- Dead Ed in my Head
- Barbara Catchpole
- Ransom Publishing, 2017
- Paperback, 160 pages, £7.99
- ISBN 9781785916335
Tod already has his head full of girls, school, family life and his Saturday job when, suddenly, he also has to deal with a dead guy talking to him behind his left ear. Tod is desperate to get on with his own life without worrying about dead Ed, but Ed grows deeper roots into Tod’s head. Ed used to live in the nursing home Tod worked in. Tod takes advantage of Ed’s skills in math, marketing, and, most importantly, girls. Ed, however, may have found something that would allow him full control over this young specimen and to start a new life complete with parties, romance, and drugs. Catchpole creatively takes an idea of what happens after death and creates a unique story about a boy struggling with his current life with a dead person talking in his ear.
Catchpole sprinkles a variety of characters through the story, a favourite being independent, tough Lacey. Dead Ed in my Head is told by Tod and Ed, often through their thought processes. This technique is enjoyable as Tod often gets sidetracked, and it also allows the reader and Tod to learn more about Ed’s past. Through Tod, Catchpole shows what teenage life is like: the things they get up to, the struggles they face and what is happening on the inside.
Catchpole humorously brings this coming-of-age story neatly together with relatable moments of school battles, family strife and first love. An interesting book which I quite enjoyed reading.
Rowan Beddows, teen reviewer
Julie Kagawa has succeeded in creating a textured and tangible world overflowing with culture, tradition and history. Destiny and fate are a major focus in the book, an acceptance and willingness to sacrifice themselves if they were destined to do so. As the team travels across various territories on their perilous and violent quest I could truly connect with each individual character. I also really enjoyed the startling contrast between Tatsumi, who is mistrusted and struggles to co-exist with a savage and bloodthirsty demon and Yumeko, who is a hero in every sense of the word, selfless and good. I would highly recommend this book, a great read with some exciting plot twists.
While reading this book, I found myself reminiscing for the ‘good old days’ of going to the cinema, the joy of pulling a sickie, and the importance of BEST friends. The book also introduces different forms of poetry (haiku and limerick). At the end of the book, there is a wonderful section titled ‘Get Writing’ for young poets with tips to get them started on their own poetry.
