An Funny Story of Angst and the Afterlife
By Cathy Brett
Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $14.99, 288 pages
Scarlett Dedd has always bemoaned her life, from being poor and having hand-me-down clothes to being an outcast at school. Dreading an upcoming school trip, she decides to make herself just sick enough to stay home by eating wild mushrooms. Unfortunately for Scarlett, the mushrooms were poisonous and she accidentally kills herself and her family. Now adjusting to the afterlife with her family in tow, Scarlett must figure out how to make the best of a supernatural situation and find a new “life” for herself.
Scarlett Dedd is a hilarious book about being a teenage girl who doesn’t let a little thing like death keep her down. The book follows Scarlett as she learns to flex her undead muscles and tries to find ways of connecting with her friends. The commentary by Scarlett is done in an online blog form and also has excerpts from her online afterlife support group. Scarlett is a fantastic character and is engaging from the first page of the book. Her family is also engaging, albeit in a more eccentric way. The story moves along at a nice pace and the writing is fun and inventive. Teens will enjoy reading about Scarlett’s escapades.
Reviewed by Barbara Cothern
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