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Deadville
Ron Koertge's spot-on repartee highlights the wry, poignant tale of a teen who is numbed by loss but finds an unusual route to reclaiming his life.
Listening to music 24/7. Hanging out with his slacker-stoner friend, Andy. Basically, Ryan's been sleepwalking through life since his younger sister died of cancer two years ago. But when Charlotte Silano — a gorgeous, popular senior way out of his league — has a riding accident and falls into a coma, Ryan finds himself drawn to her hospital room almost every day, long after her friends stop coming around. And oddly enough, Ryan seems to be slowly snapping out of his own brand of coma — working out at the gym, adopting a cool vintage hat, even easing into a relationship with Betty, a classmate who has her own reasons for visiting Charlotte. With his incisive humor and quick-fire repartee, Ron Koertge explores the unpredictable workings of grief and the healing power of self-reinvention.
Listening to music 24/7. Hanging out with his slacker-stoner friend, Andy. Basically, Ryan's been sleepwalking through life since his younger sister died of cancer two years ago. But when Charlotte Silano — a gorgeous, popular senior way out of his league — has a riding accident and falls into a coma, Ryan finds himself drawn to her hospital room almost every day, long after her friends stop coming around. And oddly enough, Ryan seems to be slowly snapping out of his own brand of coma — working out at the gym, adopting a cool vintage hat, even easing into a relationship with Betty, a classmate who has her own reasons for visiting Charlotte. With his incisive humor and quick-fire repartee, Ron Koertge explores the unpredictable workings of grief and the healing power of self-reinvention.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2008
14 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
Ron Koertge
74 books102 followersAsk Ron Koertge what he brings to the realm of young adult fiction, and the seasoned author responds matter-of-factly. "I write dialogue well, and I'm funny," he says--an assessment few would argue with. "I like iconoclasm and practice it in my fiction. I don't like pretense or hypocrisy. I'm almost always irreverent."
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
A faculty member for more than 35 years at Pasadena City College, where he has taught everything from Shakespeare to remedial writing, Ron Koertge is the author of several acclaimed novels, most of them for young adults. That Ron Koertge is a master at capturing teenagers' voices--often in witty repartee--is fully evident in MARGAUX WITH AN X, the story of a sharp-tongued beauty and a quirky, quick-witted loner. "MARGAUX WITH AN X started as a short story, but the heroine wouldn't let me alone," the author says. "She had a story to tell, and she wanted a whole novel to tell it in." Another unlikely pairing is found in STONER & SPAZ, Ron Koertge's funny, in-your-face tale of a young cinephile with cerebral palsy and the stoner who steals his heart. "My wife works with the disabled," the writer says of his inspiration for the novel, which quickly garnered critical acclaim. "One night she came home and told me about a young man she'd been working with. He had C.P. and a terrific sense of humor. Coincidentally, that day I had talked to a former student of mine who'd recently been in rehab for substance abuse. What would happen, I wondered, if those two knew each other?"
In addition to his young adult novels, Ron Koertge writes poetry, and has been dubbed "the wisest, most entertaining wiseguy in American poetry" by poet-laureate Billy Collins. SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is narrated by a straight-talking, fourteen-year-old first baseman who has been benched by mono and decides to take a swing at writing poetry. Written entirely in free verse, with examples of several poetic forms slipped into the mix--including a sonnet, haiku, pastoral, and even a pantoum--SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is a veritable English teacher's dream. "The interest in SHAKESPEARE BATS CLEANUP is less with the arc of the plot than with the individual poems, some of which demonstrate poetic form, some of which tell the story," the author says. "One of my biggest challenges was to write like a fourteen-year-old who has a knack for writing poetry, and not just sound like a sixty-one-year-old pretending to be one!"
The author's first book with Candlewick, THE BRIMSTONE JOURNALS, is also a novel written in free verse, with 15 different teenage characters narrating four or five poems each. "The book started to nag me a few months before the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, and I started to make notes in the form of poems," he says of the hauntingly prescient work. "BRIMSTONE needed to move at high velocity, and this form is perfect for that: no tail fins, no leather seats, no moon roof. Just get in and go."
Ron Koertge grew up in an agricultural area in an old mining town in Illinois, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis, Missouri. There he learned to "drive a tractor and buck hay bales, which are clearly useful skills in Los Angeles," he quips. He and his wife live in South Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 23, 2016
this is what i think about books. all books need to leave you an impression. good or bad, whether you hate it or love it, it needs to leave you something. when it does neither and you are left feeling completely indifferent and as if you never read it at all, then the said book is an utter waste. unfortunately, Deadville is probably the most indifferent book i have ever had the misfortune to read.
i picked it up because i previously read Strays by Koertge and i remembered it was fairly decent. plus, Deadville had a cool cover. too bad that is the only real positive about this book.
this is one of those very short novels where they blow up the text size to make it seem longer. it's barely 12 chapters and short as, but i felt like i was wading through sludge, it was so hard to get through.
i realised something was wrong when i was partway through and had to open up the inside cover to remember the main character's name. not a good sign. add to that the slew of characters that appear with no real purpose in the book, countless names and people that mean nothing to the reader.
i understand what this book is trying to do. i understand what the concept is, what Koertge is trying to achieve, but even though i know all that, i am entirely unconvinced by this book. concept-wise, we have a grief-ridden teenager who's turned to drugs and ignorance in life to deal with the loss of his younger sister. when a popular girl at his school falls off a horse and into a coma, he finds himself drawn to visiting her and in the process healing himself and putting his own life back together. sound okay to you? a little typical and unoriginal, but nothing's wrong with that- we have so much to work with, i expect something uplifting and thought-provoking.
BUT IT'S NOT. (spoilers up ahead, read at your own risk)
i don't believe in Ryan. i don't sympathise with him. at first, i was a little interested in the fractured relationship and interactions with his parents, but later on those interactions seemed forgotten and the relationship was completely different from before. i need continuity, dammit.
what is this book trying to do? it's going all over the place! i appreciate the gesture of those little italic paragraphs where Ryan falls into thinking about his dead sister. they should be short and meaningful, thrown suddenly into the midst of Ryan's life. but they kind of missed for me. little moments and things make Ryan think of Molly, believable, right? but it's executed so awkwardly.
the first chapters were slow, setting the scene i guess. i understood Ryan and Andy's relationship, but i don't see the point of reading about Ryan walking around and ordering fast-food and useless conversations with characters that never appear again. if Koertge is trying to show how dead Ryan has become in his life, it doesn't really work because there is no transformation, no turning point in the novel.
basically, Ryan is being high and having bad relationships with his family to deal with grief. girl falls into a coma, he ends up visiting her everyday, runs into Betty and they magically become a couple, ditching his druggie friend too. he does better in school. he goes to the gym with his dad and becomes healthy again. then he goes and BUYS SOME NEW CLOTHES AND HE'S A NEW MAN AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD. hooray.
i'm sorry for being so negative, but i'm actually so dissappointed with this book that i'm almost disgusted.
the Betty/Ryan thing was ridiculous. what? i see no chemistry, i don't understand where it came from, what was with that random visit to Betty's home? was she supposed to be wonder girl, since Ryan's life magically fixed itself after they "got together"?
i kept hoping and waiting for a turning point. waiting for things to get better. this is a book about recovery, and mending broken lives, right? where's the massive meltdown, or the epiphany or the wilderness sabbatical? the conversation between Ryan and his mum in the car to the hospital got me very hopeful that we could finally get somewhere, but all the energy and words there are wasted and go nowhere.
perhaps the problem is in that everything is thrown in, but nothing is fixed or completed. we get glimpses of Ryan's family issues, but they're not developed or mended. we are shown Andy as a friend and saviour, (a rare character that even has personality!) then he's dumped and not mentioned again. no closure there either. Betty- i don't even have words for her- what is her purpose in this book, honestly? Elton, whats-her-name, Monica, whats-her-face, the gajillion other mentioned people in here- they're here to show how Ryan's social life is also screwed up and needs fixing, but it's all over the place and Ryan seems to end up exactly where he started.
maybe if Koertge focused on one thing, whether it be mending Ryan's actual emotional issues or his fractured family relationships, i could see goal of this book. there's nothing wrong with subplots or glimpsing problems with other aspects of Ryan's life, but when you spend chapters on him choosing new clothes or ordering takeaway in such a short novel, you have some problems with pacing, intent and direction.
in the end, i honestly feel this book was a waste. i wanted an impression, and this book leaves none, as if i never read it at all. its concepts and ideas were wasted, the loss of such potential hurts and even though i got so frustrated i had to rant about it here, in the end i realise i don't even care that much. basically, Deadville is exactly that- dead.
i picked it up because i previously read Strays by Koertge and i remembered it was fairly decent. plus, Deadville had a cool cover. too bad that is the only real positive about this book.
this is one of those very short novels where they blow up the text size to make it seem longer. it's barely 12 chapters and short as, but i felt like i was wading through sludge, it was so hard to get through.
i realised something was wrong when i was partway through and had to open up the inside cover to remember the main character's name. not a good sign. add to that the slew of characters that appear with no real purpose in the book, countless names and people that mean nothing to the reader.
i understand what this book is trying to do. i understand what the concept is, what Koertge is trying to achieve, but even though i know all that, i am entirely unconvinced by this book. concept-wise, we have a grief-ridden teenager who's turned to drugs and ignorance in life to deal with the loss of his younger sister. when a popular girl at his school falls off a horse and into a coma, he finds himself drawn to visiting her and in the process healing himself and putting his own life back together. sound okay to you? a little typical and unoriginal, but nothing's wrong with that- we have so much to work with, i expect something uplifting and thought-provoking.
BUT IT'S NOT. (spoilers up ahead, read at your own risk)
i don't believe in Ryan. i don't sympathise with him. at first, i was a little interested in the fractured relationship and interactions with his parents, but later on those interactions seemed forgotten and the relationship was completely different from before. i need continuity, dammit.
what is this book trying to do? it's going all over the place! i appreciate the gesture of those little italic paragraphs where Ryan falls into thinking about his dead sister. they should be short and meaningful, thrown suddenly into the midst of Ryan's life. but they kind of missed for me. little moments and things make Ryan think of Molly, believable, right? but it's executed so awkwardly.
the first chapters were slow, setting the scene i guess. i understood Ryan and Andy's relationship, but i don't see the point of reading about Ryan walking around and ordering fast-food and useless conversations with characters that never appear again. if Koertge is trying to show how dead Ryan has become in his life, it doesn't really work because there is no transformation, no turning point in the novel.
basically, Ryan is being high and having bad relationships with his family to deal with grief. girl falls into a coma, he ends up visiting her everyday, runs into Betty and they magically become a couple, ditching his druggie friend too. he does better in school. he goes to the gym with his dad and becomes healthy again. then he goes and BUYS SOME NEW CLOTHES AND HE'S A NEW MAN AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD. hooray.
i'm sorry for being so negative, but i'm actually so dissappointed with this book that i'm almost disgusted.
the Betty/Ryan thing was ridiculous. what? i see no chemistry, i don't understand where it came from, what was with that random visit to Betty's home? was she supposed to be wonder girl, since Ryan's life magically fixed itself after they "got together"?
i kept hoping and waiting for a turning point. waiting for things to get better. this is a book about recovery, and mending broken lives, right? where's the massive meltdown, or the epiphany or the wilderness sabbatical? the conversation between Ryan and his mum in the car to the hospital got me very hopeful that we could finally get somewhere, but all the energy and words there are wasted and go nowhere.
perhaps the problem is in that everything is thrown in, but nothing is fixed or completed. we get glimpses of Ryan's family issues, but they're not developed or mended. we are shown Andy as a friend and saviour, (a rare character that even has personality!) then he's dumped and not mentioned again. no closure there either. Betty- i don't even have words for her- what is her purpose in this book, honestly? Elton, whats-her-name, Monica, whats-her-face, the gajillion other mentioned people in here- they're here to show how Ryan's social life is also screwed up and needs fixing, but it's all over the place and Ryan seems to end up exactly where he started.
maybe if Koertge focused on one thing, whether it be mending Ryan's actual emotional issues or his fractured family relationships, i could see goal of this book. there's nothing wrong with subplots or glimpsing problems with other aspects of Ryan's life, but when you spend chapters on him choosing new clothes or ordering takeaway in such a short novel, you have some problems with pacing, intent and direction.
in the end, i honestly feel this book was a waste. i wanted an impression, and this book leaves none, as if i never read it at all. its concepts and ideas were wasted, the loss of such potential hurts and even though i got so frustrated i had to rant about it here, in the end i realise i don't even care that much. basically, Deadville is exactly that- dead.
January 9, 2019
In the beginning this felt like it was written by a teen edgelord, but turned around and ended up a good story despite a few clichés
May 27, 2009
This book totally snuck up and hit me over the head with awesome. Ryan Glazier has been drifting through life on a combination of iTunes and pot since his little sister died. But when a girl he barely knows falls off a horse and ends up in a coma, his need to sit with her begins exposing all the raw edges he's been hiding away.
Koertge nails this exploration of grief and growing up, even more impressive considering it's written from a guy's POV, and showing emotional growth dude-style oftens feels cloying and fakey. He packs a ton into a very small (212 pg) book, and it's a truly compelling read.
Also, it gave me a great list of music to download.
Koertge nails this exploration of grief and growing up, even more impressive considering it's written from a guy's POV, and showing emotional growth dude-style oftens feels cloying and fakey. He packs a ton into a very small (212 pg) book, and it's a truly compelling read.
Also, it gave me a great list of music to download.
November 14, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
The most popular girl in school fell off a horse and she's now in a coma in a nearby hospital. Ryan finds himself drawn to her bedside, even though he is most definitely not in her social circle or even the distant stratosphere of her world. Does he visit her because she is perhaps the hottest girl in school, or because he hopes to move in on her absent boyfriend's territory, or because two years ago he lost his own sister in her battle against cancer?
The strange thing is that Ryan doesn't really know why he visits this girl in a coma. It's just something he feels he must do.
Running parallel to the Charlotte Silano coma-girl story are several other captivating plot lines.
Ryan's visits to the hospital allow him to meet and develop a relationship with Betty, another girl from school who previously didn't really hang in the same crowd with Ryan. There is also the strained relationship between Ryan and his parents. He maintains a fairly normal mother/son relationship, but the connection between father and son has deteriorated to almost nothing since the death of his sister, Molly. It's not just a problem for Ryan, since his father has seemingly cut ties with his wife, as well. He has changed his whole lifestyle, right down to his choice of a vegan menu. Ryan's mother has chosen to throw herself into yoga and meditation to cope with the loss of her daughter. It seems a healthy avenue to stress relief, but she appears to be getting a bit too close to her instructor, causing Ryan to fear for his parents' marriage.
One benefit of Ryan's frequent visits to Charlotte's hospital room is that he is putting some distance between his so-called friend, Andy, and the never-ending supply of pot that has so far been getting him through his periods of grief. Is it possible to stay sober and confront tough times long enough to pull himself together? That's the question facing Ryan for most of DEADVILLE.
Ron Koertge successfully takes readers into Ryan's world of emotional stress and pain. Everyone has their own way of coping, and DEADVILLE illustrates them all in a direct, straight-forward style.
The most popular girl in school fell off a horse and she's now in a coma in a nearby hospital. Ryan finds himself drawn to her bedside, even though he is most definitely not in her social circle or even the distant stratosphere of her world. Does he visit her because she is perhaps the hottest girl in school, or because he hopes to move in on her absent boyfriend's territory, or because two years ago he lost his own sister in her battle against cancer?
The strange thing is that Ryan doesn't really know why he visits this girl in a coma. It's just something he feels he must do.
Running parallel to the Charlotte Silano coma-girl story are several other captivating plot lines.
Ryan's visits to the hospital allow him to meet and develop a relationship with Betty, another girl from school who previously didn't really hang in the same crowd with Ryan. There is also the strained relationship between Ryan and his parents. He maintains a fairly normal mother/son relationship, but the connection between father and son has deteriorated to almost nothing since the death of his sister, Molly. It's not just a problem for Ryan, since his father has seemingly cut ties with his wife, as well. He has changed his whole lifestyle, right down to his choice of a vegan menu. Ryan's mother has chosen to throw herself into yoga and meditation to cope with the loss of her daughter. It seems a healthy avenue to stress relief, but she appears to be getting a bit too close to her instructor, causing Ryan to fear for his parents' marriage.
One benefit of Ryan's frequent visits to Charlotte's hospital room is that he is putting some distance between his so-called friend, Andy, and the never-ending supply of pot that has so far been getting him through his periods of grief. Is it possible to stay sober and confront tough times long enough to pull himself together? That's the question facing Ryan for most of DEADVILLE.
Ron Koertge successfully takes readers into Ryan's world of emotional stress and pain. Everyone has their own way of coping, and DEADVILLE illustrates them all in a direct, straight-forward style.
November 26, 2013
Ryan is the typical, not goth but then again not so bright, teenager. He listens to music 24/7, hangs out with his one and only friend Andy, and doesn't pay attention much to anyone. But he's got every rite and reason to. Ryan has been sleepwalking this world since two years ago when his younger sister Molly died of cancer. When the social butterfly of high school Charlotte Silano falls into a coma because of a horse-riding accident, Ryan visits her everyday he can. He doesn't mind the dirty looks from friends of Charlotte's. But after seeing Betty, a fellow classmate that had her rites to visit Charlotte, Ryan is snapped out of his very own coma. He chases his new crush and soon enough... Well you'll just have to read the book.
I liked the book because it was a not-so-dramatic love story, but very detailed. I like reading books like that because once in a while, after all of the dramatic books, I'll take a break and read a book that'll be a little more less dramatic. But there were some small little tears in the book that shocked me. I'd recommend this book to a person who good with sad books or who likes the simple book once in a while.
I liked the book because it was a not-so-dramatic love story, but very detailed. I like reading books like that because once in a while, after all of the dramatic books, I'll take a break and read a book that'll be a little more less dramatic. But there were some small little tears in the book that shocked me. I'd recommend this book to a person who good with sad books or who likes the simple book once in a while.
June 25, 2010
Alright, so Deadville really sounded like a real treat when I first picked it up and to be honest it wasn't terrible. Although having said that it did lack a lot of detail in parts and occasionally bored me. But I persisted with it and finished it. It came to the end and the coma patient woke up, all is good and then it ends a little after that. So to sum up the book in one word would be: lacking. Ryan pretty much fell into a relationship and then tried to take it from there. Andy got busted as expected and there were scattered friends along the way. This book could have been one of those huge life changing books if it was only detailed a little more and more feeling was written into the characters. To say the least I did have some favourable parts such as Ryan's random thoughts of memories and lyrics, not to mention he listens to Alexisonfire which I liked. I also liked the humor in it too. It was in general a little weak and I hope that Ron Koertge other books aren't that way otherwise they will not be getting a look in from me.
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November 30, 2016Ryan the main character spends most of his time getting stoned with his best friend, Andy. Andy is overweight and lazy, and Ryan hates to admit it, but all those sessions smoking pot in an old tree house and then giving in to the munchies might have him heading in the same direction. When he's not hanging out with Andy, Ryan shuts out the world by sticking in some headphones and escaping with music. Why is Ryan so down on life? It might have something to do with
the death of his younger sister from cancer. Ryan always saw
himself as Molly's protector. Ryan is not finding much support at home, either; his mom is always busy singing with her choral group and flirting with one of its members while his dad has thrown himself so far into work that he doesn't seem to care what his wife or son is up to.
the death of his younger sister from cancer. Ryan always saw
himself as Molly's protector. Ryan is not finding much support at home, either; his mom is always busy singing with her choral group and flirting with one of its members while his dad has thrown himself so far into work that he doesn't seem to care what his wife or son is up to.
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May 9, 2022this was a very sad and heart whelming book a teenage boy starts his journey to fixing his life and leaving relationships that don't help him grow. although the death of his sister took a big turn on his parents and him he tries to do his best to help them. he visits one of the popular girls everyday at the hospital where his sister had died although he doesn't know who she is or she doesn't know who he is either he is perssistent and everyone around her leaves her best friends her boyfriend but he remains there and later we find out why which is because he is trying to heal the wound of him not coming to see his sister in the hospital as much as he wanted.
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May 5, 2020"Listening to music 24/7. Hanging out and getting stoned with his overweight slacker friend, Andy. Maintaining a solid C average. Basically, Ryan's been sleepwalking through life since his younger sister died of cancer two years ago.
So when Charlotte Silano, a gorgeous, popular senior way out his league, has an accident and falls into a coma, Ryan is surprised to find himself drawn to her hospital room almost every day. Will talking to the silent Charlotte bring either of them back to life?
So when Charlotte Silano, a gorgeous, popular senior way out his league, has an accident and falls into a coma, Ryan is surprised to find himself drawn to her hospital room almost every day. Will talking to the silent Charlotte bring either of them back to life?
August 21, 2021
Yes, this is YA and I haven't been a young adult for years, but I've read this delightful book cover to cover several times. Snappy dialog, quirky compelling characters, so many to juggle but the author does so adeptly, and a wonderful message of transcending tragedy.
August 23, 2012
Synopsis: Ryan Glazier simply exists; he maintains a solid C-Average and smokes with his best friend Andy. Ryan was not always like this. He used to be an athletic teenager who enjoyed playing soccer. Things took a downward spiral when his younger sister Molly passed away two years ago. Now Charlotte Silano; a senior at school, not to mention one of the hottest girls lies in a coma after falling off her horse. Ryan is drawn to Charlotte for some reason and visits her in the hospital almost every day. Why does Ryan visit Charlotte and talk to her? Will it help her to regain consciousness? What’s in it for Ryan? Is he going to start coming out of his emotional detachment?
Cover Gushing Worthiness: I admit that it was the cover that drew me towards the book. There isn’t a lot going on in it. However the image of the hat and earphones makes sense as the story progresses. The cover reminded me of theThings Not Seencover by Andrew Clements. That is another book that I would recommend as well!
Review: I haven’t read a lot of books that deal with life threatening illness and after reading A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness I wanted to read more. Cue discovery of Deadville. Now as I read Deadville I didn’t compare it to A Monster Calls, but I was reminded of it.
I like the premise of this story because it focuses on a sibling’s perspective. How family members deal with grief is a very personal experience and there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to go about it. I enjoyed how Koertge explored the experience of grief among Ryan and his parents. He really looked at how life changes when a loved one experiences a life threatening illness and how the surviving members deal with a loss of a loved one. The setting of the school did remind me a lot of Conor’s experience in A Monster Calls because both characters experience isolation.
The subplots such as Ryan’s developing relationship with his classmate Betty and the young boy Thad at the hospital were clever additions because it gave the reader an opportunity to see Ryan’s character come out of his emotional detachment.
Although the premise of the book was good, I had some problems with the characters. My main issue was with Ryan. Unlike Conor from A Monster Calls I didn’t connect with Ryan emotionally. He just existed and I found it hard to believe him because I had no connection with him. Ryan’s sister Molly was also somewhat of a shell. Her character had much more potential and I wish she was more developed. And the resulting problem for me was that I didn’t quite believe the relationship between Ryan and Molly. I wish there were flashbacks of the two of them where we’d get a chance to hear Molly’s voice, not Ryan’s reflection of her.
Another relationship I had a problem was with Betty and Ryan’s. Personally I thought it came out of nowhere and I didn’t believe it either. I promise this review isn’t completely negative!!
The friendship between Ryan and Andy which was one of the more important ones also ended quite abruptly. I felt like there was no closure between the two of them and Andy sort of faded away as the story progressed. But it also may have shown Ryan’s character development.
The most important relationship in the book is between Ryan and Charlotte. It is a one-sided friendship, but it is one that offers Ryan redemption and ultimately that is what he is looking for.
If I had so many problems with the characters, you’re probably asking why I even bothered to finish this boo. It’s definitely a valid question and the only answer that I have is that the book just gripped me. Sometimes you do come across books that have a hold on you even though you have problems with it. I just wanted to find out what happens in the end.
Overall despite my issues with the characters, Deadville was an enjoyable read. The premise of the book was and the writing was good, good to the point where I finished it in a night. If you’re looking for a young adult/teenage book that deals with Cancer and it’s life changing affects this is a book you may want to consider reading.
My Rating: 3/5
Would I recommend it? Yes.
Cover Gushing Worthiness: I admit that it was the cover that drew me towards the book. There isn’t a lot going on in it. However the image of the hat and earphones makes sense as the story progresses. The cover reminded me of theThings Not Seencover by Andrew Clements. That is another book that I would recommend as well!
Review: I haven’t read a lot of books that deal with life threatening illness and after reading A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness I wanted to read more. Cue discovery of Deadville. Now as I read Deadville I didn’t compare it to A Monster Calls, but I was reminded of it.
I like the premise of this story because it focuses on a sibling’s perspective. How family members deal with grief is a very personal experience and there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to go about it. I enjoyed how Koertge explored the experience of grief among Ryan and his parents. He really looked at how life changes when a loved one experiences a life threatening illness and how the surviving members deal with a loss of a loved one. The setting of the school did remind me a lot of Conor’s experience in A Monster Calls because both characters experience isolation.
The subplots such as Ryan’s developing relationship with his classmate Betty and the young boy Thad at the hospital were clever additions because it gave the reader an opportunity to see Ryan’s character come out of his emotional detachment.
Although the premise of the book was good, I had some problems with the characters. My main issue was with Ryan. Unlike Conor from A Monster Calls I didn’t connect with Ryan emotionally. He just existed and I found it hard to believe him because I had no connection with him. Ryan’s sister Molly was also somewhat of a shell. Her character had much more potential and I wish she was more developed. And the resulting problem for me was that I didn’t quite believe the relationship between Ryan and Molly. I wish there were flashbacks of the two of them where we’d get a chance to hear Molly’s voice, not Ryan’s reflection of her.
Another relationship I had a problem was with Betty and Ryan’s. Personally I thought it came out of nowhere and I didn’t believe it either. I promise this review isn’t completely negative!!
The friendship between Ryan and Andy which was one of the more important ones also ended quite abruptly. I felt like there was no closure between the two of them and Andy sort of faded away as the story progressed. But it also may have shown Ryan’s character development.
The most important relationship in the book is between Ryan and Charlotte. It is a one-sided friendship, but it is one that offers Ryan redemption and ultimately that is what he is looking for.
If I had so many problems with the characters, you’re probably asking why I even bothered to finish this boo. It’s definitely a valid question and the only answer that I have is that the book just gripped me. Sometimes you do come across books that have a hold on you even though you have problems with it. I just wanted to find out what happens in the end.
Overall despite my issues with the characters, Deadville was an enjoyable read. The premise of the book was and the writing was good, good to the point where I finished it in a night. If you’re looking for a young adult/teenage book that deals with Cancer and it’s life changing affects this is a book you may want to consider reading.
My Rating: 3/5
Would I recommend it? Yes.
September 23, 2013
I just got finished reading the book DeadVille by Ron Koertge. This book wasn't super great but it still had a pretty good story to it. After thinking about the story after I read it really made me understand what the moral was.
The main character's name is Ryan. He seemed like your average high school kid. Ryan wasn't a popular kid but still a nice kid to most people. Ryan enjoyed hanging out with his best friend Andy, listening to rock music, and getting stoned... all the time. A couple years ago Ryan lost his younger sister Molly to cancer. This changed his family's life. He really didn't have much of a relationship with his father as he began to change. But he still kept his mom in his life but it wasn't a great bond. Ryan really wasn't a person who went out of his way for other people, maybe a little selfish. He just really tried to take care of himself.
Later on, there is a girl from his school named Charlette Silano who falls off a horse and is put into a coma. Ryan or Andy never really knew this girl, just saw her around in the school. At first they felt bad then just let it go by and forgot about it. Later in the book Ryan then decides to visit this girl and show a little support. For some reason he just feels obligated to keep coming back. He meets a girl named Betty at the hospital who also goes to his school but never really met. There is also a patient at this hospital named Thad. Ryan forms a bond with this 11 year old boy and Thad tells him about this place. Thad said when he wasn't doing so good he would fall asleep and go to this place called Deadville. He described it as the place between heaven and life. Thad tells Ryan he saw Charlette there.
Throughout the book Ryan keeps turning into a better person. He is a bit unfit and his parents recommend he starts working out. Ryan isn't to excited about it but he finally decides to come through with it and do it, unlike most things. This is one example how he changes. Ryan also becomes closer to Betty to the point where they are dating. Together they support Charlette. Ryan really doesn't even know why he keeps coming back to the hospital. There is just something inside him that motivates him to.
After reading Deadville I have some complaints and good things to say about it. I'll start out with the bad. It kind of took along time to get into this book. The introduction seemed like it was really extended. It took a while for something super significant and exciting to happen. Also this book could've been a lot better if it were longer. I say this because Ryan changed a lot throughout the book, and sometimes the author just states that he is changing and I really didn't get to read and see how he did. Also, without spoiling the book, the ending could've been longer too so the reader could get a better idea of the aftermath. I was kind of confused at the end because I didn't feel like I received the full in depth resolution.
There were also a lot of good things about this book. I liked how the main character just seemed like a bum and was able to turn into a caring person in a realistic way. Again realistic, this book seemed like something that could have actually happened. Ryan didn't just magically change, it was a process that went throughout the book. The only part that may not be realistic might have been the DeadVille place stated from Thad. I also liked how it could relate to a high schoolers knowledge. There was quite a few funny things in this book said by characters.
All in all I would give this book a 7/10. Due to the slow beginning then the great ending made up for it. I would recommend this book to younger kids, specifically in high school, or people who aren't in to the books with all the crazy unrealistic things. This is also a book for people who just want to hear a good, inspirational story.
The main character's name is Ryan. He seemed like your average high school kid. Ryan wasn't a popular kid but still a nice kid to most people. Ryan enjoyed hanging out with his best friend Andy, listening to rock music, and getting stoned... all the time. A couple years ago Ryan lost his younger sister Molly to cancer. This changed his family's life. He really didn't have much of a relationship with his father as he began to change. But he still kept his mom in his life but it wasn't a great bond. Ryan really wasn't a person who went out of his way for other people, maybe a little selfish. He just really tried to take care of himself.
Later on, there is a girl from his school named Charlette Silano who falls off a horse and is put into a coma. Ryan or Andy never really knew this girl, just saw her around in the school. At first they felt bad then just let it go by and forgot about it. Later in the book Ryan then decides to visit this girl and show a little support. For some reason he just feels obligated to keep coming back. He meets a girl named Betty at the hospital who also goes to his school but never really met. There is also a patient at this hospital named Thad. Ryan forms a bond with this 11 year old boy and Thad tells him about this place. Thad said when he wasn't doing so good he would fall asleep and go to this place called Deadville. He described it as the place between heaven and life. Thad tells Ryan he saw Charlette there.
Throughout the book Ryan keeps turning into a better person. He is a bit unfit and his parents recommend he starts working out. Ryan isn't to excited about it but he finally decides to come through with it and do it, unlike most things. This is one example how he changes. Ryan also becomes closer to Betty to the point where they are dating. Together they support Charlette. Ryan really doesn't even know why he keeps coming back to the hospital. There is just something inside him that motivates him to.
After reading Deadville I have some complaints and good things to say about it. I'll start out with the bad. It kind of took along time to get into this book. The introduction seemed like it was really extended. It took a while for something super significant and exciting to happen. Also this book could've been a lot better if it were longer. I say this because Ryan changed a lot throughout the book, and sometimes the author just states that he is changing and I really didn't get to read and see how he did. Also, without spoiling the book, the ending could've been longer too so the reader could get a better idea of the aftermath. I was kind of confused at the end because I didn't feel like I received the full in depth resolution.
There were also a lot of good things about this book. I liked how the main character just seemed like a bum and was able to turn into a caring person in a realistic way. Again realistic, this book seemed like something that could have actually happened. Ryan didn't just magically change, it was a process that went throughout the book. The only part that may not be realistic might have been the DeadVille place stated from Thad. I also liked how it could relate to a high schoolers knowledge. There was quite a few funny things in this book said by characters.
All in all I would give this book a 7/10. Due to the slow beginning then the great ending made up for it. I would recommend this book to younger kids, specifically in high school, or people who aren't in to the books with all the crazy unrealistic things. This is also a book for people who just want to hear a good, inspirational story.
March 26, 2013
I believe that it was the cover (as well as a Goodreads recommendation) that intriqued me enough to check this book out from my library. After having read the description and giving it a shot, I found that I did actually enjoy this book. Mr. Koertge has some interesting insight into the mind of teenagers, and I found that he wrote Ryan's character very honest and humorously. However, even though I did enjoy the humor and honesty, when I finished I just felt like there was something missing. What that thing was I still don't know.
Ever since the loss of his sister to cancer two years ago, Ryan has pretty much smoked his way through life with his newest friend Andy. Getting high and listening to music appeared to be his only ways to get away from the pain, so he did them whenever he needed a release. However, when popular girl Charlotte Silano falls into a coma, Ryan feels drawn to her hospital bed and continuously visits her despite her father's uneasiness. Ryan isn't the only long term visitor, as he constantly bumps into Betty at Charlotte's bedside. Ever so slightly, Ryan begins to find himself falling out of his previous two year bad habits and onto a road to recovery both mentally and physically.
I really did enjoy the writing in this book. It was real and full of humor that left me laughing out loud quite a bit. Even though there is plenty of blunt tellings of the pot smoking and dealing, I don't feel that it took anything away from the book or could in any way offend anyone. The plot was interesting and cute in its own way. Really, I'm not sure how else to describe it.
The pacing of the book wasn't bad at all, if anything I kept eagerly reading as I was doubly curious as to what would happen once Charlotte woke up. It was an interesting and somewhat realistic ending. Her reaction, anyway.
Character-wise, I was pretty satisfied with them. Ryan, our main guy, was written in nice way, and I didn't find myself having many problems with him. Sure, he spewed so many references from all over the place, but I dealt with it. He was obviously broken and a bit strange, and overall I really liked him. The only thing that slightly bothered me about him was the way that he spoke to his parents. It sounded very awkward to me each time, and I found myself slightly cringing trying to imagine the results for myself if I were to speak to my own parents in such a way. Eek.
I did like Ryan's parents, though. Weird as that sounds. I also enjoyed how they all came to terms with Molly's death.
Overall, Deadville was nice book. I wasn't completely blown away by it but I didn't exactly hate it either. To me it was a bit average and a nice way to pass time. The story was cute, and I really enjoyed how well the main character grew and dealt with the death of his sister. The language was fun and the pacing wasn't too bad. Before I mentioned that I thought that there was something missing. It probably wasn't missing anything. I was probably just waiting on something monumental and out of the blue to happen like all of the other YA books out there.
I'm not saying that this book needed any of that, just that it didn't knock my socks off. If anything it kindly matched them and put them away for me.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you want a short and cute read.
Ever since the loss of his sister to cancer two years ago, Ryan has pretty much smoked his way through life with his newest friend Andy. Getting high and listening to music appeared to be his only ways to get away from the pain, so he did them whenever he needed a release. However, when popular girl Charlotte Silano falls into a coma, Ryan feels drawn to her hospital bed and continuously visits her despite her father's uneasiness. Ryan isn't the only long term visitor, as he constantly bumps into Betty at Charlotte's bedside. Ever so slightly, Ryan begins to find himself falling out of his previous two year bad habits and onto a road to recovery both mentally and physically.
I really did enjoy the writing in this book. It was real and full of humor that left me laughing out loud quite a bit. Even though there is plenty of blunt tellings of the pot smoking and dealing, I don't feel that it took anything away from the book or could in any way offend anyone. The plot was interesting and cute in its own way. Really, I'm not sure how else to describe it.
The pacing of the book wasn't bad at all, if anything I kept eagerly reading as I was doubly curious as to what would happen once Charlotte woke up. It was an interesting and somewhat realistic ending. Her reaction, anyway.
Character-wise, I was pretty satisfied with them. Ryan, our main guy, was written in nice way, and I didn't find myself having many problems with him. Sure, he spewed so many references from all over the place, but I dealt with it. He was obviously broken and a bit strange, and overall I really liked him. The only thing that slightly bothered me about him was the way that he spoke to his parents. It sounded very awkward to me each time, and I found myself slightly cringing trying to imagine the results for myself if I were to speak to my own parents in such a way. Eek.
I did like Ryan's parents, though. Weird as that sounds. I also enjoyed how they all came to terms with Molly's death.
Overall, Deadville was nice book. I wasn't completely blown away by it but I didn't exactly hate it either. To me it was a bit average and a nice way to pass time. The story was cute, and I really enjoyed how well the main character grew and dealt with the death of his sister. The language was fun and the pacing wasn't too bad. Before I mentioned that I thought that there was something missing. It probably wasn't missing anything. I was probably just waiting on something monumental and out of the blue to happen like all of the other YA books out there.
I'm not saying that this book needed any of that, just that it didn't knock my socks off. If anything it kindly matched them and put them away for me.
☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you want a short and cute read.
Currently Reading
October 1, 2011 Ryan is a everyday high school kid(doesn't show what age)basically his whole day is going to school and after school he hangs out with his friend Andy to smoke.Ryan use to be a a normal kid but he had a sister named Molly and guessing from what i read he and her were the kind of relationship that they would be mean to each other but at the end they always love each other.Basically to sum things up Molly was diagnosed with cancer and she ended up dying... and that never left Ryan the same, throughout the story he's constantly getting reminders or flashbacks of stories of Molly and him.One day he hears about a classmate name Charlotte Silano in the hospital and that automatically reminds Ryan of Molly. Eventually he keeps on visiting her for no reason, while he's doing tat he starts to drift away from Andy.
Andy is Ryan's best friend who got Ryan into smoking pot after Molly's death Andy's is a little on the fat side.Molly was Ryan's younger sister who died of cancer Ryan was overprotective of her but she seemed pretty innocent. Betty is a girl from school that Ryan saw but never really acknowledged until he started visiting Charlotte.eventually they start meeting up day-by-day at the hospital and eventually they start to form a relationship.
I personally think that the author is writing to people who have lost someone dear to them.Because the whole story is for Ryan to overcome the tragic past of his sister and he thinks of Charlotte as molly.Ryan's parents are also dealing with molly's death but they don't show any expressions of emotion.But most of the time Ryan is deep in the dumps.
The theme/message i feel is "dealing with tough things in life may take a while but you can still do it."The main thing that the story talks about is a perfect example, Ryan was so depressed and had constant memory references to molly. I saw some spoilers that Charlotte wakes up and Ryan and her start to get close so he probably overcame the memory that was haunting him.I knew Ryan had it in him...
Andy is Ryan's best friend who got Ryan into smoking pot after Molly's death Andy's is a little on the fat side.Molly was Ryan's younger sister who died of cancer Ryan was overprotective of her but she seemed pretty innocent. Betty is a girl from school that Ryan saw but never really acknowledged until he started visiting Charlotte.eventually they start meeting up day-by-day at the hospital and eventually they start to form a relationship.
I personally think that the author is writing to people who have lost someone dear to them.Because the whole story is for Ryan to overcome the tragic past of his sister and he thinks of Charlotte as molly.Ryan's parents are also dealing with molly's death but they don't show any expressions of emotion.But most of the time Ryan is deep in the dumps.
The theme/message i feel is "dealing with tough things in life may take a while but you can still do it."The main thing that the story talks about is a perfect example, Ryan was so depressed and had constant memory references to molly. I saw some spoilers that Charlotte wakes up and Ryan and her start to get close so he probably overcame the memory that was haunting him.I knew Ryan had it in him...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2012
There’s something about this book which makes me shake my head. And another thing which grabs my heart.
Ryan is one of the near-Tom (referring to Melina Marchetta’s The Piper’s Son’s narrator) characters I’ve seen in a long time. He’s all messed up and broken, and does things which are considered “disgraceful” (smoking pot, getting high) because he can’t handle reality. Ryan’s a lot the same.
I think that’s why, despite me being annoyed by him, I tolerated and grew to love him. He was this strange kid. And just like what Betty said, I think he’s the only kid ever to visit a girl in a coma at the hospital.
The whole story plot is original. It definitely has its own charm, not to mention Thad –the awesome boy next door (at the hospital) who can see into deadville. It does have that slight bit of unrealism added, but what story doesn’t?
I love how, with Charlotte in a coma, Ryan changes a lot. I mean, his life changes. And that’s one of the main things I loved about this book: if it wasn’t for Charlotte’s coma-incident, Ryan wouldn’t have suddenly have so many friends and an increased popularity among people. So there’s always something good coming out of something bad, even if it’s two different people enduring the positive and negative.
The way Molly died is just awful. I can’t even express how terrible it’d be.
Something I didn’t like was how confusing it was. Also, it was really slow at the start. I felt as if the story could’ve been cut in half and I still wouldn’t miss out on anything. The names sound really made-up, and none of them sound modern. Like, we’ve got names like Diamande, Charlotte, Molly, Betty. And the last names are so made-up, it’s obvious the author thought them up on the spot.
Anyhow, I liked this book. I don’t really recommend it to anybody, but it’s still good.
June 6, 2013
The thing about character development is that it takes time. And at just over 200 (small) pages, there wasn't time. Ryan goes through an important transformation from self-involved, grief-stricken teen to more self-aware, considerate teen, but it only feels like it's going to stick because the author tells us so, not because it actually feels real. At least it wasn't abrupt - it did make sense.
I also wasn't sure what the deal was with the mammoths. I mean, it becomes clear to the readers, but the message I got was that it was a metaphor/symbol for all the things that are inexplicable in our lives. People will place their own meaning on events and symbols, but sometimes they can be utterly meaningless, or mean something completely different. The reason that bothered me is that I'm not sure what it had to do with the rest of the book. It wasn't like Ryan was really struggling with the meaning of his sister's death, just the grief associated with it.
The other things that annoyed me were the over-the-top drug use by every single teenager (or so it seemed), the music references (did the author make them up? It didn't seem necessary to the story), and the one-dimensional nature of Ryan's parents. And why would Ryan just wander into another patient (Thad)'s room? The hospitals I've been in don't encourage that. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I get annoyed by the whole thing. Which is weird, because when I was reading it, those things weren't actually annoying. The book as a whole, and upon first reading is innocuous and pleasant, and I cruised through it. But now it feels like a facade.
I'm torn between two and three stars, but since I didn't hate it on first reading, I'll leave it at three.
I also wasn't sure what the deal was with the mammoths. I mean, it becomes clear to the readers, but the message I got was that it was a metaphor/symbol for all the things that are inexplicable in our lives. People will place their own meaning on events and symbols, but sometimes they can be utterly meaningless, or mean something completely different. The reason that bothered me is that I'm not sure what it had to do with the rest of the book. It wasn't like Ryan was really struggling with the meaning of his sister's death, just the grief associated with it.
The other things that annoyed me were the over-the-top drug use by every single teenager (or so it seemed), the music references (did the author make them up? It didn't seem necessary to the story), and the one-dimensional nature of Ryan's parents. And why would Ryan just wander into another patient (Thad)'s room? The hospitals I've been in don't encourage that. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I get annoyed by the whole thing. Which is weird, because when I was reading it, those things weren't actually annoying. The book as a whole, and upon first reading is innocuous and pleasant, and I cruised through it. But now it feels like a facade.
I'm torn between two and three stars, but since I didn't hate it on first reading, I'll leave it at three.
July 6, 2009
My brother has this nasty habit of stealing all of my library books. Apparently, he's too lazy to come with us to the library to get his own...so he just borrows mine. He says he's trying them out for me, yadda, yadda, yadda. Whatever. It don't matter.
Really, I don't mind. I just think it's funny.
So, this book, when he returned it (last night, after church, hahah), he said, "On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a twenty."
So, I'm expecting this to be the most amazing book ever (ever, ever, ever...) And...It was...decent. Not horrible. Not fabulous. Just...I don't know. The beginning was...depressing. He was funny, when he wasn't high...and during the beginning, he was high most of the time.
Then he goes to the gym, and somehow, Rhett-like-Gone-With-the-Wind-but-better-than-Ashley turns him around. Something like, if X is bad, do Y. Simple. Not easy, but simple. And it's better then, because he's growing and changing from who he used to be.
And all of the musical references were really cool...I have the strangest impulse to go listen to "Burgundy Shoes" by Patty Griffin.
I must say, what I expected to happen...didn't happen. That's all.
Oh! Also, a really funny part--at least, I thought it was funny--page 11:
"You sold Brad dope?"
He leans back against the fake-grain wall. "So?"
"He's an CENSORED BY CHRISTINE."
"A nickel bag is all."
"And that makes it all right?"
So I'm sitting here cracking up, thinking, okay, who says 'dope' anymore? And when is selling drugs EVER right?
Also, the goths in Aardvark's Vintage are hilarious. Probably my favorite part. Okay, not really. It was a funny book, which I liked...
Really, I don't mind. I just think it's funny.
So, this book, when he returned it (last night, after church, hahah), he said, "On a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a twenty."
So, I'm expecting this to be the most amazing book ever (ever, ever, ever...) And...It was...decent. Not horrible. Not fabulous. Just...I don't know. The beginning was...depressing. He was funny, when he wasn't high...and during the beginning, he was high most of the time.
Then he goes to the gym, and somehow, Rhett-like-Gone-With-the-Wind-but-better-than-Ashley turns him around. Something like, if X is bad, do Y. Simple. Not easy, but simple. And it's better then, because he's growing and changing from who he used to be.
And all of the musical references were really cool...I have the strangest impulse to go listen to "Burgundy Shoes" by Patty Griffin.
I must say, what I expected to happen...didn't happen. That's all.
Oh! Also, a really funny part--at least, I thought it was funny--page 11:
"You sold Brad dope?"
He leans back against the fake-grain wall. "So?"
"He's an CENSORED BY CHRISTINE."
"A nickel bag is all."
"And that makes it all right?"
So I'm sitting here cracking up, thinking, okay, who says 'dope' anymore? And when is selling drugs EVER right?
Also, the goths in Aardvark's Vintage are hilarious. Probably my favorite part. Okay, not really. It was a funny book, which I liked...
June 15, 2008
Ryan has been in a self-induced emotional coma since the death of his younger sister two years ago - smoking pot, hanging out with a dealer buddy and drifting through school. When an older classmate falls off a horse and into a coma, Ryan's friend drags him in to visit. Ryan finds himself drawn to the hospital daily where he haltingly begins finally to deal with his grief and his feelings of guilt. It took me a few chapters to get into this book but quickly I was looking for excuses to read just one more chapter. Ryan is a character that worked really well for me: a really smart kid whose pain and grief had reached that point of critical mass. He could have gone either up or down and Charlotte's accident was the nudge that pushed Ryan to gather his strength and move on. The dialog is great, snappy and smart with heart underneathe. The cast of characters is well drawn, especially the family struggling with the loss of a child and getting lost themselves. I really think teens will love this one!
August 22, 2013
When I bought this book I was in the midst of losing my Grandfather. It was a fate filled $2 purchase, a light read that held a helpful reminder. I began the novel before my Grandfather died, and finished it a week after his funeral. The novel was a reminder that even if you fall, you can always get back up and that things thought to be broken can be repaired. Though the novel is not a groundbreaking approach to life, death and coming back from loss - it is an engaging novel filled with characters you not only connect to, but root for.
The novel, though short, follows Ryan, a high schooler who begins to visit the comatose popular girl Charlotte in the hospital. What began as a once off visit turns into a tradition he cannot break as he begins to deal with the damage inflicted on him and his family by the death of his little sister. He faces the choices he's made that have turned him into the person he is and reflects on himself and how he views the world around him. With music as his lifeline, he starts on the road to healing.
The novel, though short, follows Ryan, a high schooler who begins to visit the comatose popular girl Charlotte in the hospital. What began as a once off visit turns into a tradition he cannot break as he begins to deal with the damage inflicted on him and his family by the death of his little sister. He faces the choices he's made that have turned him into the person he is and reflects on himself and how he views the world around him. With music as his lifeline, he starts on the road to healing.
January 29, 2009
This book was very interesting. It exists in an awkward gray area between a writing style suited best to young teens and content suitable to older young people. I did appreciate the frank honesty that was employed in dealing with the subjects of drugs, sex, teendom, etc. without being too jaded or too idealistic. I thought this was a pleasantly balanced book that I give extra credit for dealing face on with the subjects of death, loss and disappointment in the young adult arena. The reason why I gave it three stars was because the whole book would have been better if only there had been more of it. I felt a little rushed and left wanting to know the characters a little better. It all fell together a little too easily.
I would also like to say that the dialogue was witty and fun. I also find the main character coping with loss by becoming a complete stoner and then waking up a COMPLETELY believable story.
I would also like to say that the dialogue was witty and fun. I also find the main character coping with loss by becoming a complete stoner and then waking up a COMPLETELY believable story.
February 24, 2009
Why is Ryan drawn to the hospital to visit a girl he doesn't even know? Her Dad thinks he's a pervert and his friends think he's trying to get on her good side for when she wakes up. But Ryan knows the truth. He's trying to make up for the way he acted when his younger sister, Molly, was in the same hospital dying.
I know this sounds trite and like a Lurlene McDaniel tissue extravaganza, but it's actually a funny and insightful story about a family trying to cope with grief. Ryan deals with it by getting high and losing himself in his Ipod. But maybe he's beginning to find his way back by talking to Charlotte who can't judge or criticize.
Like most of Koertge's books Deadville has lots of drug use and drinking. But it's an important part of the story and the book wouldn't be the same without it.
I really liked this book and would highly recommend it to older teens and adults who like YA.
I know this sounds trite and like a Lurlene McDaniel tissue extravaganza, but it's actually a funny and insightful story about a family trying to cope with grief. Ryan deals with it by getting high and losing himself in his Ipod. But maybe he's beginning to find his way back by talking to Charlotte who can't judge or criticize.
Like most of Koertge's books Deadville has lots of drug use and drinking. But it's an important part of the story and the book wouldn't be the same without it.
I really liked this book and would highly recommend it to older teens and adults who like YA.
September 21, 2014
Not a bad read, but some of it is just badly written. There's no real underlying theme, it's simply about a guy whose sister dies in hospital, making him have an adverse reaction when a girl from school ends up in hospital in a coma (fell off a horse). It's kind of about an afterlife/limbo/intoxicated state that occurs after something bad happens, but it seems more interested in talking about the fairly unlikable main characters music and eventual clothing snobbery. Unless the whole book is set in "Deadville".. In which case add another star, coz that's genius.
From this he loses friends (sort of?), makes new friends, and sorts things out with his dad. It's all a bit of a mess, but the enduring atmosphere that the book conveyed made it worth finishing. Not Wallflower amazing, but a pretty good gateway for reading more.
From this he loses friends (sort of?), makes new friends, and sorts things out with his dad. It's all a bit of a mess, but the enduring atmosphere that the book conveyed made it worth finishing. Not Wallflower amazing, but a pretty good gateway for reading more.
September 6, 2016
I'm not going to say that I didn't like this, but I didn't love it either.
This book starts off with the main character mourning the loss of his sister and dealing with that fact by getting stoned with his best friend, Andy - and then a popular girl named Charlotte falls of her horse and into a coma and his whole world just changes.
The characters were a little dull, bland, but I understand it can be really hard to build up decent character arcs when your book is only a little over 200 pages long. Ryan's character arc was interesting, but I wouldn't say it's my absolute favourite.
I don't know if this story will stay with me. It's nothing massively mind blowing and significant. But it was decent and enough to keep me interested, and allow me to finish it, so I could try and add some more books to my reading challenge.
This book starts off with the main character mourning the loss of his sister and dealing with that fact by getting stoned with his best friend, Andy - and then a popular girl named Charlotte falls of her horse and into a coma and his whole world just changes.
The characters were a little dull, bland, but I understand it can be really hard to build up decent character arcs when your book is only a little over 200 pages long. Ryan's character arc was interesting, but I wouldn't say it's my absolute favourite.
I don't know if this story will stay with me. It's nothing massively mind blowing and significant. But it was decent and enough to keep me interested, and allow me to finish it, so I could try and add some more books to my reading challenge.
March 3, 2009
This book is a little aimless and kind of predictable, yet I really liked it, mainly because of the main character, Ryan, who feels like a real person. Ryan's little sister died of a brain tumor, and for a couple of years, Ryan has been numbing the pain of that by staying pretty much continually high. But when a girl he barely knows falls from a horse, Ryan finds himself drawn to the hospital to visit the girl, and slowly starts to make connections with others - a girl from school, a sick 11 year old boy in the room next door, a classmate's little sister, his mom, his dad. And somehow, slowly, Ryan starts coming out of his self-induced fog. This isn't an earth shattering book, but it really appealed to me.
December 29, 2012
This book started out strong but petered out towards the ending. The characters started interesting and the story had the possibility of going into some really interesting directions with meditations on life, love and loss. Unfortunately the story went nowhere and became a bland moralist tale by the end. The author did have some very good turns of phrase and descriptors at times that made me laugh out loud but I found the story just got dull by the ending and left me unsatisfied. I was annoyed that the main character's transformation didn't lead to a more developed story line and even more annoyed that several interesting characters were either abandoned by the main character or not fleshed out more. This book starts strong but ends with a whimper instead of a bang.
January 6, 2009
A hapless stoner still coping with the loss of his younger sister finds solice in visiting a comatose classmate. Ryan cannot seem to turn away from Charlotte's hospital bed, even though they were barely acquaintances. Ryan finds his redemption in visiting her since he was never able to be there soberly for his sister and completely shutdown after her death just going through the motions of life, always with music going in his ears.
Definitely a good recommendation for someone who has lost a family member and is looking for ways to cope. Obviously, not with drug use, but the acceptance that comes in the end. A bit of a sad book but quirky humor makes up for it and witty repartee.
Definitely a good recommendation for someone who has lost a family member and is looking for ways to cope. Obviously, not with drug use, but the acceptance that comes in the end. A bit of a sad book but quirky humor makes up for it and witty repartee.
January 6, 2009
Ryan's little sister died of cancer two years ago and since then he has dropped out of the normal world- listening to music 24/7, and getting stoned with his dealer friend Andy. But when Charlotte, a popular high school girl is thrown from a horse and slips into a coma, Ryan is surprised to find himself visiting her hospital room almost every day, even though they weren't even friends. He finds new friends and begins to heal from this process, including the sick little boy in the next room, and a "jock" girl; even helps his dad when they start working out together. A nice story about recovery from deep grief.
September 5, 2008
I will start by acknowledging my love of all things Koertge. He is one of my favorite YA authors and I always enjoy his books. This one was no exception. He manages to combine wittiness and poignancy. Ryan, the main character, feels like a fully realized teen. Unhappy and constantly stoned, Ryan can't deal with the death of his little sister. Slowly, and with the help of a comatose class mate, he discovers that he needs to change in order to live the life he deserves. Quirky and honest, Koertge made me smile yet again.
January 12, 2009
ryan's younger sister molly has died, and the family is coping:
mom: yoga
dad: vegan diet, running, working late
ryan: weed, ipod
then charlotte silano, a popular girl from ryan's school, falls off her horse and enters a coma. ryan finds himself drawn to her hospital room, where he talks to her, meets some new friends and a girlfriend, and slowly remembers what being alive should be like.
i didn't find anything especially exciting here, and the romance between ryan & betty is downright lackluster. still, teens in grief might find something here.
mom: yoga
dad: vegan diet, running, working late
ryan: weed, ipod
then charlotte silano, a popular girl from ryan's school, falls off her horse and enters a coma. ryan finds himself drawn to her hospital room, where he talks to her, meets some new friends and a girlfriend, and slowly remembers what being alive should be like.
i didn't find anything especially exciting here, and the romance between ryan & betty is downright lackluster. still, teens in grief might find something here.
January 17, 2009
When I first picked this book up I thought, here we go again, another book about a teenager with a sister who gets cancer and dies. Then a girl at school falls off a horse and is in a coma. Does trite come to mind. Strangely, I ended up really liking this book. Ryan, the main character, is a pot smoking kid who has given up on life. He ends up figuring out who he is, or I should say was, and turns his life around. Well written with some funny patches and a happy ending. I'm a sucker for happy endings. Must have them.
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