The Gone Away Place

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Recommended
Level: 8th grade and up

To be honest I was not expecting much from this book based on the book jacket description but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I planned to do a fast read of this book while watching my daughter at tennis practice but I got sucked in to the story. If you are unable to suspend belief this is not the book for you. After an outbreak of deadly tornadoes, the town of Newfoundland, OH has to say goodbye to a large number of family members and neighbors and classmates. Ellie, who was spared the fate of her best friends and her boyfriend is suddenly starting to see her loved ones all around her even though she knows they are gone. I feel like show more this story could have failed in less capable writing hands but Barzak, a faculty member at Ohio's Youngstown State University, knows how to pace the action and make you care about the characters in a seemingly far-fetched story. show less

Please see my review on Amazon.com under C. Wong. Thank you.