by Patrick Ness
This is a book that will get you thinking. The story begins with a drowning. Sixteen year old Seth is struggling in the icy waters of an ocean - the waves dash him against rocks - he dies. But then, he wakes up - on the front path of a house. Is this heaven or hell? Is he dead or alive? Is this purgatory? You are left with these questions all through the book. Just when you think you know what's happened and where Seth is, the author throws in another conundrum and you're back to puzzling over what on earth is going on. But not in a bad way. Your interest is held as the author reveals what has happened in the past, Seth's relationship with his family and friends, the tragedy that occurred in his family (quite a horrific one too - very moving) for which Seth knows he is to blame and can never forgive himself. Seth is not alone in this strange world. There is the strong and wilful teenage girl Regine, the young Polish boy Tomasz, and the ominous black clad and black helmeted Driver (or 'Death' as Tomasz calls him) who is constantly tracking them down. As they try to answer his questions as to where they are and their purpose of being there, they help him along with answers to problems in his past life, so he starts to realise that there always was and always is 'More than this'.Tomasz is the one character I found the most entertaining, but also the one I had the most problem with. He is twelve years old and had been learning English ready to start a new life there with his mother when he found himself in this scary new world. But his words are almost philosophical - too mature for a 12-yr-old, never mind a Polish boy just learning the language. But I will forgive the author this as he is my favourite character.
A powerful book for all you thinkers out there!
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