What do you think?
Dead to Me
Ever since Logan found out that his uncle was involved in the accident that killed Logan's dad, he's been full of resentment. He cuts his uncle out of his life and finds that being reckless is the only way to feel anything. Looking for a place to drink, underaged and undisturbed, Logan and his friends break into a house they think is abandoned. What they find there gets them into trouble with the law and causes Logan's girlfriend to break up with him. But it also makes Logan face up to his anger and his need to forgive and be forgiven.
- GenresYoung Adult
176 pages, Library Binding
Published January 1, 2017
About the author
Cristy Watson
10 books84 followersI am a retired teacher and writer living in Calgary, Alberta. Since retiring I have grown the writer part of my life and now edit and mentor authors, as well as offering writing workshops. Along with eight published novels, my poetry appears in anthologies and online. Thanks for visiting my page!
Check out my author Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/watsoncristy
And my new YouTube channel:
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Check out my author Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/watsoncristy
And my new YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD76...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 23, 2017
Free copy provided by Netgalley and Lorimer & Company in return for an honest review. This in no way reflected my thoughts on the ARC received.
Rating: 3 / 5
Publication Date: 01st January 2017
Review Date: 24th April 2017
After finding out that his Uncle Gerry is the reason behind his father’s death, Logan immediately cuts him out of his life. After this, Logan shows severe anger issues, goes about underage drinking, illegal speed racing, and just goes around breaking the law, basically.
Okay, first of all, this is way too fast. One chapter ends and we have a massive time gap with no filler as to what happened at the end of the last chapter.
For instance:
Like, okay, I know my chosen point here probably isn’t a main part of the story but please, come on .
I was going to mark this as did not finish on page 14 of a 90 page ARC, but I decided to read on and give it a shot for a fair review – it’s short, and it’s an ARC so it at least deserves me to try harder than what I was going to do.
This actually got a lot better than I was expecting. The story levelled out and became a continued time line rather than jumping around all over the place and it was much easier to follow – I wish that the whole story had been like this, or the time jumps were done more eloquently. If they had been, this would be a four star read for sure. I’d love to see this as a long coming of age novel, actually. Although Watson’s writing seemed very shaky at the start, she has great skill and could easily publish one, in my opinion.
It takes a while for the characters to feel fleshed out, which was a downside for me. When I read, it’s because I really want to connect to characters, especially with Logan. I have a bad habit of relying on alcohol to deal with my problems myself, and when this was shown for Logan, I really wanted to be able to connect with him – but it was only in much later pages that I was able to – around the 60s? It was a real shame, I’m gonna admit.
Other than everything I’ve said, this is actually quite a good book. I’m really happy I didn’t DNF this. I enjoyed it, the plot got better, it flowed much easier, and the characters became more enjoyable as a whole. Of course, some improvements could be made, but this was nowhere as bad as it seemed when I first started this.
Watson has some way to go, in my personal opinion, in her writing style, but she has great talent, shown in the later half of Dead to Me, and I’m curious as to see what else she writes and publishes.
Rating: 3 / 5
Publication Date: 01st January 2017
Review Date: 24th April 2017
After finding out that his Uncle Gerry is the reason behind his father’s death, Logan immediately cuts him out of his life. After this, Logan shows severe anger issues, goes about underage drinking, illegal speed racing, and just goes around breaking the law, basically.
Okay, first of all, this is way too fast. One chapter ends and we have a massive time gap with no filler as to what happened at the end of the last chapter.
For instance:
Like, okay, I know my chosen point here probably isn’t a main part of the story but please, come on .
I was going to mark this as did not finish on page 14 of a 90 page ARC, but I decided to read on and give it a shot for a fair review – it’s short, and it’s an ARC so it at least deserves me to try harder than what I was going to do.
This actually got a lot better than I was expecting. The story levelled out and became a continued time line rather than jumping around all over the place and it was much easier to follow – I wish that the whole story had been like this, or the time jumps were done more eloquently. If they had been, this would be a four star read for sure. I’d love to see this as a long coming of age novel, actually. Although Watson’s writing seemed very shaky at the start, she has great skill and could easily publish one, in my opinion.
It takes a while for the characters to feel fleshed out, which was a downside for me. When I read, it’s because I really want to connect to characters, especially with Logan. I have a bad habit of relying on alcohol to deal with my problems myself, and when this was shown for Logan, I really wanted to be able to connect with him – but it was only in much later pages that I was able to – around the 60s? It was a real shame, I’m gonna admit.
Other than everything I’ve said, this is actually quite a good book. I’m really happy I didn’t DNF this. I enjoyed it, the plot got better, it flowed much easier, and the characters became more enjoyable as a whole. Of course, some improvements could be made, but this was nowhere as bad as it seemed when I first started this.
Watson has some way to go, in my personal opinion, in her writing style, but she has great talent, shown in the later half of Dead to Me, and I’m curious as to see what else she writes and publishes.
December 22, 2016
Very life changing experience! I'm glad that the main character understood life more and more and controlling his anger. This book should be called Anger or Adrenaline Rush, hahaha! It's just amazing how it takes someone to die for you to finally realize the truth and open your eyes to this world. Fantastic job Mrs. Watson. I recommend this book to all my young boys that are strong drinkers and smokers and need help to realize and wake up in the real world. Very eye-opening and eye-catching!
December 24, 2017
TW: Drinking, Accidental Death, Street Racing,
Dead to Me is another entry in the Sidestreets series this time taking on alcohol, risky behaviors, and grief. I really like how we got past the anger and into other emotions before it ended. The last part of the book is all about the fall out and consequences, giving us the most closure. Except...
It’s another cliffhanger, like Rez Runaway, but I’m not feeling this one. It’d be good to know for sure. Having it on the page would be a good reinforcement. Even just the one word: Mi hijo.
I also want to know what happened with the grandson...
This one was the most felt the most like an after school special. Things were a bit too convenient and without the follow up with the grandson subplot there’s nothing else going for it.
I am surprised sex didn’t make an appearance in Logan’s avert-feelings repetoire TBH. That’d add another dimension to the story if done right as well.
TW: Drinking, Accidental Death, Street Racing,
Dead to Me is another entry in the Sidestreets series this time taking on alcohol, risky behaviors, and grief. I really like how we got past the anger and into other emotions before it ended. The last part of the book is all about the fall out and consequences, giving us the most closure. Except...
It’s another cliffhanger, like Rez Runaway, but I’m not feeling this one. It’d be good to know for sure. Having it on the page would be a good reinforcement. Even just the one word: Mi hijo.
I also want to know what happened with the grandson...
Quotes:
Dead to Me is another entry in the Sidestreets series this time taking on alcohol, risky behaviors, and grief. I really like how we got past the anger and into other emotions before it ended. The last part of the book is all about the fall out and consequences, giving us the most closure. Except...
It’s another cliffhanger, like Rez Runaway, but I’m not feeling this one. It’d be good to know for sure. Having it on the page would be a good reinforcement. Even just the one word: Mi hijo.
I also want to know what happened with the grandson...
This one was the most felt the most like an after school special. Things were a bit too convenient and without the follow up with the grandson subplot there’s nothing else going for it.
I am surprised sex didn’t make an appearance in Logan’s avert-feelings repetoire TBH. That’d add another dimension to the story if done right as well.
TW: Drinking, Accidental Death, Street Racing,
Dead to Me is another entry in the Sidestreets series this time taking on alcohol, risky behaviors, and grief. I really like how we got past the anger and into other emotions before it ended. The last part of the book is all about the fall out and consequences, giving us the most closure. Except...
It’s another cliffhanger, like Rez Runaway, but I’m not feeling this one. It’d be good to know for sure. Having it on the page would be a good reinforcement. Even just the one word: Mi hijo.
I also want to know what happened with the grandson...
Quotes:
This one was the most felt the most like an after school special. Things were a bit too convenient and without the follow up with the grandson subplot there’s nothing else going for it.
I am surprised sex didn’t make an appearance in Logan’s avert-feelings repetoire TBH. That’d add another dimension to the story if done right as well.
April 2, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. First book I've read from this author and can't wait to read more. Not a long book but still enjoyed it.
After finding out the truth of his dad's death Logan cut all ties with his uncle. Logan resulted in drinking all the time and getting into mischief. One night Logan and his friends plan to party in mr ks garden aka the gingerbread man, thinking he was on holiday.
Things don't go to plan and they all end up breaking in to the house with the hidden spare key. To their horrible poor mr ks body is badly decomposed. What will they do? Do they run? Or do they ring the police?
Hard life lessons are hard to deal with. Things happen in life for a reason
After finding out the truth of his dad's death Logan cut all ties with his uncle. Logan resulted in drinking all the time and getting into mischief. One night Logan and his friends plan to party in mr ks garden aka the gingerbread man, thinking he was on holiday.
Things don't go to plan and they all end up breaking in to the house with the hidden spare key. To their horrible poor mr ks body is badly decomposed. What will they do? Do they run? Or do they ring the police?
Hard life lessons are hard to deal with. Things happen in life for a reason
April 6, 2018
This was my favourite Cristy Watson book so far. This is a very graphic and real story about a teen, Logan, whose life will depend on the way he decides to manage his emotions. He basically finds himself on a tight-rope: will the decisions he makes take him to a brighter or darker future? All the anger he has bottled up inside tend to come out in a destructive way. But will a major event help him see that his rash actions can have life-changing effects on the people he loves? The thing is, although I am a completely different person to Logan, I lived every single moment with him. I was in his shoes all along. And the ending is fantastic! Very easy and fluid for reluctant readers.
Read
June 3, 2019Logan has been full of resentment toward his uncle ever since he found out that he was involved in the killing of his own brother, Logan’s dad. He disowns his uncle and becomes very reckless, feeling that this is the only way to feel anything. Logan and his friends break into a house that they think is abandoned, but what they find there gets them in trouble with the law. Will Logan be able to turn his life around?
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
September 3, 2017
The lead finds out a secret about his father and uncle that completely changes him. He becomes more of a troublemaker, has a chip on his shoulder. He can't let it go. He drinks and such. It's a good lesson about forgiveness and the dangers of drinking. It gets very weird when he and his friends discover something though.
July 30, 2020
This book was ok. Probably make a good book for a regular teen boy to read. Short enough to get through but still has a good, well written story.
April 5, 2017
This book starts off well with an interesting premise - a youngish son finds out that the "uncle" he loves is "kind of" responsible for the death of his father, turning the young boy against the uncle - hence, the "Dead to Me" title.
About halfway through the story though things get creepy, weird and frankly 'unnecessary'. The discovery inside the house, in my opinion, brought an interesting story about how hard it is to discover that someone you care about has betrayed you, to a complete halt and the story never recovered from there.
I am not sure if inserting this plot development was for "shock value" but it soooo did not belong in this book. Yes, the author was trying to make her main character realize that people need to be forgiven or they will die alone, but wow! not this way.
This was a disappointment to me.
About halfway through the story though things get creepy, weird and frankly 'unnecessary'. The discovery inside the house, in my opinion, brought an interesting story about how hard it is to discover that someone you care about has betrayed you, to a complete halt and the story never recovered from there.
I am not sure if inserting this plot development was for "shock value" but it soooo did not belong in this book. Yes, the author was trying to make her main character realize that people need to be forgiven or they will die alone, but wow! not this way.
This was a disappointment to me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews