About the book:
It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident--and young Samuel Chambers would have done anything to turn back time. Even today, he can hardly believe it all happened . . .
Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back.
His quest to defeat death will entangle him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict, forcing Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question.
Could it be possible that death is a gift?
My review:
This was an interesting book that keeps you guessing! There was some suspense, some mystery and some grief as Sam and his father deal with the loss of his mother. I liked the characters fine but I felt a little frustrated with Sam and his choices. I could understand his wanting to get his mother back but at what cost? I wanted a little more redemption for him at the end than there was. I liked the back and forth of modern-day Sam as he remembers what happened in his childhood; most of the story is told from his young self. There was a good portrayal of good and evil. The creation story is told and then there's a little bit of a continuation of it and a twist. Overall, the message was that death is just a passage, not a destination and that there's ultimately hope for Sam to see his mother again. It also makes you think about how horrible living forever would be, watching your loved ones die and never getting to go to Heaven. It was a little hard for me to stay interested in the story. It was a little slow and I didn't feel that invested in the characters. It looks like the story will continue on as we learn more about Abra's adventures next summer. It sounds intriguing and I might check it out. If you like unusual stories, you might want to check it out.
I received this book free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.
The Author
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Shawn Smucker
Shawn Smucker lives with his wife and six children in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Day the Angels Fell is his first novel. You can find him online at www.shawnsmucker.com, where you can also sign up for his newsletter.
Continue reading about Shawn Smucker
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