Character Profile

Summary

A middle-school boy, son of a germaphobe and a reenactor, discovers a family curse that causes the previous Martin to die when a new Martin is born...which gives him about 9 months to live before his cousin born!

Stats

Genre: Tween (10-13) contemporary humor with a supernatural twist. 

Series length: Standalone book

Violence: Low, comedic action violence

Magic/Supernatural: Light, restricted to the family curse. 

Romance: Light--he has a crush on a girl at school. 

Christian/spiritual element: Light, implied, but great themes of gratitude, the power of words, and on living life fully.

Recommendation: Geared more for boys than girls, though some girls might enjoy it as well. Great for reluctant readers.

You might like this book if you liked... 
the humor of Percy Jackson or the Diaries of a Wimpy Kid.

To Purchase

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Opening lines: 

I don't recall my first trip to Regions Hospital.

Form information pieced together later in life, I know it was an odd, but otherwise unremarkable, visit. Dr. Ambrose displayed a curious affection for the forceps, and tugged me, the raven-haired girl, from Mom, who likely would've approved the use of a tow truck had it separated the two of us quicker. 

Mayday
by Jonathan Friesen

Why'd I do it? 

I suppose it's the only question that really matters.

Seventeen-year-old Crow will stop at nothing to protect her younger sister--even if it costs her her own life. But then she's given a chance to come back and make things right. There are a few catches, though. First, she won't come back as herself. And before she can set things straight, she'll have to figure out what's what--and things aren't exactly as clear-cut as she remembered. 

Powerful and hard-hitting, this is a compelling story about what it means to live your life--for your own sake--from an award-winning author.  

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