About the book:
When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory.
Over the next week, Cohen's childhood comes back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his parents' separation. The accident Cohen witnessed and the traumatic images he couldn't unsee. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding:
Is he responsible for his father's death?
Master story weaver Shawn Smucker relays a tale both eerie and enchanting, one that will have you questioning reality and reaching out for what is true, good, and genuine.
My review:
This was definitely a unique story as I wasn't quite sure if it was spiritual warfare or a dream/nightmare or an allegory for much of it. I liked how the story moved from past to present and back so there were two stories happening at once. Cohen struggled with his faith as he felt he needed to keep confessing his guilt, yet won't confess all. He wondered where God was in all of the mess. He's angry at his parents for their divorce when he was a kid and the events surrounding it and how his life fell apart afterwards. It really drove home how much selfishness affects other people and especially can hurt the children. There were some creepy and suspenseful moments in the book and led to a somewhat shocking event I figured was coming and then another I didn't see coming! This story dealt with faith and coming to terms with our parents' humanness and remembering the good times and the bad. It's about the importance of dealing with things before it's too late and loving people while you have them. If you like stories a little twisty and unique, you might want to check it out!
I received this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
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Photo by: John Sanderson of Sanderson Images Shawn Smucker
Shawn Smucker is the author of the young adult novels The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There, as well as the memoir Once We Were Strangers. He lives with his wife and six children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. You can find him...
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