Johnny and the Dead [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Grade 5-7–In this sequel to Only You Can Save Mankind (HarperCollins, 2005), 12-year-old Johnny discovers that he can see, hear, and communicate with spirits in the town cemetery. The cemetery, the only spot of unblighted land in the town, is about to be bulldozed and developed by a large corporation, so Johnny and his friends set about trying to save it (and its denizens) from destruction. Unfortunately, no one particularly famous was ever buried there, so the boys' publicity plan seems doomed–until the dead take things into their own innovative and rebellious hands, and Johnny finds the courage to take a stand against all odds. Fans of Gregory Maguire's books will appreciate the tongue-in-cheek tone and wry humor, and the quarrelsome yet friendly chatter among the dead spirits is reminiscent of Eva Ibbotson's titles. The plot (kids versus big corporation, à la Carl Hiassen) is tied up rather too neatly, but that's beside the point. Readers will take immense pleasure in the jokes, some broad and some subtle and dry, that come sailing at them from all sides. This book stands alone easily, but after reading it, kids will want the first one.–Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
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Gr. 5-8. In the previous volume of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy, Only You Can Save Mankind (2005), aliens solicited Johnny's help. Here Johnny is buttonholed by dead people worried about a developer's plans to bulldoze their cemetery. Assisted by three skeptical but loyal sidekicks, Johnny delves into city history and mounts an eloquent plea for preservation, while the ghosts revel in modern technology and pop culture. Aspects of the telling are imperfectly blended, especially the thread involving Johnny's ineffable sense of connection to a local battalion decimated in World War I. Nonetheless, Pratchett's fans will revel in the idiosyncratic touches, such as the quirky euphemisms for dead ("breathily challenged," "post-senior citizens"), and his thematic juggling act, which incorporates wit and slapstick, philosophies of the afterlife, and a gritty view of a struggling, working-class community ("The point about being dead in this town is that it's probably hard to tell the difference"). First published in England in the early 1990s, which accounts for some dated references, the trilogy was previously available to U.S. readers only in a book-club edition. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

"A humorous book, full of puns and asides, wittily and skilfully written ... A delight of a book for any fluent teenage reader" The School Librarian "Marvellous story ... funny, poignant, angry, outrageous and moving ... Terry Pratchett is simply the best there is" Vector "A lovely, funny, witty, sometimes wise book, exciting and entertaining and always highly readable" Junior Bookshelf "Entertaining fable" Independent "With wonderfully colorful characters and a surprising ending, this story is one which readers will remember long after they have read the last page" Through the Looking Glass 20080701 --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

numerous line drawings --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

“One of the best and one of the funniest author’s alive.”
—Independent --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Sir Terry Pratchett is one of the most popular authors writing in the UK today. He is the acclaimed creator of the Discworld(R) series, the first title in which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. Worldwide sales of his books are in excess of 65 million, and they have been translated into 36 languages. He has written a number of titles for younger readers, including The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, which won the Carnegie Medal in the UK, and Nation, which was a Printz Honor Book in the US. He was awarded an OBE in 1998, and a Knighthood in 2009 for his services to literature. Tony Robinson, successful writer, actor and documentary-maker, star of radio, TV and theatre, is well known for his popular TV series Time Team and his role as Baldrick in Blackadder. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Here is an unusually rich work of young adult science fiction, with a mature message, believable characters and conflicts, and a satisfying ending. Briefly, the 12-year-old boy protagonist, discovers that he can see and converse with the dead. Like all Pratchett novels, this is loaded with pointed, good-natured humor. Richard Mitchley reads with the effortless ease of the veteran audiobook narrator, aptly capturing each character with pacing, intonation, speed and accents, the latter always British but not always from the same social class. No enhancements, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. D.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.