DEAD END IN NORVELT
By Jack Gantos
352 pp. Yearling. £5.99. (Ages 12 and up)
ISBN
9780440870043
Rating: ? Stars
I read this book because it was winner of the Newbery Medal 2012. Also, it had a good front cover so that made me want to read it. However, I did have a problem with it. That was because there weren't any skeletons eating cookies in boxes, unlike the cover. My other problem was that Jack wasn't actually dying of boredom (like a skeleton) but was starting to have fun in other ways.
This book did have a bit of an interesting story towards the end though, I must grant it that. The actual story in this book is about a boy called Jack (just like the writer). First Jack gets in trouble for playing with his dad’s guns. Then he gets in trouble for mowing the corn lawn because even though his dad tells him to do it. His mum does not want him to do that, and then he is grounded for all of his summer. However Miss Volker needs his help for writing newspaper obituaries for the dead but what happens when she is suspected for crime?
If you like books that are mysterious and in which people die, then you should read this book. If you like books where you know what is going to happen and where no one but the bad guy dies, then definitely don't read this book. This story has a few morals so I shall not describe every single one of them. The one I shall tell you about is this: Do not think you shall catch someone’s love by accusing them of something you did yourself because it shall just make it harder to get them.
