Static

Gr 10 Up—Curtis Brooks's brother, Wilt, had only been dead for a week before he started calling. Curtis believes the calls are happening so that he can solve Wilt's murder, but Wilt insists that he is just calling as part of his afterlife therapy. The cops agree with Curtis, however, when a strange device is found attached to the car Wilt was driving the night he crashed. The narrator goes on a search for the truth that will lead him into dangerous territory with a creepy billionaire, a crooked landlord, and even Wilt's ex-girlfriend Suzy, who may be a suspect. Along with Curtis's mother's strange reaction to Wilt's death, a hipster school counselor, and his own burgeoning feelings for Suzy, it's no wonder that Curtis is on medication. This coming-of-age novel suffers from a lack of focus. The story works best when it sticks to one genre. The work is most interesting when Curtis is dealing with his family and personal issues, especially Wilt and Suzy. The murder mystery is fairly compelling as well. The plot goes off the rails when it features Wilt's experiences in the Aftermart—the place people go when they die. That concept feels contrived, and the result is an enjoyable, if mixed, novel.