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The Gravedigger's Cottage
Despite moving to the perfect house, the McLucky family quickly realizes that they can't escape the sadness of past events simply by moving away and so have to find a way to come to terms with what has happened as ghosts of past, present, and future make their presence known.
- GenresYoung Adult
208 pages, Library Binding
First published May 25, 2004
5 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lynch
61 books160 followersChris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 13, 2018
Sylvia, her little brother Walter, and their twice-widowed dad have already moved into a quaint cottage by the sea before they realize that a local tradition holds that the owner of the so-called Gravedigger's Cottage has a deep connection with death. Sylvia won't stand for that nonsense, though she does have a history of burying beloved pets in the yard, not to mention losing two moms. She and Walter only really get worried when their dad takes a leave of absence from work and starts obsessing about the house - saying he needs to seal up all the leaks. Sylvia likes the cottage the way it is. She likes her dad the way he was. She depends on her family's rituals to get along. She doesn't know quite how to deal with a dad who seems to be getting lost.
This is a charming, heartwarming little tale with some funny bits, some appealing characters, and a light touch of spooky mystery. The chapters alternate between the family's present-day experiences and Sylvia's memories of all the pets (not to mention moms) the family has lost. My one criticism of this book would be that it seems to make a sharp turn, partway through, from being one kind of story to being another. Okay, I'll add a second criticism, which is that it passes rather lightly over what I took to be a mental-health-related issue, which maybe could have been handled more honestly and thoroughly. I sensed that the author let himself out of this book by a side door when it started to get too hard. Judging by the type of material he is known for writing, I find that a little surprising.
This is my first encounter with the work of Chris Lynch. Nevertheless he is a very prolific author for young adults, with almost 50 books so far in a career going back to 1993. They include series about warfare (Vietnam and World War II), date rape, misogyny, growing up overweight, growing up gay in a tough neighborhood, growing up in a future world where animals can talk to people (I haven't Cyberia, etc., so I'm not sure how accurate that description is). A lot of his stand-alone novels seem to involve sports and other school activities, or issues relating to troubled youth. Their titles include Johnny Chesthair, Inexcusable, Shadowboxer, Who the Man, The Big Game of Everything, Angry Young Man, and Little Blue Lies.
This is a charming, heartwarming little tale with some funny bits, some appealing characters, and a light touch of spooky mystery. The chapters alternate between the family's present-day experiences and Sylvia's memories of all the pets (not to mention moms) the family has lost. My one criticism of this book would be that it seems to make a sharp turn, partway through, from being one kind of story to being another. Okay, I'll add a second criticism, which is that it passes rather lightly over what I took to be a mental-health-related issue, which maybe could have been handled more honestly and thoroughly. I sensed that the author let himself out of this book by a side door when it started to get too hard. Judging by the type of material he is known for writing, I find that a little surprising.
This is my first encounter with the work of Chris Lynch. Nevertheless he is a very prolific author for young adults, with almost 50 books so far in a career going back to 1993. They include series about warfare (Vietnam and World War II), date rape, misogyny, growing up overweight, growing up gay in a tough neighborhood, growing up in a future world where animals can talk to people (I haven't Cyberia, etc., so I'm not sure how accurate that description is). A lot of his stand-alone novels seem to involve sports and other school activities, or issues relating to troubled youth. Their titles include Johnny Chesthair, Inexcusable, Shadowboxer, Who the Man, The Big Game of Everything, Angry Young Man, and Little Blue Lies.
December 28, 2019
Rambling and seemingly ultimately pointless novel whose narrator is not remotely interesting enough to justify the amount of time we are asked to spend in her company.
October 8, 2014
This book made me realize I was an animal lover. Yes, I'm sure other people figured it out before I did. I picked it up because it looked like it had a bit of a morbid undertone while still being a bit of maybe a mystery. It wasn't so muc ha mystery as a book about blinders. How we sometimes see thing in one way because that's what we're used to seeing, and what we want to see. But all isn't lost. We need someone to shake us up, or a change of scenery, or in the case of this book, both.
The McLuckees, are ironically named. In fact, they seemto be the oppostie of lucky more than anything. As a whole, they've had to bury two wives, and a menagerie of pets (except the chameleon, they just can't find him). Hoping for a fresh start, they move out to a coastal town, only to end up in a house that attracts those with a lot of death in their lives. Then Walter brings home a friend that holds up a well needed looking glass, just in time. After the move their father goes off the deepend, frantically fixing everything and ignoring things like his children and job. The children have to step up to save their father and family.
I wasn't as thrilled with every other chapter being a poor animal's eulogy though. That got a little old, and a bit painful, but, I toughed through them with just a little trauma. Overall, it was pretty good though. Not exactly friendly or feel good. Despite the morbidity, it ends on a happy note.
Warnings:
Violence: Graphic, regular, and sad – mostly animal deaths, often accidental.
Language: None of real significance. Younger side of the spectrum at grade 7.
Sex: NonIssue
Drugs: Not really, though someone might want to try them.
Rock and Roll: Just graves
Other: Not a petlover's book. Rather Dark and rather morbid
The McLuckees, are ironically named. In fact, they seemto be the oppostie of lucky more than anything. As a whole, they've had to bury two wives, and a menagerie of pets (except the chameleon, they just can't find him). Hoping for a fresh start, they move out to a coastal town, only to end up in a house that attracts those with a lot of death in their lives. Then Walter brings home a friend that holds up a well needed looking glass, just in time. After the move their father goes off the deepend, frantically fixing everything and ignoring things like his children and job. The children have to step up to save their father and family.
I wasn't as thrilled with every other chapter being a poor animal's eulogy though. That got a little old, and a bit painful, but, I toughed through them with just a little trauma. Overall, it was pretty good though. Not exactly friendly or feel good. Despite the morbidity, it ends on a happy note.
Warnings:
Violence: Graphic, regular, and sad – mostly animal deaths, often accidental.
Language: None of real significance. Younger side of the spectrum at grade 7.
Sex: NonIssue
Drugs: Not really, though someone might want to try them.
Rock and Roll: Just graves
Other: Not a petlover's book. Rather Dark and rather morbid
Read
May 24, 2016Not sure about this, I'm interested but then page 4: "Even if I do most of the work. That's to be expected. I'm the woman of the house. "
Nope, giving up!
The story is alternated with short chapters describing how their various different pets have died. I'm slightly interested in finding out what's up with the house...but not enough to forgive the dog second or third dog. I looked at a few reviews that said things like "dark" and I thought "I like dark", but this is what happened to the dog:
They got a dog who liked to play. They got tired of throwing the ball for the dog, so ignored him. He learned to throw a stick (I think it was a stick) for himself, toss the stick and then run to pick it up. That annoyed them, I can't remember if there was a reason for this, and they chained him up. He tried to play toss with himself but kept tossing the toy too far and couldn't get it. He eventually tossed the toy over something, which he tried to jump over, and hung himself.
Most of the other pet deaths are normal (not abusive) deaths, but every chapter I read had a death between it and the next.
Nope, giving up!
The story is alternated with short chapters describing how their various different pets have died. I'm slightly interested in finding out what's up with the house...but not enough to forgive the dog second or third dog. I looked at a few reviews that said things like "dark" and I thought "I like dark", but this is what happened to the dog:
They got a dog who liked to play. They got tired of throwing the ball for the dog, so ignored him. He learned to throw a stick (I think it was a stick) for himself, toss the stick and then run to pick it up. That annoyed them, I can't remember if there was a reason for this, and they chained him up. He tried to play toss with himself but kept tossing the toy too far and couldn't get it. He eventually tossed the toy over something, which he tried to jump over, and hung himself.
Most of the other pet deaths are normal (not abusive) deaths, but every chapter I read had a death between it and the next.
September 8, 2011
I'm actually not sure how I feel about this book. First, I can say the writing was crisp, clear and lyrical. I liked the author's style. But then, I'm following up with comments about the dark nature of the subject matter.
The setting is a widowed father, two children, and a secluded cottage.
After the loss of two wives, and a series of death of his children's pets, the father decides to move to a new location. Seeking solace and a brand new start, things rapidly spin out of control as increasingly the father descends into madness, leaving the children to fend for themselves.
Written from the perspective and voice of the 14 year old daughter, there are amazing insights and frank portrayals of dysfunction.
The subject matter of the loss of pets and the loss of mother is portrayed in a disturbing fashion. This is not a soft, warm book, but it is worth reading.
The setting is a widowed father, two children, and a secluded cottage.
After the loss of two wives, and a series of death of his children's pets, the father decides to move to a new location. Seeking solace and a brand new start, things rapidly spin out of control as increasingly the father descends into madness, leaving the children to fend for themselves.
Written from the perspective and voice of the 14 year old daughter, there are amazing insights and frank portrayals of dysfunction.
The subject matter of the loss of pets and the loss of mother is portrayed in a disturbing fashion. This is not a soft, warm book, but it is worth reading.
January 17, 2016
This book was ok. It alternated between stories of how her pets have died, and what is going on right now. I didn't get why the house was called the gravediggers cottage. They never explained this. I would not read this book again. It ended with her getting a chameleon and then losing it but saying oh its ok, hes fine. Weird book, weird ending.
March 7, 2014
Where's Lloyd?!
I read this a long time ago in either middle or high school. Even though the ending might be read a bit dark, overall it was a nice emotional journey of loss and dealing with it. Sorta.
I read this a long time ago in either middle or high school. Even though the ending might be read a bit dark, overall it was a nice emotional journey of loss and dealing with it. Sorta.
January 22, 2010
A really sweet book. Gave a very realistic portrayal of adult grief and its impact on children.
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February 18, 2019The story builds on the idea of lost and found; a classic portrayal of coming of age. At 12, Sylvia has lost a lot: her mother, her brother's mother (not the same woman), and more pets that she can count. There are other losses less tangible yet still painful, like moving from her house that results in the loss of the familiar and the loss of support, the loss of friends, and the loss of the framework of memories. How she resolves those losses and comes to grips with the newness of life is an engaging tale. Lynch's convention of providing the reader with glimpses of the various losses gives the reader a glimpse of the characters from a different perspective.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews