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Dead Things
Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Hunter loves dead things. Decaying fossils and buried men no longer have the power to bite or abuse. Jimmy’s problems exist with the living.
The half-Ute Indian boy must survive the angry white men his mother insists on dating without killing them. Because, like it or not, he has killed. The list he keeps has over 500 names on it. He doesn’t want to add any more.
Can Jimmy escape to the reservation for the life he’s dreamed of? Or, will he die trying?
The half-Ute Indian boy must survive the angry white men his mother insists on dating without killing them. Because, like it or not, he has killed. The list he keeps has over 500 names on it. He doesn’t want to add any more.
Can Jimmy escape to the reservation for the life he’s dreamed of? Or, will he die trying?
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First published October 2, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 14, 2015
"Dead Things" is the story of Jimmy, a survivor of domestic violence who feels responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. The puzzle of his life becomes clear over the course of the story, and I enjoyed the mystery of wondering why he would those deaths were his fault... and wondering whether they really were. Just creepy enough to make the story interesting, without being horrific at all. Jimmy's love of dead things is both understandable and provided an enjoyable backdrop to each chapter. As a fan of dinosaurs and fossils myself, it was fun to read the little tidbits of information that were dropped here and there.
While Jimmy is 16 years old, I think younger kids would enjoy this story, too. As the mother of a 12 year old boy, I enjoyed the story myself and would feel comfortable with my son reading it. The author didn't go into graphic detail about the abuse Jimmy endured, though there were enough references to make it clear that Jimmy's PTSD was justified. The subject was handled well, as just a part of Jimmy's reality and something he'd learned to deal with.
Speaking of which, Jimmy is an excellent role model for kids. Yes, he's a flawed character with a number of challenging issues in his life, but throughout the book he showed himself to be caring, brave, willing to change, and willing to give others a chance. He applied techniques he'd learned in counseling and was self-disciplined about achieving the goals he set for himself. Not that any of this gets in the way of the story -- it's just something I realized looking back on it. Jimmy's a good kid, and one I don't mind my kids reading about.
Several challenging topics are addressed in this story: domestic violence, racial tension / bigotry (on several sides), and obesity. All seen through the eyes of a young man struggling to discover -- and grasp hold of -- who he is and where he belongs. Good stuff, and well done. Enjoyable all around. Reminds me of some of the books kids are assigned to read in school, like "The Sign of the Beaver" by Elizabeth George Speare.
While Jimmy is 16 years old, I think younger kids would enjoy this story, too. As the mother of a 12 year old boy, I enjoyed the story myself and would feel comfortable with my son reading it. The author didn't go into graphic detail about the abuse Jimmy endured, though there were enough references to make it clear that Jimmy's PTSD was justified. The subject was handled well, as just a part of Jimmy's reality and something he'd learned to deal with.
Speaking of which, Jimmy is an excellent role model for kids. Yes, he's a flawed character with a number of challenging issues in his life, but throughout the book he showed himself to be caring, brave, willing to change, and willing to give others a chance. He applied techniques he'd learned in counseling and was self-disciplined about achieving the goals he set for himself. Not that any of this gets in the way of the story -- it's just something I realized looking back on it. Jimmy's a good kid, and one I don't mind my kids reading about.
Several challenging topics are addressed in this story: domestic violence, racial tension / bigotry (on several sides), and obesity. All seen through the eyes of a young man struggling to discover -- and grasp hold of -- who he is and where he belongs. Good stuff, and well done. Enjoyable all around. Reminds me of some of the books kids are assigned to read in school, like "The Sign of the Beaver" by Elizabeth George Speare.
October 5, 2015
The book Dead Things by LT Kodzo is a fantastic book. Jimmy is a likable protagonist even with some pretty big, yet understandable faults. Even though the reader can see that what he blames himself for is never his fault, we can still see why he feels the way he does. Following him through the course of the story is eye-opening as he comes to see that some people he thought of as friends, and some people he thought of as enemies are just the opposite of what he originally thought. The reader will find him/herself cheering on Jimmy as he learns more about himself, his people, and the world around him.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews