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Boo
Winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction and a nominee for the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award and the Sunburst Award, Boo is a dark but whimsical debut novel about starting over in the afterlife in the vein of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones.
When Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple wakes up in heaven, the eighth-grade science geek thinks he died of a heart defect at his school. But soon after arriving in this hereafter reserved for dead thirteen-year-olds, Boo discovers he’s a 'gommer', a kid who was murdered. What’s more, his killer may also be in heaven. With help from the volatile Johnny, a classmate killed at the same school, Boo sets out to track down the mysterious Gunboy who cut short both their lives.
In a heartrending story written to his beloved parents, the odd but endearing Boo relates his astonishing heavenly adventures as he tests the limits of friendship, learns about forgiveness and, finally, makes peace with the boy he once was and the boy he can now be.
When Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple wakes up in heaven, the eighth-grade science geek thinks he died of a heart defect at his school. But soon after arriving in this hereafter reserved for dead thirteen-year-olds, Boo discovers he’s a 'gommer', a kid who was murdered. What’s more, his killer may also be in heaven. With help from the volatile Johnny, a classmate killed at the same school, Boo sets out to track down the mysterious Gunboy who cut short both their lives.
In a heartrending story written to his beloved parents, the odd but endearing Boo relates his astonishing heavenly adventures as he tests the limits of friendship, learns about forgiveness and, finally, makes peace with the boy he once was and the boy he can now be.
310 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2015
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3935 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews
April 14, 2022
Thirteen year-old Oliver 'Boo' Dalrymple dies from a heart condition whilst at school, and that's the end of his life, that is, until he wakes up in Heaven! A truly innovative and captivating story that manages to take allegorical looks at an eclectic range of issues from childhood, mental health, mob mentality, afterlife, God and more. #BabaRead :) 8 out of 12.
2015 read
2015 read
July 18, 2017
Believe the hype!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU Angela!!!!
Sad -beautiful - heartbreaking!!!
"Do You ever wonder, Dear Mother and Father, what kind of toothpaste angels use in heaven? I will tell you".
Author Neil Smith rocks!!! --amazing imagination!! I love *Boo*
4.8 - I wanted a little different ending --I'll keep thinking about it awhile longer
Sad -beautiful - heartbreaking!!!
"Do You ever wonder, Dear Mother and Father, what kind of toothpaste angels use in heaven? I will tell you".
Author Neil Smith rocks!!! --amazing imagination!! I love *Boo*
4.8 - I wanted a little different ending --I'll keep thinking about it awhile longer
April 16, 2015
I love when I read a book that truly gets to me and one that I know will have a lasting impact on me . Boo is one of those books . And once in a while I read a book that gets to me so much that it leaves me kind of a mess - torn between sadness and the happiness of feeling hope . Boo is one of those books too .
Thirteen year old Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple self described "pariah" had not a friend on earth . He's a nerd and he's bullied and as you find out from the first page , is dead and in the heaven for 13 year old Americans called Town . From the first page you know how much he loves his parents and he is writing this to them so they know what happened to him after he died and that he's okay . He thinks he died of a hole in his heart but later finds out that he was shot while standing by his locker at school .
Reading a book is such a personal experience and will mean different things to different people. Boo can be read on multiple levels . Is it about religion, is it telling us we should believe in God ? Is it a lesson about the power of forgiveness ? Will it teach some lessons to those who choose to bully ? Maybe it's all of those things but it never felt preachy . Whatever it is , it's an engaging, heart gripping story with characters you will fall for and for me the heart of the story was about the power of friendship that Boo finally comes to know .
It's audience is probably YA , but I enjoyed it . Enjoyed it ? How can I say I enjoyed a book given the what happens before Boo gets to heaven ? But I did . I loved Boo and I loved his nerdiness , his inquisitiveness about the science of how things worked in heaven and on earth , his caring of his parents.
It's disturbing at times , funny , sad and yes hopeful . It doesn't matter if you believe in an afterlife, a heaven - you will finish this book hoping that there is a place that can give people like Boo , friendships and love and a place to heal .
Thanks to Vintage Books and Edelweiss.
Thirteen year old Oliver "Boo" Dalrymple self described "pariah" had not a friend on earth . He's a nerd and he's bullied and as you find out from the first page , is dead and in the heaven for 13 year old Americans called Town . From the first page you know how much he loves his parents and he is writing this to them so they know what happened to him after he died and that he's okay . He thinks he died of a hole in his heart but later finds out that he was shot while standing by his locker at school .
Reading a book is such a personal experience and will mean different things to different people. Boo can be read on multiple levels . Is it about religion, is it telling us we should believe in God ? Is it a lesson about the power of forgiveness ? Will it teach some lessons to those who choose to bully ? Maybe it's all of those things but it never felt preachy . Whatever it is , it's an engaging, heart gripping story with characters you will fall for and for me the heart of the story was about the power of friendship that Boo finally comes to know .
It's audience is probably YA , but I enjoyed it . Enjoyed it ? How can I say I enjoyed a book given the what happens before Boo gets to heaven ? But I did . I loved Boo and I loved his nerdiness , his inquisitiveness about the science of how things worked in heaven and on earth , his caring of his parents.
It's disturbing at times , funny , sad and yes hopeful . It doesn't matter if you believe in an afterlife, a heaven - you will finish this book hoping that there is a place that can give people like Boo , friendships and love and a place to heal .
Thanks to Vintage Books and Edelweiss.
July 18, 2017
I Hate Bullies!...... When I was a young girl, I had an unpleasant encounter with a group of older school boys, but I was lucky.....I happened to have a big 6'2" brother who had many big friends so I never did have so much as a hint of trouble again......not so lucky is 13 year old Boo.
Oliver Dalrymple, nicknamed Boo bc of his ghost-like appearance is a geek and a pariah, has literally no friends, an inoperable hole in his heart and a broken sole. In this uniquely written novel, Boo tells his story from a strange, but fascinating new (13 yr. old only) world in heaven where he makes friends, seems happy and sets out on a mission to help his disturbed new best friend Johnny discover the mystery of his murdered self. With the assistance of Zig (God) and the do-gooders, Boo unravels a sh*t-load of trouble and a startling surprise.
Bring your imagination to this astonishing world of the afterlife and expect the unexpected. Thank you GR's friend Angela M for referring this absolutely fantastic read!
June 4, 2015
Had a bit of trouble getting into this book in the beginning, but the plot was so intriguing I kept reading and I am so glad I did.
This book is original, inventive, poignant, fascinating and wildly imaginative. I love the characters, the roles they take on and the twists and turns in a plot in which I kept thinking I knew the answer. A book I am sure I will remember.
This book is original, inventive, poignant, fascinating and wildly imaginative. I love the characters, the roles they take on and the twists and turns in a plot in which I kept thinking I knew the answer. A book I am sure I will remember.
December 10, 2015
Wow.
Wow pis wow.
J'ai adoré ce livre, la narration, l'histoire, l'imaginaire de l'auteur, l'humour, les personnages, etc.
Un excellent roman narré par un ado de 13 ans à l'esprit scientifique et ultra-rationnel!
Wow pis wow.
J'ai adoré ce livre, la narration, l'histoire, l'imaginaire de l'auteur, l'humour, les personnages, etc.
Un excellent roman narré par un ado de 13 ans à l'esprit scientifique et ultra-rationnel!
April 25, 2015
Thank you to Random House of Canada and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy of Boo. A high 4 stars! If you're going to read this book, be prepared to suspend disbelief, not to be too fussed about logic, not to try to figure what genre this book falls into and to just let yourself go along for the ride. And then it will be a great ride -- funny, plenty sad, moving and very quirky. It took me a while to let go of my inclination to figure out what was really going on, but once I did I really enjoyed it. Boo is told from the perspective of a 13 year old boy nicknamed Boo who is shot dead and is reborn into some kind of version of heaven where the only other inhabitants are other Americans who were 13 when they died. And they sort of stay 13 and live according to an odd but not entirely disorderly set of rules. And one day soon after Boo's arrival, another boy who was shot at the same time as Boo but was in a coma dies too and is reborn into this "heaven". And the book unfolds as the story Boo tells his parents of his life in "heaven" with growing insight into what led to his death. From the beginning, it's easy to tell that Boo was odd and isolated at school. The perspective from which he tells his story and the way he describes himself is sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. But I can't say much more about the story or the book because there's no real way to convey the experience of reading Boo by trying to describing the story or Boo's personality. So heed my advice, suspend disbelief, and hopefully you'll find the ride as worthwhile as I did. Or not. It's a short book so it's worth a try.
June 5, 2015
3.5 - 4 stars
This was a mixed book for me. First half I enjoyed it but wasn't fully invested in the story. At first, I didn't connect with their version of heaven fully, not because it offends me or anything, just seemed odd to me. It grew on me slowly over the course of the book though.
Funny, sad, poignant, and quirky would describe this book best I think. Once I got used to Oliver's narration and let go of trying to figure out some stuff, it was easier to fall into the story.
Loved Johnny/Oliver/Thelma/Esther's friendship... they looked out for each other and became a family of sorts.
I liked that the book turned what I thought I had figured out regarding a certain two people and twisted it around. That was certainly a surprise.
The ending felt a bit overlong to me but it wasn't boring or rushed at all. The scene with a certain someone in a certain place made me smile while something Boo remembered made me want to give the poor guy a hug.
I would recommend this, just sit back and enjoy the ride :)
This was a mixed book for me. First half I enjoyed it but wasn't fully invested in the story. At first, I didn't connect with their version of heaven fully, not because it offends me or anything, just seemed odd to me. It grew on me slowly over the course of the book though.
Funny, sad, poignant, and quirky would describe this book best I think. Once I got used to Oliver's narration and let go of trying to figure out some stuff, it was easier to fall into the story.
Loved Johnny/Oliver/Thelma/Esther's friendship... they looked out for each other and became a family of sorts.
I liked that the book turned what I thought I had figured out regarding a certain two people and twisted it around. That was certainly a surprise.
The ending felt a bit overlong to me but it wasn't boring or rushed at all. The scene with a certain someone in a certain place made me smile while something Boo remembered made me want to give the poor guy a hug.
I would recommend this, just sit back and enjoy the ride :)
March 18, 2017
This book was just so stunning and completely heartbreaking! I was originally skeptical that our narrator was a thirteen year old boy, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to relate. But holy cow, was I ever wrong! Boo was incredibly mature for his age and the way he told his story instantly sucked me right in! This is such a beautiful story, I love the image of heaven that the author created. It's really quite unlike anything I've come across before! I loved that no matter your religion or beliefs, everyone ended up in the same place. I also quite enjoyed that Boo renamed God as Zig, it made me smile every time I came across it. I don't usually really enjoy books that revolve around god and religion but this was so different and not at all about faith, it was just the sad story of a misunderstood teenage boy. And that stunning reveal at the ending literally had my jaw dropping, I did not see it coming at all and it made the story all the more poignant. I really couldn't have loved this book more!
May 18, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I had a hard time getting through this book and for one reason, I really didn't care about it. Not the characters, the storyline, the setting. Nothing about it appealed to me. (And I am a huge fan of both Andrew Smith and Patrick Ness, both of whom write similar books.) It simply did not hold my attention, however...
Due to the many high ratings and glowing comments re. 'Boo,' I forced myself to finish the book. Am I glad I did? I suppose so. There were some interesting twists and turns, though the two main twists were sort of obvious. (I would guess a lot of readers saw them coming.)
The story is about thirteen-year old 'Boo,' or Oliver Dalrymple, who dies in a school shooting then finds himself in a sort of afterlife, a place only for kids his own age. He will remain here - it's a sort of dull and empty-feeling place for a heaven - for fifty years, and really...
I had a hard time with all of that. It just seemed so contrived. Or maybe I simply didn't buy into it. One needn't be religious - or not religious - to accept this premise. It's what readers do all the time, just forge on ahead as the author's world unfolds around them. But every time a new element was introduced I felt myself going yeah, okay, whatever. It's heaven; you can make it however you want.
Three stars. I'm done.
I had a hard time getting through this book and for one reason, I really didn't care about it. Not the characters, the storyline, the setting. Nothing about it appealed to me. (And I am a huge fan of both Andrew Smith and Patrick Ness, both of whom write similar books.) It simply did not hold my attention, however...
Due to the many high ratings and glowing comments re. 'Boo,' I forced myself to finish the book. Am I glad I did? I suppose so. There were some interesting twists and turns, though the two main twists were sort of obvious. (I would guess a lot of readers saw them coming.)
The story is about thirteen-year old 'Boo,' or Oliver Dalrymple, who dies in a school shooting then finds himself in a sort of afterlife, a place only for kids his own age. He will remain here - it's a sort of dull and empty-feeling place for a heaven - for fifty years, and really...
I had a hard time with all of that. It just seemed so contrived. Or maybe I simply didn't buy into it. One needn't be religious - or not religious - to accept this premise. It's what readers do all the time, just forge on ahead as the author's world unfolds around them. But every time a new element was introduced I felt myself going yeah, okay, whatever. It's heaven; you can make it however you want.
Three stars. I'm done.
March 18, 2015
Oh. My. God. I would write something witty or nice here but my brain can only form three words in a loop: Oh my god. Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod! This book! Suffice to say, this book blew my mind. It was fantastic in the way that I hope all books could be, but rarely manage to even reach the threshold. This book was greatness that I could hold in my hands, and I am not even exaggerating. I beg each and every one of you to read it.
The Cover:
This cover shows Oliver (AKA Boo) shut inside of his school locker. The number of his locker is 106, which happens to be exact number of elements in the Periodic Table, which Boo has, of course, memorized. This is super symbolic and everything, but since I don't want to give out spoilers... You'll understand though, and if not, comment and I'll explain!
My Review:
This book was just so fantastic! It was exciting and funny and beautiful. Picture combining some of the best characters you've ever read about with the writing style of a muse and then mixing in a plot with the surprises and greatness of your favorite book. I think that describes Boo. I have little doubt that this book will be a huge hit. If it doesn't, something is seriously wrong.
Anyway, the characters of this book were really complex and complicated with a human level of messed-up-ness. They messed everything up with the purest of intentions. They were kind and mean for their own reasons. They were the people you've met and will meet. You see only the one side of them until the truth is revealed. They were beautifully crafted people who gave this story its wings (pun intended). It usually takes multiple books for me to feel as connected with characters as deeply as I managed to do in this book's 310 pages.
Boo has three stages of reading. (1) This is really neat and cool. A quirky spin on heaven. I think I'll like this book, (2) Wait... WHAT?!?!, (3) Stab me in the heart, it'll hurt less.
Each of these stages was amazing; I loved each of these even more than the last. It was simply perfect. The plot had so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all. I was constantly floored. At certain points, the story got so intense that I had to set down my book just so that I didn't accidentally have a heart attack and end up in an afterlife especially for fifteen year olds.
The formatting was also really neat. Instead of chapter numbers, each chapter opened with an element from the periodic table, the atomic number serving as the number of each chapter. It was really neat and added to the book.
Also, I thought that it was really funny that Boo would replace the word 'God' with 'Zig' throughout the entire book because their heaven's god reminded him of a hippie. It was just really random and funny. I'm glad Neil Smith added these little moments of comic relief.
Quotes (NOTE: my copy was an ARC so these quotes may not be completely accurate with the published version):
"'Look, if he acts like a freak here, kids will sh*t on him just like they did back in America.' Rest assured, Mother and Father, that Johnny is speaking figuratively. Nobody ever defecated on me (though, as I said earlier, I was urinated on)."
"I feel prouder than the time I increased the pH of my urine by consuming citrus fruits"
"A geek was originally a circus artist who performed morbid acts like biting heads off live chickens and swallowing frogs. I am obviously, given my vegetarian diet, no geek"
"I try not to let the outer world wreak havoc with my inner one"
Phrase:
Thank Zig!
(Note: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Happy Reading!
The Cover:
This cover shows Oliver (AKA Boo) shut inside of his school locker. The number of his locker is 106, which happens to be exact number of elements in the Periodic Table, which Boo has, of course, memorized. This is super symbolic and everything, but since I don't want to give out spoilers... You'll understand though, and if not, comment and I'll explain!
My Review:
This book was just so fantastic! It was exciting and funny and beautiful. Picture combining some of the best characters you've ever read about with the writing style of a muse and then mixing in a plot with the surprises and greatness of your favorite book. I think that describes Boo. I have little doubt that this book will be a huge hit. If it doesn't, something is seriously wrong.
Anyway, the characters of this book were really complex and complicated with a human level of messed-up-ness. They messed everything up with the purest of intentions. They were kind and mean for their own reasons. They were the people you've met and will meet. You see only the one side of them until the truth is revealed. They were beautifully crafted people who gave this story its wings (pun intended). It usually takes multiple books for me to feel as connected with characters as deeply as I managed to do in this book's 310 pages.
Boo has three stages of reading. (1) This is really neat and cool. A quirky spin on heaven. I think I'll like this book, (2) Wait... WHAT?!?!, (3) Stab me in the heart, it'll hurt less.
Each of these stages was amazing; I loved each of these even more than the last. It was simply perfect. The plot had so many twists and turns that I did not expect at all. I was constantly floored. At certain points, the story got so intense that I had to set down my book just so that I didn't accidentally have a heart attack and end up in an afterlife especially for fifteen year olds.
The formatting was also really neat. Instead of chapter numbers, each chapter opened with an element from the periodic table, the atomic number serving as the number of each chapter. It was really neat and added to the book.
Also, I thought that it was really funny that Boo would replace the word 'God' with 'Zig' throughout the entire book because their heaven's god reminded him of a hippie. It was just really random and funny. I'm glad Neil Smith added these little moments of comic relief.
Quotes (NOTE: my copy was an ARC so these quotes may not be completely accurate with the published version):
"'Look, if he acts like a freak here, kids will sh*t on him just like they did back in America.' Rest assured, Mother and Father, that Johnny is speaking figuratively. Nobody ever defecated on me (though, as I said earlier, I was urinated on)."
"I feel prouder than the time I increased the pH of my urine by consuming citrus fruits"
"A geek was originally a circus artist who performed morbid acts like biting heads off live chickens and swallowing frogs. I am obviously, given my vegetarian diet, no geek"
"I try not to let the outer world wreak havoc with my inner one"
Phrase:
Thank Zig!
(Note: This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Happy Reading!
January 24, 2015
ARC for review.
From its great opening line, "Do you ever wonder, dear mother and father, what kind of toothpaste angels use in heaven?" I was hooked on this wonderfully inventive story of Boo, a thirteen year old boy who has arrived in...heaven(?). He isn't quite sure why he's there at first, but gradually learns more and more, and also makes friends (which is new for him...he speaks as if he may have been on the spectrum prior to heaven, but Zig (God) fixes little things like that in heaven) and explores the mystery surrounding his death.
The book is written as a journal that he hopes to give to his parents one day and the framework is perfect for this story. Adult readers will love the fact that all the buildings are named after characters in YA books. The book is set in 1979 and why I'm not sure why Smith chose that time period it makes the "found objects" even more interesting.
Great, GREAT book, especially for boys who feel....misunderstood, perhaps? Highly recommended.
From its great opening line, "Do you ever wonder, dear mother and father, what kind of toothpaste angels use in heaven?" I was hooked on this wonderfully inventive story of Boo, a thirteen year old boy who has arrived in...heaven(?). He isn't quite sure why he's there at first, but gradually learns more and more, and also makes friends (which is new for him...he speaks as if he may have been on the spectrum prior to heaven, but Zig (God) fixes little things like that in heaven) and explores the mystery surrounding his death.
The book is written as a journal that he hopes to give to his parents one day and the framework is perfect for this story. Adult readers will love the fact that all the buildings are named after characters in YA books. The book is set in 1979 and why I'm not sure why Smith chose that time period it makes the "found objects" even more interesting.
Great, GREAT book, especially for boys who feel....misunderstood, perhaps? Highly recommended.
May 18, 2015
Neil Smith has a fantastic imagination. Imagine heaven was segregated by age and geography and some of the rules from "real life" applied and some ... did not. What would you do? How would you react? Now what if you found out you'd been murdered? Would you try to track down your killer? Would you even think he was in heaven? Smith explores all of these questions and more in this deft and funny debut. Highly recommend.
May 13, 2016
I enjoyed this so much and I'm not even sure why! Boo was so intriguing, oh my goodness. The story follows a boy - Boo - that essentially wakes up in a heaven reserved for only thirteen year old American kids, he then gets on with his fairly normal, yet curious, afterlife for a few days until he is unexpectedly told that he did not die of a heart problem like he thought he did, but he was actually murdered. He was shot while at school and one of the other victims of the shooting is also in heaven. And here's the MOST INTRIGUING BIT, the killer may be in heaven too.
The premise of the book itself is amazing. But it was really satisfying how the story actually did follow the 'dead boy tries to find his killer in heaven' plot line that is advertised in the blurb, but was still consistently surprising and quirky and wonderful too. While I did see some of the twists coming, they were so amazingly executed that they made me feel shocked and emotional anyway.
I honestly didn't want this book to end. It was strangely easy to become immersed in the story, right up to the captivating and bizarre and fabulous ending. Really glad that I read this.
The premise of the book itself is amazing. But it was really satisfying how the story actually did follow the 'dead boy tries to find his killer in heaven' plot line that is advertised in the blurb, but was still consistently surprising and quirky and wonderful too. While I did see some of the twists coming, they were so amazingly executed that they made me feel shocked and emotional anyway.
I honestly didn't want this book to end. It was strangely easy to become immersed in the story, right up to the captivating and bizarre and fabulous ending. Really glad that I read this.
March 31, 2015
When you read a lot of books, I think it becomes harder and harder to find one you would describe as "unique." This book is definitely unique. It tells the story of a 13 year old boy and his time in heaven. It's nothing like any heaven I have ever heard of or imagined, but it's certainly an interesting place. I strongly recommend this one -- for teens or adults.
Note: Based on all the recent press about books by kids who have been in a coma or had near-death experiences and lived to tell the stories of what it was like, I feel compelled to say that this is a work of fiction.
*Thanks to the author for providing an ARC.
Note: Based on all the recent press about books by kids who have been in a coma or had near-death experiences and lived to tell the stories of what it was like, I feel compelled to say that this is a work of fiction.
*Thanks to the author for providing an ARC.
February 23, 2016
Quelle histoire originale et captivante! Neil Smith a su créer un monde imaginaire étrange et mystérieux. Le paradis a même son propre Dieu qui s'appelle Zig! J'ai bien aimé que l'auteur aborde certains thèmes comme l'intimidation, d'une façon différente.
À découvrir!
À découvrir!
January 1, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was very unique. Full review to come!
July 28, 2017
This book is one of the reasons I love goodreads. I'm not sure that I would of read it if I hadn't seen friends reviews. I would of totally missed out. This book is so good and so heartbreaking. I think I started to suspect what was going on in the middle of the book but, ignored it. I didn't want it to be true. The end though. As much as I would of loved a different ending, it had to be that way. Otherwise what lesson was learned? So good and sad. Did I mention I hate bullies with a passion?
June 1, 2015
I received Neil Smith's ARC of Boo for free through GoodReads FirstReads.
I absolutely love everything about this cute and quirky novel. I have to admit, I was caught off guard on multiple occasions. Just when I thought I had the figured out the the truth, a curve ball is thrown; kept the reading interesting.
One of the biggest reasons for my five-star rating is that at multiple points in the book, and for different characters I felt strong emotions; For Johnny, I felt the anger and frustration. For Boo I felt the true desperation of wanting to help, and being unable to. I also felt overwhelming sadness when Boo says that all he wants is his parents.
The ending was a complete surprise to me up until the very end, it shines a light on bullying in a completely heartbreaking and unexpected way.
I absolutely love everything about this cute and quirky novel. I have to admit, I was caught off guard on multiple occasions. Just when I thought I had the figured out the the truth, a curve ball is thrown; kept the reading interesting.
One of the biggest reasons for my five-star rating is that at multiple points in the book, and for different characters I felt strong emotions; For Johnny, I felt the anger and frustration. For Boo I felt the true desperation of wanting to help, and being unable to. I also felt overwhelming sadness when Boo says that all he wants is his parents.
The ending was a complete surprise to me up until the very end, it shines a light on bullying in a completely heartbreaking and unexpected way.
December 13, 2015
OMG, this was an amazing trip. I didn't read the blurb as usual and didn't know what I was getting myself into, and this had me guessing about the characters and the events all the time. And that was so good. When twists and turns were foreshadowed I thought "ah, yes this is where it is going" and then we got there and I was clueless again. Loved it.
Also the narration is really well done, you only get Boo's point of view and you have to rely on his knowledge and understanding of events and it is fascinating how you get to know him better and thus can judge his narration better as the story progresses.
And the setting of the novel is really well crafted and challenging stereotypical beliefs.
Listening to the audiobook was pure joy as well, as the narrator does a really good job.
Have you noticed that I didn't elaborate on what is going on and on the characters? It's because I don't want to spoil the fun of discovering them on your own.
Also the narration is really well done, you only get Boo's point of view and you have to rely on his knowledge and understanding of events and it is fascinating how you get to know him better and thus can judge his narration better as the story progresses.
And the setting of the novel is really well crafted and challenging stereotypical beliefs.
Listening to the audiobook was pure joy as well, as the narrator does a really good job.
Have you noticed that I didn't elaborate on what is going on and on the characters? It's because I don't want to spoil the fun of discovering them on your own.
April 15, 2016
According to FTC guidelines, I must state that I won a galley of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Unfortunately, this book is not for me because it is boring me to sleep. Perhaps a full review is to come.
Unfortunately, this book is not for me because it is boring me to sleep. Perhaps a full review is to come.
June 17, 2015
I don't think I've ever started a review before beginning a book. This time, I am compelled to because the feel of the book is amazing. It's something that only a book geek would appreciate, but the cover is that slightly gritty texture and the pages are those not-quite-as-thick-as-usual ones that make me feel like I'm reading a book from my childhood. Even the smell of the paper seems reminiscent of my early obsession with bookstores. In an era of eReaders and downloaded audiobooks, a book that feels extraordinarily real is a unique find.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I'm back. I've finished the book. I stayed up late to read it, read it while sitting in a parking lot waiting for my kids to come out, read it when I should have been at a party, read it until it was done. Bottom line - I loved this book. It has the potential to be my favorite book of the year.
I remember being thirteen. The idea of spending decades as a thirteen year old is horrifying. Choosing this age for Boo was a good choice, however. It's an age where there is still a joy of life and bursts of energy found in younger kids but the emotional depth of burgeoning adulthood. Townies can be youthful enough to enjoy dressing up for Halloween but mature enough to understand rules and do work.
I'm a collector of sentences. When I'm reading, there are lines that jump out at me and make me pause. It's usually small things - sentences that are completely unimportant to the storyline but that give unexpected depth to a person or a situation. A uniqe phrasing that gives understanding, if that makes sense. Neil Smith is a master of these sentences. For instance, at one point Boo was feeling homesick. Reading "and I even miss the cobwebs that gathered there because, on my insistence, you gave the spiders the freedom to spin their webs." made Boo more real, more the sense of being an actual person. And when Boo re-met Johnny, we were made to feel the momentousness of the occasion with "Even though I dislike being touched, even though I was never hugged by anybody but you two, I do not pull away. I pat between his shoulders, gently the way a mama does, as Johnny Henzel sobs and sobs in my arms."
Amazing book. This had better be on the list for Book of the Year voting on Goodreads this winter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I'm back. I've finished the book. I stayed up late to read it, read it while sitting in a parking lot waiting for my kids to come out, read it when I should have been at a party, read it until it was done. Bottom line - I loved this book. It has the potential to be my favorite book of the year.
I remember being thirteen. The idea of spending decades as a thirteen year old is horrifying. Choosing this age for Boo was a good choice, however. It's an age where there is still a joy of life and bursts of energy found in younger kids but the emotional depth of burgeoning adulthood. Townies can be youthful enough to enjoy dressing up for Halloween but mature enough to understand rules and do work.
I'm a collector of sentences. When I'm reading, there are lines that jump out at me and make me pause. It's usually small things - sentences that are completely unimportant to the storyline but that give unexpected depth to a person or a situation. A uniqe phrasing that gives understanding, if that makes sense. Neil Smith is a master of these sentences. For instance, at one point Boo was feeling homesick. Reading "and I even miss the cobwebs that gathered there because, on my insistence, you gave the spiders the freedom to spin their webs." made Boo more real, more the sense of being an actual person. And when Boo re-met Johnny, we were made to feel the momentousness of the occasion with "Even though I dislike being touched, even though I was never hugged by anybody but you two, I do not pull away. I pat between his shoulders, gently the way a mama does, as Johnny Henzel sobs and sobs in my arms."
Amazing book. This had better be on the list for Book of the Year voting on Goodreads this winter!
June 20, 2016
Sometimes, you just go to the bookstore, browse through the shelves, and then you are attracted to a certain book's cover. You pick it up, read the synopsis, and you are intrigued. You take a risk, pick the book up, and buy it even though you know nothing about it.
This was exactly my case with this book, and oh boy, I was surprised.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into picking this book up, and oh boy, I did not expect to be so pleasantly surprised.
This book is very unique. It follows Boo, or Oliver, after he dies and describes his afterlife. He is writing a book to his parents about his life in the afterlife.
What made this book so special and so unique were the following:
1-The wrorldbuilding: The afterlife in this book is so well-thought out and is very carefully crafted. The world is very rich and you can definitely imagine it. With vivid descriptions, it feels very real.
2-The quirk: I loved the characterization of all characters in this novel. Smith's characters are very unique and different. Our narrator, Boo, has a very distinct voice. I have read many books and Boo's point of view was definitely different than what I usually read. I loved how nerdy he was. I loved his obsession with science. I loved his jokes. I loved his puns. I loved it!
3-The themes: This book sheds light upon many different themes. I won't tell you what it tackles, other than death so that I don't spoil anything. But the emotional element is there. I think that this story is a very important one because you get to see a lot of struggles that teenagers face. Smith does not shy away from them. At the same time he does not overwhelm you with them. I found myself very much empathizing with Boo and the other characters.
This book took me off guard, and I am very sure it will stay with me for many years to come. It was a beautiful story that everyone should read. I think the fact that I did not know a lot about this book had a more long-lasting effect on me. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book and I will keep recommending it to other people.
This was exactly my case with this book, and oh boy, I was surprised.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into picking this book up, and oh boy, I did not expect to be so pleasantly surprised.
This book is very unique. It follows Boo, or Oliver, after he dies and describes his afterlife. He is writing a book to his parents about his life in the afterlife.
What made this book so special and so unique were the following:
1-The wrorldbuilding: The afterlife in this book is so well-thought out and is very carefully crafted. The world is very rich and you can definitely imagine it. With vivid descriptions, it feels very real.
2-The quirk: I loved the characterization of all characters in this novel. Smith's characters are very unique and different. Our narrator, Boo, has a very distinct voice. I have read many books and Boo's point of view was definitely different than what I usually read. I loved how nerdy he was. I loved his obsession with science. I loved his jokes. I loved his puns. I loved it!
3-The themes: This book sheds light upon many different themes. I won't tell you what it tackles, other than death so that I don't spoil anything. But the emotional element is there. I think that this story is a very important one because you get to see a lot of struggles that teenagers face. Smith does not shy away from them. At the same time he does not overwhelm you with them. I found myself very much empathizing with Boo and the other characters.
This book took me off guard, and I am very sure it will stay with me for many years to come. It was a beautiful story that everyone should read. I think the fact that I did not know a lot about this book had a more long-lasting effect on me. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book and I will keep recommending it to other people.
June 14, 2016
I received this ARC from a First Reads Giveaway. Thank you.
I have to say that I have never read a book quite like "Boo". It took me a couple of chapters to actually start appreciating the novel, but then I couldn't put it down.
Boo who has recently died, is now in a "Heaven" for 13 year olds. The premise of the story is centered around how he and another boy at his school had died.
Even though the story wasn't too hard to figure out, it didn't seem to detract too much from the storyline. I really enjoyed the journey.
There was something truly likable about Boo and all of his newly acquired friends.
I have to say that I have never read a book quite like "Boo". It took me a couple of chapters to actually start appreciating the novel, but then I couldn't put it down.
Boo who has recently died, is now in a "Heaven" for 13 year olds. The premise of the story is centered around how he and another boy at his school had died.
Even though the story wasn't too hard to figure out, it didn't seem to detract too much from the storyline. I really enjoyed the journey.
There was something truly likable about Boo and all of his newly acquired friends.
November 18, 2025
This is sad, beautiful, heartbreaking but also full of friendship and wholesome moments. Everyone should read it.
April 1, 2017
Gerade noch stand Oliver 'Boo' Dalrymple, dreizehn Jahre alt, hochbegabt und Außenseiter, vor seinem Spind in der Schule, als plötzlich alles schwarz wird, und er sich im Wiedergeburtsraum eines seltsamen Jenseits wiederfindet. Denn Boo ist gestorben, doch wie und warum und vor allem warum es ihn ausgerechnet an diesem seltsamen Ort verschlagen hat, das kann er nicht beantworten. Von nun an 'lebt' er im Himmel, in einer von Mauern umgebenen Stadt, in der ausschließlich verstorbene amerikanische Jugendliche seines Alters wohnen. Sie haben eine Gemeinschaft gegründet, in der jeder seine Aufgabe und seinen Platz hat, bewegen sich mit Fahrrädern fort und versorgen sich mit allem, was ihn ein geheimnisvoller Gott, namens Zig, zur Verfügung stellt.
Gerade als Boo beginnt sich mit seiner ungewöhnlichen Situation zu arrangieren, taucht plötzlich Johnny, ein ehemaliger Klassenkamarad von ihm, im Himmel auf und wirft ein neues und erschreckendes Licht auf Boo's Vergangenheit. Als die Ereignisse sich in der Stadt überschlagen, wird Boo's und Johnny's neu entdeckte Freundschaft auf eine harte Probe gestellt...
Auf meiner Jagd nach ungewöhnlichen Geschichten, die sich aus der Masse herausheben, war es mir ein emotionales Bedürfnis "Das Leben nach Boo" von Neil Smith zu lesen. Und nachdem ich nun das Glück hatte, kann ich vom ganzen Herzen verkünden, dass mich mein Gefühl nicht getäuscht hat.
Boo's Geschichte ist auf jeder einzelnen Seite besonders. Bereits nach dem ersten Satz habe ich diesen Jungen in mein Herz geschlossen. Wohl möglich schon lange bevor ich den ersten Satz gelesen habe. Dieses Buch versprüht einen unglaublichen und ganz eigenen Charme, der dich in die Handlung lockt und auf jeder Seite Einzigartigkeit verspricht - und hält.
"Das Leben nach Boo" gehört zu diesen Büchern, die dich erst neugierig machen, und dir dann, in einem unbeobachteten Moment das Herz stehlen, um es dann irgendwo zwischen den Seiten zu verstecken. Aber du suchst nicht danach. Denn es bleibt hier, in dieser ungewöhnlichen Kulisse, bei diesem besonderen, diesem einzigartigen, liebevollen und wunderbaren Protagonisten, den Nebenfiguren, die die Wortbedeutung des Begriffes 'Nebenfigur' auf jeder Seite verhöhnen und vor allem bei dieser Geschichte.
Einer Geschichte, die gleichzeitig so leicht und so schwer ist, dass sie jede Waage zum Verzweifeln bringen würde.
Einer Geschichte, die dir dein Herz bricht, um dir auf der nächsten Seite die Hand zu reichen, und zu sagen: "War doch nicht so schlimm!".
Einer Geschichte über Freundschaft, so tragisch, so zerbrechlich und so intensiv erzählt, dass es weh tut.
"Das Leben nach Boo" ist ein Buch, das noch lange nach dem letzten gelesenen Wort wirkt. Auf der einen Seite ist man der Meinung, dass manche Dinge nicht richtig zu Ende erzählt wurden, dass man gewisse Aspekte der Geschichte noch ein wenig detaillierter hätte präsentiert bekommen wollen, um im nächsten Moment der festen Überzeugung zu sein, dass es kein perfekteres Ende hätte geben können. Und obwohl so viel Ungleichgewicht auf beiden Seiten der Waage herrscht, gibt die Geschichte schlussendlich so viel: Tränen, Liebe, Freundschaft und so eine unglaubliche Menge an Lebensfreude, dass es, angesichts der Kulisse, in der das Buch spielt, schon fast absurd ist.
Kennt Ihr diese Bücher, an denen Ihr noch Jahre später im Regal vorbeigeht, und sie euch immer noch ein Lächeln ins Gesicht zaubern?
"Das Leben nach Boo" gehört zu diesen Schätzen.
Gerade als Boo beginnt sich mit seiner ungewöhnlichen Situation zu arrangieren, taucht plötzlich Johnny, ein ehemaliger Klassenkamarad von ihm, im Himmel auf und wirft ein neues und erschreckendes Licht auf Boo's Vergangenheit. Als die Ereignisse sich in der Stadt überschlagen, wird Boo's und Johnny's neu entdeckte Freundschaft auf eine harte Probe gestellt...
Auf meiner Jagd nach ungewöhnlichen Geschichten, die sich aus der Masse herausheben, war es mir ein emotionales Bedürfnis "Das Leben nach Boo" von Neil Smith zu lesen. Und nachdem ich nun das Glück hatte, kann ich vom ganzen Herzen verkünden, dass mich mein Gefühl nicht getäuscht hat.
Boo's Geschichte ist auf jeder einzelnen Seite besonders. Bereits nach dem ersten Satz habe ich diesen Jungen in mein Herz geschlossen. Wohl möglich schon lange bevor ich den ersten Satz gelesen habe. Dieses Buch versprüht einen unglaublichen und ganz eigenen Charme, der dich in die Handlung lockt und auf jeder Seite Einzigartigkeit verspricht - und hält.
"Das Leben nach Boo" gehört zu diesen Büchern, die dich erst neugierig machen, und dir dann, in einem unbeobachteten Moment das Herz stehlen, um es dann irgendwo zwischen den Seiten zu verstecken. Aber du suchst nicht danach. Denn es bleibt hier, in dieser ungewöhnlichen Kulisse, bei diesem besonderen, diesem einzigartigen, liebevollen und wunderbaren Protagonisten, den Nebenfiguren, die die Wortbedeutung des Begriffes 'Nebenfigur' auf jeder Seite verhöhnen und vor allem bei dieser Geschichte.
Einer Geschichte, die gleichzeitig so leicht und so schwer ist, dass sie jede Waage zum Verzweifeln bringen würde.
Einer Geschichte, die dir dein Herz bricht, um dir auf der nächsten Seite die Hand zu reichen, und zu sagen: "War doch nicht so schlimm!".
Einer Geschichte über Freundschaft, so tragisch, so zerbrechlich und so intensiv erzählt, dass es weh tut.
"Das Leben nach Boo" ist ein Buch, das noch lange nach dem letzten gelesenen Wort wirkt. Auf der einen Seite ist man der Meinung, dass manche Dinge nicht richtig zu Ende erzählt wurden, dass man gewisse Aspekte der Geschichte noch ein wenig detaillierter hätte präsentiert bekommen wollen, um im nächsten Moment der festen Überzeugung zu sein, dass es kein perfekteres Ende hätte geben können. Und obwohl so viel Ungleichgewicht auf beiden Seiten der Waage herrscht, gibt die Geschichte schlussendlich so viel: Tränen, Liebe, Freundschaft und so eine unglaubliche Menge an Lebensfreude, dass es, angesichts der Kulisse, in der das Buch spielt, schon fast absurd ist.
Kennt Ihr diese Bücher, an denen Ihr noch Jahre später im Regal vorbeigeht, und sie euch immer noch ein Lächeln ins Gesicht zaubern?
"Das Leben nach Boo" gehört zu diesen Schätzen.
June 11, 2019
J'ai dévoré ce livre. Bien écrit et belle histoire!
June 18, 2015
Boo, by Neil Smith, is a unique story about a thirteen-year old boy who finds himself, well, dead--without knowing why. While trapped in an afterlife that is never quite understood or explained, he must unravel the details surrounding his strange and sudden death.
I'll be honest, I didn't immediately love this book. In fact, I thought it was painfully boring at first, and I found myself picking it up, putting it down, picking it up, etc. But something really started to click about 75 pages in--I think when Johnny joins Boo in heaven--because that's when the circumstances of both boys' deaths begin to get interesting.
I won't give details of the book away, but suffice it to say that this story is unlike anything I've read before (and I read a lot). It is creative, clever, and smart. Also, totally unpredictable. I was blown away by the way author Smith presented death and the afterlife--and especially by the way he managed to incorporate that in-between state of "not quite dead, but just barely alive" existence (like when people are in comas) into the after-world, too.
Moreover, I thought Smith offered powerful commentary on the oft-discussed topic of bullying. He managed to emphasize the urgency of the problem and communicate support without being heavy-handed, obvious, or pushy. It was brilliant, as far as I'm concerned.
Overall, this was an incredibly engaging book that kept surprising me. It may have started out slowly, but it ended up being one of the best books I've read this year.
See more of my reviews at BugBugBooks.com!
I'll be honest, I didn't immediately love this book. In fact, I thought it was painfully boring at first, and I found myself picking it up, putting it down, picking it up, etc. But something really started to click about 75 pages in--I think when Johnny joins Boo in heaven--because that's when the circumstances of both boys' deaths begin to get interesting.
I won't give details of the book away, but suffice it to say that this story is unlike anything I've read before (and I read a lot). It is creative, clever, and smart. Also, totally unpredictable. I was blown away by the way author Smith presented death and the afterlife--and especially by the way he managed to incorporate that in-between state of "not quite dead, but just barely alive" existence (like when people are in comas) into the after-world, too.
Moreover, I thought Smith offered powerful commentary on the oft-discussed topic of bullying. He managed to emphasize the urgency of the problem and communicate support without being heavy-handed, obvious, or pushy. It was brilliant, as far as I'm concerned.
Overall, this was an incredibly engaging book that kept surprising me. It may have started out slowly, but it ended up being one of the best books I've read this year.
See more of my reviews at BugBugBooks.com!
December 12, 2015
Commentaire simple: LISEZ CE LIVRE!
Un grand merci à Alto qui ne cesse d'ajouter des favoris à ma bibliothèque.
Quand j'ai rencontré l'auteur au Salon du Livre de Montréal, il ne m'a pas dit grand chose de l'histoire, nous avons surtout discuté de la traduction (qui est excellente) et des couvertures différentes de son roman (celle d'Alto étant à mes yeux la plus jolie). Il m'a dit que c'était un peu de policier dans le paradis des enfants américains de treize ans. Mais c'était tellement plus que ça. C'était un roman profondément humain, drôle et touchant et fascinant. Un peu de policier, certes, pour commencer la lecture, mettre le lecteur en confiance, et après ça, l'histoire est tellement captivante que l'auteur peut aller dans n'importe quel genre, dans n'importe quel sens, et le lecteur va suivre et en redemander.
Comment expliquer ce que ce livre peut apporter au lecteur, parce que c'est de cela qu'il s'agit. C'est plus qu'un divertissement, c'est un coup au cœur. Au début, l'histoire peut sembler étrange, avec ce jeune garçon trop rationnel de treize ans, et un paradis si loin de ce que presque n'importe qui peut imaginer. (Merci Neil Smith pour t'être posé des questions comme: qu'utilisent les gens au paradis pour se brosser les dents?) Mais mettez de côté la logique de la même manière qu'Oliver (Boo) le fait, suivez-le dans la découverte de son petit univers et vous ne serez pas déçus. Un conseil, n'essayez pas de deviner la fin, vous pourriez être surpris.
Faites-moi plaisir, faites plaisir à l'auteur, et surtout, faites-vous ce plaisir: Lisez-le!
Un grand merci à Alto qui ne cesse d'ajouter des favoris à ma bibliothèque.
Quand j'ai rencontré l'auteur au Salon du Livre de Montréal, il ne m'a pas dit grand chose de l'histoire, nous avons surtout discuté de la traduction (qui est excellente) et des couvertures différentes de son roman (celle d'Alto étant à mes yeux la plus jolie). Il m'a dit que c'était un peu de policier dans le paradis des enfants américains de treize ans. Mais c'était tellement plus que ça. C'était un roman profondément humain, drôle et touchant et fascinant. Un peu de policier, certes, pour commencer la lecture, mettre le lecteur en confiance, et après ça, l'histoire est tellement captivante que l'auteur peut aller dans n'importe quel genre, dans n'importe quel sens, et le lecteur va suivre et en redemander.
Comment expliquer ce que ce livre peut apporter au lecteur, parce que c'est de cela qu'il s'agit. C'est plus qu'un divertissement, c'est un coup au cœur. Au début, l'histoire peut sembler étrange, avec ce jeune garçon trop rationnel de treize ans, et un paradis si loin de ce que presque n'importe qui peut imaginer. (Merci Neil Smith pour t'être posé des questions comme: qu'utilisent les gens au paradis pour se brosser les dents?) Mais mettez de côté la logique de la même manière qu'Oliver (Boo) le fait, suivez-le dans la découverte de son petit univers et vous ne serez pas déçus. Un conseil, n'essayez pas de deviner la fin, vous pourriez être surpris.
Faites-moi plaisir, faites plaisir à l'auteur, et surtout, faites-vous ce plaisir: Lisez-le!
March 23, 2015
"Boo" could have gone a number of routes with a title like that. It could have been Boo! with an exclamation point at the end in making a statement, it could have been a weepy story as in Boohoohoo or a Boohahaha laugh-out-loud one, perhaps Boo... in a jeering way. Ultimately, Neil Smith's debut novel had a little of everything which made it enjoyable, but it lost its way partway through, and along with that a little of its magic.
I see the similarity to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with the narration in the voice of a teenage boy on the autistic spectrum. Boo's voice, to my disappointment, wasn't as forceful and memorable as Christopher's, and that's where the comparison crumbles. Furthermore, the mystery Boo and his gang were seeking to uncover was predictable right from the start and so there was less of an incentive to blast through the book with intrigue. It was in Town, the "heaven" that Neil Smith as Zig, his version of god, has crafted and the unique characters he has placed in it that made "Boo" quirkily amusing and sometimes wistful. It would have however made a lot more of an impact if it pushed harder through to the other side and emerged as a more meaningful read.
I see the similarity to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with the narration in the voice of a teenage boy on the autistic spectrum. Boo's voice, to my disappointment, wasn't as forceful and memorable as Christopher's, and that's where the comparison crumbles. Furthermore, the mystery Boo and his gang were seeking to uncover was predictable right from the start and so there was less of an incentive to blast through the book with intrigue. It was in Town, the "heaven" that Neil Smith as Zig, his version of god, has crafted and the unique characters he has placed in it that made "Boo" quirkily amusing and sometimes wistful. It would have however made a lot more of an impact if it pushed harder through to the other side and emerged as a more meaningful read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews