Nevermore by Kelly Craigh
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Release Date: August 31st 2010
Started Reading: March 22, 2019
Finished Reading: March 26, 2019
Summary (supplied from GoodReads): Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.
His life depends on it.
My Thoughts: Honestly, I had read this book back in 2012 from my local public library, but due to due dates I couldn’t finish it. I then purchased the books in time so that I could re-read them. But, obviously until recently I never had a chance. I would try to pick Nevermore up again, and for some reason always just after the ice cream shop scene. I think other stuff was just distracting me.
Of course, I picked it up again and I refused to let anything distract me. I read through it with in 7 days due to work and the like. And, guess what...I didn’t really want to put it down. I would constantly be thinking that I wanted to read rather than go into work, but of course I need to work to pay my bills.
Nevermore is the type of book that you really have to have patience with when you get about half-way through. Its not a bad thing...its just that the build of of stuff tends to wear you down and you get impatient. I found this with the other books too. Yet, its that build up that you need. So, that you can get more enjoyment out of the parts that you really are looking forward to.
The characters I found were quite dynamic considering the story that was being told. Isobel is a cheerleader, but she’s not a bobble head like your mind would like to stereotype. And, and with that it brings me to her future love interest in the book. Varen Nethers, he’s a goth kid, and as you can now imagine when I mentioned sterotypes...that exactly what Isobel did...she stereotyped Varen when she was placed as his partner for an English project that they did on Poe. Over time she begins to find out more about Varen. It could partially be the fact that her actions catch him off guard because she wasn’t quite what he expected either. That ice cream shop scene that I mentioned earlier? One of my all time favourites when Isobel sticks up for him. It think that was the time that he really starting thinking that his stereotyping was wrong too.
One stereotype that I did see in background characters’ behaviours was that of Isobels old friends. The jocks acted really....what you think of a jock fromt he 90′s films and stories of when they bully those who they think are weaker than they are.
When you enter Varen’s dream world with Isobel...another sterotype, but on the story this time. It was coocoo for coacoa puffs. But, thats what you expect from a story that involves Edgar Allen Poe elements, mystery, horror and a dash of YA.
Reynolds was quite the character through out the books. In the first book he was very much like a...not quite spirit guide...but you almost want to put him in that catagory because he was constantly helping Isobel? I guess you could say a “Dream Companion” though I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that before myself...but trust me when you read the books, you’ll see what I mean.
Gwen...you meet her about halfway through the first book...and honest to goodness I saw a good friend of mine in her. Not quite the same personality, but the sarcasticasm and always there for you drive I saw completely. I just recently go in touch with this friend again too, which I find a bit ironic in a hilarious way. Gwen is the type of friend that everyone really wants in their lives. She can playfully bicker with the main character’s love inerest. She can get under the friend’s parents nerves, and yet find her way back again. She’s there to help her friend get out of a tight spot, and put her life on the line for each other. Yet, she’s also the friend that encourages you to jump out of your comfort zone a bit, so that you can improve yourself.
The setting through out the book I found was quite descriptive, that might be why I mentioned earlier that you really need to have patience with the books. There is foreshadowing, and you really do need to pay attention. It will most likely be explained by the end of the book, or well into the next one what something might have meant. By this point you kind of want to slap you head like you “should have had a V8″ for being so simple and not catching it. You, then reflect on something, and your hear begins to melt.
The end of the story? *claps to Kelly* You really did a good one. Quite the cliff hanger to make the reader come back for more. That’s exactly what I did. Though I must say with the second one I was a sucker for punishment. For the readers of the blog...you might get an explaination in the next review.
Verdict: I quite enjoyed this book. I found it delightful, mysterious, and intreguing all at the same time. The characters you actually want to hanging out with. Even though the Dream World is kind of freaky, you do want to go there and see what you see from your own mind at times. It was next to perfect in my minds eye, but I am trying to be a little bit more honest with my reviews, like I said when I started the blog. Soooooo...I dub this book....
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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