Tuesday, December 1, 2015

JASMINE's THOUGHTS on #Static (ARC) by Eric Laster

Genre:
Young Adult
Paranormal Mystery
Coming-of-Age
Publish Date:
April 12, 2016
Publisher:

Synopsis:
When Curtis Brooks starts receiving calls from Wilt, His dead older brother, he's sure there's a reason--to provide evidence that will lead to the murderer's arrest. But Wilt claims he wasn't murdered and that his calling is standard protocol for the newly deceased, meant to help him adjust. Where is he? A place known unofficially as Aftermart--a sort of purgatory/superstore selling pop culture artifacts from past centuries.

After Wilt's death is ruled a homicide, Curtis embarks on a dangerous plan to find the killer, which soon has him scheming against an unsavory billionaire and floundering toward love with his brother's ex-girlfriend Suzy, all while contending with being "the dead guy's bro" at high school.

Why would anyone want Wilt dead? In sleuthing out the murderer, is Curtis only hastening his own death? And why is Wilt helping Curtis win over Suzy, even as he organizes a massive rebellion at the Aftermart?

Equal parts murder mystery, fantasy, and coming-of-age story, #Static is a fresh, timely novel from an exciting new voice in YA fiction.


     

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**About the Author**
A New Yorker by birth, Eric Laster lives in Los Angeles, where he pens fiction and provides strategic writing services to select clients. After a successful stint as a ghostwriter, Eric re-launched under his own name with the middle-grade novel Welfy Q. Deederhoth: Meat Purveyor, World Savior. Whenever he's not scribing, he records punk rock ad presses it to vinyl.

Stay connected with Eric Laster
   

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*My Thoughts*

Note: This review contains NO spoilers

Hmmm... This was definitely an interesting read. #Static definitely reads as a mystery, paranormal, and coming-of-age novel...all wrapped in one story. I mean...REALLY! How would anyone react when receiving a phone call from a dead loved one!?! Eric Laster's character development and world building took me into Curtis's life as he maneuvered through his life at home, at school, and the investigation into his brother's death. There are just no words...haha!

The book read as if I was in Curtis's head! As he learned more about his brother, he learned more about himself as well. Even the writing read as if it was Curtis speaking and thinking...the mind of a teenage boy with his hormones running amok! Wow! Seeing how he sees adults through his eyes...definitely projects the perspective of possibly many other teenagers dealing with family and/or personal issues.

As Curtis learned more about what Wilt was secretly doing, the more determined he became to find out what "really" happened to Wilt. I will not reveal too much, but, at some point, some scenes were definitely cringe-worthy...even as seen through the eyes of a teenage boy. It's also interesting to "see" the other side...at the Aftermart. We learned a bit from Wilt what "life" is like after death at the Aftermart.

However, the story did have a slow pace at times. There were moments though that I absolutely couldn't stop turning the pages, but I had to put it down due to the cruel nature of the scene(s). Haha...I am not going to divulge that, it will just ruin it...LOL!

All in all, Eric Laster created a compelling story that teenagers and adults will enjoy, even relate to. #Static is a fascinating story that takes readers on an insightful journey of a teenage boy dealing with grief and growing up. And, yes, there is a lot of insight out this coming-of-age story with a mystery and paranormal twist to it.

My rating:


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