also ran along at times like rich poetry. A description of an English church:
Some of the descriptions of Dani's sketchings also took off in a breathtaking dance of words:
One more lovely touch:
Highly recommend.
I've been very so-so about some of the YA fiction produced by big name Christian publishers, which borders on the edge of pushy, fake, corny or trying too hard to be cool. This felt very real. Religion doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in this story; it is simply part of Dani's life. This is a book I would readily recommend to anyone, not just Christian readers; it has an appeal that is universal, sort of like the great classic story The Chosen by Chaim Potok.
The very first page caught me, as Dani talks about the elevator game she played with her father - before he died in a tragic accident. I've never experienced grief on the level as Dani, but I felt like I was going through her grief with her, her confusion and frustration and yearning - I was drawn that close to her character. "It's like I woke up in another country and all the maps in my head have only made me more lost."
To balance the depth of her grief, Dani also had a light wry voice that I fell in love with: "If he recognizes my voice....Eh, what does it matter? I'll be back by then and can make up a story about Somnambulant Crank Call Disorder. It'll be fine."
Though I'm generally not a fan of ghost stories this book intrigued me because I couldn't tell for sure if Dani's father was a ghost or a projection of Dani's grief. The author expertly leads you along in this mystery, first one direction and then another.
I was just getting a handle on some of the other characters when Dani leaves them all and arrives in England for her father's memorial and I had to meet a whole new set of characters. This part confused me for a bit, partially because Dani's already familiar with these characters from previous trips to her father's homeland, but as a reader I felt a little lost in the new setting for a few chapters. And I missed Theo: a possible love interest of Dani's she leaves behind in New York. Dani's and Theo's long distance relationship development while she's in England made me impatient for more than I was getting. I mean, this is a young man whose grin could "power galaxies" - and if that sounds corny, trust me, it isn't. This is pure Theo. Maybe a touch too perfect for a teenage boy, but he also came across as real to me.
The ending came together beautifully with some interesting eye-openers, on several levels, most importantly with Dani's mom and their strained relationship. Near the end, the writing also ran along at times like rich poetry. A description of an English church:
Light from these highest windows pull my eyes up and up and up. Stories above the nave, vaults curve like whale's ribs. I half expect them to expand with an intake of breath. How could someplace so old seem so alive? Every last stone in this place was cut by hand, making the not-quite-perfect surfaces seem like they could touch you back.
Some of the descriptions of Dani's sketchings also took off in a breathtaking dance of words:
A third page [sketch] calls for new colors: walnut, oak and faded shades of dust. Musty odors skitter from my pencil tips as I sketch the day of scattering, when shlumpy strangers picked through our stuff. Their eyes shine with delight at our tired piles. Then I draw her - me, the water-faced girl full of whys - tiptoeing through every emptying room of the vast brownstone, grasping after each scratched and dented treasure. Dusty father shakes his head. Starched, white mother gives a hug, crisp and fresh. These loved, leaden things can't be carried, they say. The cost would be too great, far more than the junk is worth. A tumble of blue, like a final wave goodbye, splatters from my pencils onto paper. Tears from the old me trickle into a clear cup of truth for the new.
One more lovely touch:
Something in my mind, like an eye behind my eye, sees angel shapes in shadows of our lamp-lit street. As I feel for the pencil in my pocket, I know it's the Dad part of me at last seeing glints of the divine.
Highly recommend.
April 21, 2015
eBook provided by author for review.
Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
When her father dies following a lengthy battle to recover from a horrific accident, Dani is understandably distraught. Struggling to deal with her grief, and desperately missing her most understanding parental figure, Dani is shocked to discover that she can see her father. She thinks. After the first unsettling encounter, she begins to hope that maybe - just maybe - he's not really gone after all, and can help her sort through the family mysteries coming to light.
Never Gone deals with some pretty tough, raw, gritty emotions. Dani's grief over her father's unexpected death is compounded by the frustration she feels from trying (and failing) to communicate with her mother. She doesn't know what to do with all the hurt, nor how to handle the surprising secrets about her family history that are coming to light. To top it all off, she's been sent to Dad's hometown in ENGLAND?, where everyone's memories of him are crowding in and seeming to come to life. But Dani has a surprising source of strength and support in this, and his name is Theo. His gentle persistence, and keen perceptions, help Dani see things in a different light -- she even learns to see Theo in a different light. A story of redemption, of hope in the face of intense sorrow, and of great personal growth, Never Gone is a touching read.
Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
When her father dies following a lengthy battle to recover from a horrific accident, Dani is understandably distraught. Struggling to deal with her grief, and desperately missing her most understanding parental figure, Dani is shocked to discover that she can see her father. She thinks. After the first unsettling encounter, she begins to hope that maybe - just maybe - he's not really gone after all, and can help her sort through the family mysteries coming to light.
Never Gone deals with some pretty tough, raw, gritty emotions. Dani's grief over her father's unexpected death is compounded by the frustration she feels from trying (and failing) to communicate with her mother. She doesn't know what to do with all the hurt, nor how to handle the surprising secrets about her family history that are coming to light. To top it all off, she's been sent to Dad's hometown in ENGLAND?, where everyone's memories of him are crowding in and seeming to come to life. But Dani has a surprising source of strength and support in this, and his name is Theo. His gentle persistence, and keen perceptions, help Dani see things in a different light -- she even learns to see Theo in a different light. A story of redemption, of hope in the face of intense sorrow, and of great personal growth, Never Gone is a touching read.
December 14, 2012
As I read this book I was reminded of themes from the Yearling. Penny Baxter, a father and husband too well acquainted with loss, remarked that sorrow strikes the same all over, only making a different kind of mark in different places. Never Gone looks into the relationships of a family immersed in grief, each bearing the burden so differently that they can hardly recognize the each other's sorrow. In the midst of their isolation, alienation, and misunderstanding, you could read "just one more chapter" for hours, waiting for the triumph of the genuine love that is evidently at work behind the scenes.
September 6, 2012
This book made me cry at least three times. Not because it's depressing, but because it's so touching. It's a book that deals with both death and estrangement in a tender and sensitive way. The writing is lyrical, picturesque, and delicate. The voice of the author is both strong and soft as she takes us through the stages of grief, delves into the protagonists most intimate relationships, and explores where the supernatural ends and where delusion begins.
January 4, 2013
Thanks to Goodreads and Laurel Garver for my copy of Never Gone.
A story that will touch even the hardest of hearts.
A story that will touch even the hardest of hearts.
May 30, 2018
This was ... a journey. A friend of mine read the sequel to this book which sounded really good, but being the person I am, I decided to read this one first even though the plot didn't sound as much my thing. That might have been a mistake? I'm not sure ...
This book is an odd mixture of Christian fiction and ... ghost story. In the end it all makes sense , but during the book it just ... felt a little too weird for my personal tastes.
Add that I don't really like Dani that much, there was some ... some language that I really didn't like*, and personally the two times Dani could possibly have been raped was waaay too much for me.
Overall ... a lot of it just didn't work well for me personally.
Other than that, I thought it was a fairly good representation of grief (I felt so bad for Dani and her mom), and I really liked what's his name (sorry I'm really drawing a blank here ... her friend from biology class).
Definitely wasn't the best book for me but it was okay.
*Dani uses the word "retard" as an insult which ... is not okay. She also frequently uses "insane", and "crazy", which I usually don't mind that much but put me off a little.
This book is an odd mixture of Christian fiction and ... ghost story. In the end it all makes sense , but during the book it just ... felt a little too weird for my personal tastes.
Add that I don't really like Dani that much, there was some ... some language that I really didn't like*, and personally the two times Dani could possibly have been raped was waaay too much for me.
Overall ... a lot of it just didn't work well for me personally.
Other than that, I thought it was a fairly good representation of grief (I felt so bad for Dani and her mom), and I really liked what's his name (sorry I'm really drawing a blank here ... her friend from biology class).
Definitely wasn't the best book for me but it was okay.
*Dani uses the word "retard" as an insult which ... is not okay. She also frequently uses "insane", and "crazy", which I usually don't mind that much but put me off a little.
November 24, 2012
I really enjoyed Never Gone. It was beautifully written--the language and pacing flowed beautifully. The grief and loss that Dani experienced were so realistic and deftly shown that I felt as if I were experiencing it with her. And because the story was so grounded, I was wonderfully surprised by the metaphors--you don't often find such symbolic meaning in young adult fiction.
The characters were real and fun. I loved Theo. Even the secondary characters grabbed me, especially Hugh.
Finally, I appreciated the honest way Ms. Garver dealt with loss, anger, doubt, and faith. She never took any shortcuts or settled for easy answers. I'd definitely recommend it!
The characters were real and fun. I loved Theo. Even the secondary characters grabbed me, especially Hugh.
Finally, I appreciated the honest way Ms. Garver dealt with loss, anger, doubt, and faith. She never took any shortcuts or settled for easy answers. I'd definitely recommend it!
December 19, 2012
Tender, heartwarming, a really special read. YA for adults, adult fiction for young adults. If you have a heart, you'll find something to relate to. Beautifully written. Highly recommend if you're into realistic literature.
June 27, 2018
This book has an interesting premise, and the writing is generally fluid although occasionally jarring... but I appreciate the faith element. I will read to the end.
Ended up not finishing it. I might go back to it later.
Ended up not finishing it. I might go back to it later.
September 29, 2012
Never Gone is such a beautiful book. The writing is gorgeous, the situations are heart-twisting. Definitely recommend. More on the blog on Monday~
December 15, 2016
Even though I'm probably not the target age group, I really enjoyed this book, and I liked the Christian elements. Also the cover is so beautiful. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I think everyone does really.
January 7, 2020
Creative and refreshing
Laurel Garver weaves a tale of working through the agony of grief when secrets stand sentinel. I found myself coming back to the story again and again, mesmerized by her use of metaphor and visual in shaping her protagonists journey through grief. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
Laurel Garver weaves a tale of working through the agony of grief when secrets stand sentinel. I found myself coming back to the story again and again, mesmerized by her use of metaphor and visual in shaping her protagonists journey through grief. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel.
reviewed-on-blog
April 27, 2014DNF - 0 stars
Where I stopped reading: Location 585 of 1154 on the e-Book app of my iPhone.
Why I stopped reading: The book got progressively less novel-like and more trying-to-convert-me-like the more I read. Somewhere between the heroine being damned for seeing a ghost and being advised that a “scientific” way of thinking was inferior to religion and ultimately incorrect, my heart hurt so much I had to stop.
Listen. Faith and science aren’t opposites – I’m a big fan of both – but when one starts judging the other (no matter which side you start on) no one wins.
As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/04/dn...
Where I stopped reading: Location 585 of 1154 on the e-Book app of my iPhone.
Why I stopped reading: The book got progressively less novel-like and more trying-to-convert-me-like the more I read. Somewhere between the heroine being damned for seeing a ghost and being advised that a “scientific” way of thinking was inferior to religion and ultimately incorrect, my heart hurt so much I had to stop.
Listen. Faith and science aren’t opposites – I’m a big fan of both – but when one starts judging the other (no matter which side you start on) no one wins.
As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/04/dn...
June 5, 2014
Never Gone is a story of a 15 year old girl dealing with the loss of her father. The story didn't take me in the places I thought it would, and I think that is a great aspect to the story. I enjoyed the character development in the story, especially the relationship of Dani and Heather and Dani and Theo. Never Gone was an interesting read for me because of the direct weaving of the Christian faith into the story. As a Christian, I found the faith aspect surprisingly refreshing and realistic, especially since overtly Christian characters are few and far between these days. I would recommend this book to a teen going through a rough patch or dealing with grief.
December 10, 2013
This book was well written, it is heavily Christian based which was kind of annoying, but overall it is a good read.
Never Gone tells the story of Dani, who after her father's tragic death has to find a way to reconnect with her mother who is shutting her out at every turn.
I liked this book, it didn't totally grab me and felt like a really long read, but it wasn't bad.
This review also appears on AlicenScott.com
Never Gone tells the story of Dani, who after her father's tragic death has to find a way to reconnect with her mother who is shutting her out at every turn.
I liked this book, it didn't totally grab me and felt like a really long read, but it wasn't bad.
This review also appears on AlicenScott.com
June 2, 2015
Never Gone is gracefully written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. The writing is lyrical, picturesque, and delicate. Through the eyes of teen character, Dani, the author explores the profound themes of grace and mercy, and the beauty that exists in the midst of real life struggles. I highly recommend this book for teens and adults, as well!
May 7, 2017
One of the worst books I've ever read. Don't waste your time or money.
August 24, 2016
Well done; character's with issues that lingered in my thoughts.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews