(Madison Avery, Book 1).
HarperCollins. 2009.
ISBN: 9780061718167
16.99. Hardcover. 240 pages.
Readers Annotation
Madison Avery went to the prom and died – sort of.
Plot Summary
When Madison Avery left the prom with a handsome stranger she doesn’t expect to die. Before he could stab her with his sword she steals his amulet and gets away. She discovers that although her body is dead and missing she still exists. Now she’s stuck in between life and death. Not really dead, but certainly not alive. As long as she carries the amulet she appears to be living so she continues to go to school. After all she’ll have to get a job someday. She doesn’t know why the dark reaper tried to kill her, and she isn’t going to sit around trying to figure it out. When the story begins Madison is already in training with Barnabas, to be a light reaper. Light reapers are the good guys who try to prevent the killings of the dark reapers. Madison has taken the amulet of the dark timekeeper Kairos. The timekeepers have the ability to move through the time stream. One is dark, the other light. It’s all about balance in the cosmos. Overseeing the reapers are the Seraphs, a high order of angels. Madison is also protected by a guardian angel named Grace, and she has a cute new boyfriend named Josh. If she can figure out why Kairos wants her truly dead, she might just have a chance of staying alive.
Critical Evaluation
Although she doesn’t admit it, it seems as if Harrison has been influenced by the cable television show Dead Like Me. With her usual joyfulness Harrison has created a world where grim reapers and guardian angels really exist. Yet unlike her Hallows series, this novel could have used a little more time in editing. There are plot holes, but Harrison is known to employ them in future storylines. Plus, the novel bogs down in several places. It’s almost as if she has left off writing the novel, come back to it and forget where she was. It is confusing. This is her first young adult novel and claims to be the first book in a series. We can only hope the future novels have more clarity.
Information about the author
Kim Harrison is the author of The Hallows series of books. You can find out more about her on her website at http://www.kimharrison.net/index.html.
Genre
Fantasy, horror, teen dating
Curriculum ties
None
Challenge Issues
None (the violence is very mild).
Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book. You can find out more about this book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Once-Dead-Twice-Madison-Avery/dp/0061718165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260231309&sr=1-1
Booktalking Ideas
1. Talk about how Madison becomes a reaper trainee.
2. Talk about her relationship with Josh.
Reading Level/Age
Young adult, ages 15 and up.
Why I included this title
The is the first YA novel by Harrison, and I am a fan of her Hallows series.
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