Shaun David Hutchinson is the author of numerous books for young adults, including The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried, The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza, At the Edge of the Universe, and We Are the Ants. He also edited the anthologies Violent Ends and Feral Youth and wrote the memoir Brave Face, which chronicles his struggles with depression and coming out during his teenage years. He lives in Seattle, where he enjoys drinking coffee, yelling at the TV, and eating cake. Visit him at ShaunDavidHutchinson.com or on Twitter @ShaunieDarko.
"Biting, hopeful, and laugh-out-loud funny, Dino and July’s story
is a heartfelt exploration of how our friendships shape us,
even after they’re dead and gone."
*Francesca Zappia, ward-winning author of Eliza and Her Monsters
and Made You Up*
“A fearless and brutal look at friendships and the emotional
autopsies we all do when they die. Like a real relationship you
will laugh, rage, and mourn its loss when it’s over. If you haven’t
been reading Hutchinson, this is a brilliant place to start.”
*Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of DREAD
NATION*
"Only Shaun David Hutchinson could take on love, family,
friendship, life, and death so deftly, hilariously,
poignantly, and thoughtfully. I loved every second
of this book. THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY
BURIED somehow manages to be wholly original yet
familiar, simultaneously hilarious and moving, weird and
wonderful. This is a book you can’t put down even if
you wanted to. Have you been looking for a zombie book
that will make you laugh and cry? Look no further than this
one, by one of young adult literature’s sharpest
talents.”
*Jeff Zentner, Morris Award-winning author of The Serpent King*
Get ready, because Hutchinson (The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza,
2018) is going to knock your socks off with this new, deliciously
bizarre novel. Dino's parents own a funeral home, so being around
dead bodies isn't exactly unusual for him. But when his ex–best
friend July dies suddenly and shows up in his basement, it isn't
the fact that she's dead that shocks him, but rather the fact that
she suddenly wakes up! As the two do their best to figure out what
is going on, they embark on a journey to confront their combined
past, and their future apart. However, the longer they spend trying
to uncover the mystery of July's reanimation, the more fishy things
begin to smell—literally. Readers will find themselves captivated
both by Dino and July's complicated history and even more complex
present, as well as Dino's own journey of self-discovery. In the
midst of everything else, Dino and his boyfriend—a sweet, funny,
and supportive trans guy—navigate their own relationship against
the backdrop of chaos July has brought down into their lives.
Gender, sexuality, friendship, life, and death are all sensitively
explored in Hutchinson's surreal, new narrative. His intelligent
writing will seduce readers with its complex and spunky characters,
lively dialogue, offbeat humor, and emotional depth. — Rob
Bittner
*Oct 15, 2018*
Shaun David Hutchinson has delivered another unique young adult
novel. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of
former best friends, Dino and July. What makes this different from
other novels with alternating narration is the fact that July died
and has come back from the dead—not as a zombie per se, but she is
a decomposing, yet still functioning (except for normal
physiological functions like a heartbeat) corpse. Throughout the
course of the novel the two work through the issues in their
friendship, accept some of their own insecurities, and come to
terms with July’s death. As Dino and July work through the mystery
of July’s return from the dead, they realize not only is she
undead, but death seems to have ceased to exist around the world.
The discussion of the larger impact the end of death would have
worldwide contrasts with the personal story of Dino and July and is
one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Strong, well-developed
characters will have readers feeling like they, too, are friends
with Dino and July. The novel addresses sexuality, grief, and
occasionally references our current political leaders. Comedic
relief is provided through July’s progressing physical
decomposition. Purchase for most collections serving teens,
especially where magical realism is popular. Give to fans of A.S.
King and Andrew Smith. Kimberly Hillary, Librarian, Mount Horeb
(Wisconsin) High School
Recommended
*March April 2019*
Gr 8 Up–A brain aneurysm killed July Cooper, but it can’t destroy
her bond with Dino DeLuca. July rises from the dead at the funeral
home owned by Dino’s family, and though the two teens had been on
the outs for the past year, they are drawn together as they attempt
to conceal July’s reanimation. What ensues is messy. July’s body is
slowly rotting, and the two trade barbed words while untangling why
their friendship ended after Dino met his boyfriend, Rafi. Once
again, Hutchinson defies genres. This isn’t a ghost story, and July
isn’t a zombie, as she frequently points out. But she can’t eat,
she has no heartbeat, and until she’s finally laid to rest, nobody
else can die. This inventive take on the life-after-death narrative
ponders profound truths. It’s the ones who love us the most who can
inflict the deepest wounds and hold us back, but even bitter fights
can’t extinguish some connections. Like typical adolescents,
uncertain Dino and snarky July seem wise beyond their years one
moment and maddeningly immature the next, and their journeys to
self-discovery will resonate with readers. VERDICT A grotesque,
mordantly funny, and tender look at friendship, for fans of Aaron
Starmer’s Spontaneous and Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the
End.–Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
*February 2019*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
