Grave Matter

by Juno Dawson, Alex T. Smith (Illustrator)

Since the crash, since Eliza died, Samuel can’t find a way to go on. His need to see his love again is overwhelming, and so he ventures into the strange, terrifying world of Hoodoo. Samuel is about to make a pact with powers he cannot comprehend, let alone control…

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Short Stories, Romance, Fiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2017

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A full review can be found at United by Pop.

This begins with a sense of pervading eeriness that haunts every page due to both the nature of the writing and the inky shades of the illustrations within. The opening scene features a drunk Samuel mourning atop the grave of his recently deceased girlfriend, Eliza. Snow carpets the ground and blurs the gravestones around him. His pain is almost total, only pushed aside to make room for the overwhelming anger that consumes him.

The strength of emotion in the gloomy opening scene is felt, and not just witnessed, by the reader. Despite having never been prior introduced to the character who now eternally lies in her coffin home, I felt saddened by this loss and mourned with those left alive to grieve for her. Scenes from her short life punctuate their current grief to really drive home their feelings of undoing. We see the now-dead Eliza stand for feminism and we see the night that cut this fight short. We get to witness the love shared by ones so young as well as viewing the destruction of that love severed by death. Scenes from Samuel's own childhood interrupts to hint to the reader at what is about to follow, and provide the hope that all may not be lost...

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a creepy read from Juno Dawson. Published by Barrington Stoke, this edition is suitable for dyslexic readers. It follows a teen called Samuel, trying to come to terms with the loss of his girlfriend Eliza in a tragic accident. He really wants to reach out and hold her close again. Secretly, he contacts the world of Hoodoo and uses a powerful pact that suddenly starts to blow out of proportion. I really liked the illustrations from Alex, as well as the haunting vibe. The writing felt a little disjointed towards the end for me personally. It does talk heavily about grief, so bare that in mind before picking up a copy!

[Alessandra Crivelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark tale quietly enjoyable. A one sitting reading.
Something to pick up to get out of your currently reading slump.

The novella is also accompanied with some pretty creepy illustrations.

[Aimee Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! After reading an 11 book series it was nice to read a short yet interesting story! Perfect Halloween/gothic style story line. I will definitely be reading this book again!

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

i came into this with no expectations and i was still disappointed.

the main issue was the narrative. we are introduced to sam, a “16 year old”, but the book doesn’t read as such. this narrative would have better suited a teenager of about 13 years—the immaturity, the brevity of it all. not to mention, the writing itself left something to be desired. the author seems to have ditched ‘show don’t tell’ almost entirely. the plot went through far too quickly, resulting in a messy culmination of events that left me deeply unsatisfied.

a huge problem i encountered through most of the book was also sam’s character. sam was kind of a piece of shit. throughout the whole novel, he feels sorry for himself and is pretty much dead. i don’t glean a lot of personality from him, not even a little bit. not to mention, he is insufferable and is willing to do terrible things to bring back his love—a mission that was doomed from the start, if he had any tiny bit of common sense. even in the end at the climax he tried to victimise himself. the book does nothing to make me feel the least bit inclined to like him.

all in all, i would recommend this to children at primary school level. to read this at any age beyond that would be a disservice to yourself, and a waste of time.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really haunting short story that tackles lost as the main character Sam is conflicted in bringing he's teenage girlfriend back to life.

This edition also included some wonderful illustrations that really added to the creepiness.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely short read. I love this authors writing style, it was really engaging. The end bought a tear to my eyes (literally) and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a nice little short read.

[Jessica (Jess Hearts Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting and heartbreaking story about grief, ghosts and magic that's the perfect length for Halloween night!

[Huhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe das Büchlein bei einem Weihnachtswichteln auf Goodreads bekommen und bin sehr angetan davon.
Das Buch las sich äußerst kurzweilig und die Gestaltung mit sehr gut lesbarem Schriftbild und wirklich schöner Bebilderung lud zum Weiterlesen ein. Das ist durchaus auch so gedacht - im Nachwort wird erläutert, dass sich dieses Buch (auch) an diejenigen richtet, die sonst nicht so gerne lesen, etwa weil sie Probleme mit dem Sehen oder einer Leseschwäche haben. Die Geschichte selbst ist sehr traurig ohne dabei aber hoffnungslos zu sein. Sam wandelt seinen Schmerz in Aktion um. Das mag nicht immer sinnvoll sein, hilft ihm aber letztendlich dabei, das Geschehene und die jetzige Situation zu verarbeiten und wieder nach vorne blicken zu können. Insgesamt ein schönes Buch für Zwischendurch.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gobbled this right up. Perfectly Halloween, creepy and delightful. A tricky treat.

[Boo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so happy Barrington Stokes exists. The reading experience was so smooth for someone like me who loves books but can struggle a great deal with the reading experience.

Yes, this books was super-readable. It kept moving forward, the story was clear, it wasn't dragged down by anything. In fact, it may have been to bare bones to work.

That being said, I didn't like it. The story was contrived and predictable. It lacked emotional depth. I didn't believe in the character's grief. The "magic" was too rooted in religion to be believable--the writer assumes the reader will find logic in religious and godly beliefs.

A couple of gruesome things happen, which would be fine if the writing convinced me that enough was at stake to justify them. For instance (spoiler spoiler) the character murders a goat, an act that, according to the character so far, ought to be an immense act of disturbing violence that goes against who he is. This could have been a powerful scene in which, to reach his ends the character changes forever, hurting himself by his own actions. Instead, it's almost casual, no big deal, he actually says it's "just an animal" (as if humans' aren't). Where are the stakes? What am i supposed to care about? I wish I was made to feel the character's pain and despair, then I'd be able to accept his action. Instead, it all feels artificial.

Oh and also, the ending makes no sense. Stories have to make sense within their own reality at the very least. I am willing and eager to believe fantasy in stories, but it still has to make sense within the context of the book and not simply be convenient.

PS: The illustrations are nice.

[Lesley Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok thought it may have been a bit better strange ending.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this short story about the price one young man pays to restore his beloved back to life.

I'm impressed with the author's ability to offer a complete story of loss, sacrifice, and repentance in one relatively short novel. The protagonist's grief is potent and authentic -- those suffering a loss may identify to some degree with the flashbacks, regrets, and overall emotional turmoil that lead him on his mission. The mission itself is dark and twisted; the moral and ethical sacrifices that the protagonist makes, and the unforeseeable consequences, invite the reader to reflect on such themes as death and grieving, life, human relationships (romantic, family, adult-child), identity, and trust.

I was initially surprised by the story's mature subject matter because the book appears -- based on its cover illustrations and type font -- to appeal to a younger audience. However, note that this book is set for young adults (protagonist is 16 or 17, I believe; there are occasional uses of mature language and references to condoms, drug use; protagonist delves in dark magic involving a blood sacrifice).

[suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stunning cover caught my eye while I was shelving books and on a whim took it home with me from the library. Such a stunning love story with a side of dark magic. Absolutely adore the stunning art in this.

And I never really thought my dyslexia bothered me that much, just made me that bit slower at reading and understanding things but this super-readable format has changed my life.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and creepy read about loss.

Very haunting. Beautifully written, with wonderfully spooky illustrations.

When Samuel's girlfriend Eliza dies in a car crash, he is unable to process his grief, and will do anything to bring her back from the dead.

[Josie Marriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a quick, easy book to read. The gothic atmosphere was incredible. It wasn't super scary, but it was still so good.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the actual fuck have I just read 😳

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

SOOO GOOD although it started off pretty slow but really really got good and I was really creeped out scared but please read this book

[Hollybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fab gothic romance story, the story line being very clever and obviously though through, along with the amazing creepy illustration that coincided with the text. I really liked this book and would recommend for young adults who want a quick read😊

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Really liked the plot of this one but I found it weird that this book followed a mixed Black and white teen but was written by a white trans woman. There is the element of hoodoo in this book and I felt like that the race inclusion was only there because there needed to be familial ties to this type of magic but I don't know how authentic it is coming from an author who doesn't have that particular cultural background. The main character's Black aunt practices hoodoo, and she is the only character in this book who has an accent evident in her speech pattern. Similarly, the man in this book who practices "dark" hoodoo is albino and considering albino people face discrimination in Africa, I found this a weird choice for these particular characters. I do feel like this book does a good job at exploring grief, death, and survivor's guilt, and I really like the illustrations a lot.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grave Matter was a quick, yet haunting read. The narrative follows Samuel as he grieves for his dead girlfriend, and in his desperation decides to do whatever he can to bring her back to him. The book was captivating, especially as the writing was so creepy and atmospheric. Short stories can often feel a little disappointing and lacking in depth, but this story and its characters were very impressive. There were also illustrations that accompanied the narrative, all of which were really suited to it, but I would have loved even more of them throughout.

Overall, there is not a huge amount to say about Grave Matter, other than it was an entertaining and atmospheric read that I would certainly recommend.

Rating - 4/5
★★★★

There is also a link to this review on my blog here!

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]


Since the crash, since Eliza died, Samuel can't find a way to go on. His need to see his love again is overwhelming, and so he ventures into the strange, terrifying world of Hoodoo. Samuel is about to make a pact with powers he cannot comprehend, let alone control...A chilling tale of love that reaches beyond the grave.
I chose this book for three reasons one I love Alex T Smiths illustrations, two I loved the cover and finally because I wanted a new Halloween read. 
Having never read any of Juno Dawson's books before I wasn't sure what to expect was I disappointed HELL NO! 
The story is of a seventeen year old boy who's girlfriend Eliza is suddenly killed in a car crash on an icy, snowy evening a car Sam was driving. Although the crash was no fault of his own he's racked with guilt feeling they shouldn't have driven in the adverse weather conditions that night that led to a car veering out of control on the ice and hitting them.
He now feels he has no purpose in life and can't go on without Eliza. After having strange dreams about his Aunt Marie whom he hasn't seen since he was a small boy he decides to look in his fathers study and finds letters from his Aunt asking her brother, Sams father to put their differences aside. Sam heads off to find her and asks she uses her healing powers to bring Eliza back. His Aunt tells him she can only heal the living and not to meddle in matters he knows nothing about. Antoinette a young girl who lives with his Aunt passes him a note with an address on it telling him he needs to find the Milkman.
What follows is a story of grief and losing a loved one who you want so badly to see again even if it means someone else may pay with their life .....
I loved this book and devoured it in two days as it's a quick read at 96 pages. It has a really creepy feel about the story and the front cover is amazing, as are Alex T Smiths illustrations throughout the book which definitely add an eeriness to the book. 
Sam is a great character overcome with grief ( which if people know me is relevant right now) and his love for Eliza is strong. He is strong throughout the story, he makes mistakes but the story allows for that due to his overpowering grief. 
Eliza is a strong character too and her love for Sam is the power that makes him realise his mistake in the ending.
I loved the Aunt Marie character although she doesn't feature much in the story she's a big part of Sams conscience throughout. She is funny at times when he meets her for the first time again she's talking in a patois accent which is really funny.
This story gives out a fantastic message of how grief can overcome us and nearly destroy us but it's done tastefully and gives the haunting feeling any good ghost story should have. This books going to be a keeper it will be a reread next Halloween.
I gave this 5 stars. 


[Joanne Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juno Dawson is well-known as writer for young adults, writing not only smart, contemporary novels but also non-fiction such as This Book Is Gay and Being A Boy. A former teacher, she clearly understands teenagers very well and when I read a couple of her YA horror novels, Hollow Pike and Under My Skin, I felt that she wrote very convincingly from a teen perspective.

This certainly comes across too in Grave Matter, a creepy Gothic tale of death, grief and black magic. It's a short and easy read at just 96 pages and is illustrated beautifully by Alex T Smith.

Seventeen-year-old Samuel is driving in the snow one night when his car spins out of control, killing his girlfriend Eliza. Samuel, utterly devastated, can't be consoled by the words of his vicar father, and turns instead to his estranged aunt who has been known to dabble in voodoo. He's convinced she has the ability to bring people back from the dead - but will she help him? And if Samuel does manage to resurrect Eliza, what will be the consequences of dabbling in the occult?

I read this book in one sitting and found it to be a great Gothic horror tale - plus, the text and the illustrations work in perfect harmony. The plot is simple but certainly none the worse for it, and the author does a great job of bringing her diverse characters to life (no pun intended) in such a short book. The horror elements of the story are very well-executed - properly scary at times, in fact - but this book has, at its heart, some genuinely poignant and perceptive things to say about grief, loss and the intensity of serious teenage relationships. This is ideal to read by the fire or hiding under the duvet on a winter's night.

There is another element to this book which I'd like to mention. According to the note by the publisher, Barrington Stoke, at the back, it's been produced with reluctant readers in mind. The book itself has a lovely, tactile feel to it, the paper on which its printed is high quality and opaque which minimises eye-strain and blurring, and the font and layout are dyslexia-friendly. Plus, its manageable length means it might feel a bit more accessible to someone who isn't a habitual reader of books.

What really struck me was that while this book has been produced specifically for teenagers and young adults who might otherwise find reading difficult or unappealing, there is nothing simplistic, patronising or childish about the language or the story. Well done to Juno Dawson and well done to Barrington Stoke.

[hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on https://bookfangirling.blogspot.com

I was sent a review copy of Grave Matter in 2017 for an honest review from the publishers. I decided to read it as part of my #14books14days #14dayreadingchallenge and this was my choice for day two!

Since the crash, since Eliza died, Samuel can't find a way to go on. His need to see his love again is overwhelming, and so he ventures into the strange, terrifying world of Hoodoo. Samuel is about to make a pact with powers he cannot comprehend, let alone control...

This is one of the shorter of Juno Dawson's novels, because it is part of a super-readable young adult collection. This makes it more accessible to readers of all ages who want to dive into YA, and the pages are even a thick pale yellow, so you can't see the 'ghost' of the words on the other side of the page. This allows people with dyslexia to access young adult books too, because they can not often read on plain white paper. I think this is a brilliant idea!

Grave Matter is one of those gems that grabs you from the start, and keeps hold of you until the very end. I love gothic literature, and to see the classic themes in a young adult book made me so happy! The illustrations done by Alex T Smith are incredible, and they really brought the story to life.

The Milk Man was my favourite character - the message he sends is clear:

"Where there is life there must also be death - for every gift a sacrifice."

But will Samuel listen?

I think this is a perfect book for readers of all ages and abilities, and I gladly gave it 5 stars! Although, I could never give Juno Dawson anything less.

[Anthony Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those unfamiliar with Barrington Stoke books, they are a fabulous big-hearted publisher of quality, dyslexic-friendly novels for children and young adults. They are, like this one, Grave Matter, usually easy to read and have a big concept to get children who struggle to read, interested in doing so.

But Grave Matter is more than just a usual Barrington Stoke book – it’s absolutely brilliant! Gripping, spooky, unsettling and with a really unexpected story of voodoo, obsession, love and zombie girlfriends, it has literally everything you could want from a dark thriller.

As this book does have some really big, freaky moments it’s aimed at the older teenager or well-developed younger reader. It’s about grieving Sam, who lost his wonderful girlfriend Eliza in a car crash. He is destitute without her, and becomes obsessed with bringing her back to life when he meets some creepy people who tell him they can help him get Eliza back.

The villain here, called The Milk Man, is one scary dude! In fact, I’d go so far as to say, I haven’t felt quite so unsettled by a children’s book since I read Neil Gaiman’s Coraline – so be warned. However, the story itselt is written with a light touch, the words fly by and really draw you in. I read this in just two sittings it was sooooo good!

And, as well as the story, there are some genius, freaky illustrations accompanying the text. But I wouldn’t look at some of them before you go to sleep at night.

Highly, highly recommend this book – it has strong emotions, actions, scares and weirdness. Fantastic!

[Alyce Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have read Grave Matter sooner. When it was announced back in October 2016 it became one of my most anticipated releases, but I'd completely forgotten about it until I spotted it on the shelf in the library last week.

Beginning with the funeral of Sam's girlfriend, Eliza, who died in a car accident when he was driving, Grave Matter takes the reader on a brief exploration of the nature of grief and coming to terms with loss. Sam decides that he can't live without Eliza, so he enlists the help of a mysteriously magical Milk Man to bring her back to life. The topic is handled in a sensitive way that makes it impossible to resist justifying Sam's actions, although there are repercussions.

Alex T. Smith's haunting illustrations add a shiver-inducing intensity to the text, making this the perfect collaboration. As Barrington Stoke novels are intended to encourage reluctant readers, including Smith's artwork allows the reader to have regular breaks while also fully fleshing out the creepy cast that Juno Dawson has created.

Despite being a short story, Grave Matter has a satisfying - though not completely satisfactory - resolution. Hopefully Dawson will team up with Barrington Stoke again in the future, because her writing seems even stronger in a shorter form (which I didn't think was possible, as her novels are almost always enjoyable!).

[Big Book Little Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five minute review: Grave Matter by @junodawson and @mralextsmith

Despite being short book Grave Matter
provides one hell of a ride (on a spooky fairground ghost train). With few words Dawson is able to evoke the full gambit of emotions - grief, despair, disgust and hope- while maintaining a nervous undercurrent of unease that was perfect for spooky season.

As someone without a visual imagination (aphantasia) I absolutely love illustrated books for older readers (can you say auto buy) as they really help me to further sink in to the world building and storytelling.

Having enjoyed other Alex T Smith books with my children I was really interest to see a departure from his usual colourful and quirky style to the still quirky but creepy dark and purposely smudgy style for this book.

Like all of Barrington Stoke’s book this book was published in their signature font and tinted paper designed to improve reading experience, particularly for those with dyslexia or visual stress (read more on their website). Although I have no such challenges to my own reading I found that these elements along with the wider line spacing and thick, smooth paper supported a comfortable and enjoyable reading experience.


Readers 13+ based on MC ages
Review originally published on Instagram as @NovelNibbles

[Kaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love seeing Gothic fiction made accessible. Whether it be a reworked version of a classic or an original story (such as this one) made with the purpose of being more accessible.
Grave Matter doesn't necesserily stand out as a Gothic story but it certainly works as a fantastic introduction to Gothic fiction. It embraces the genre well while also not forgetting that it is still a teen story. The format being dyslexia friendly is wonderful as there's a lack of Gothic fiction in this format which only further pushes the idea that Gothic media is an elitist genre which isn't true.
I'd recommend this to anyone who may struggle reading or may be more reluctant about reading, especially if they're someone who enjoys darker stories with more of an emotional draw. Not only a good introduction to Gothic fiction but maybe a great way to spark a love of reading in general.
The gorgeous illustrations also add so much to the feel of the book. Not only do they help break up the writing, allowing it to be less overwhelming, but they also really highlight the sensations the writing is attempting to convey.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Grave Matter” by the prolifically cool Juno Dawson, an author who effortlessly moves between supernatural and standard teen fiction, is an addictive fast paced read dealing with guilt and loss. Samuel was involved in a car crash which killed his girlfriend Eliza, picking up the story some months later Sam is still crushed and struggling to deal with life. He stumbles upon a way of bringing Eliza back from the dead, but at a price, and before long Sam empties his bank account to pay for the ritual. This was a deliberately fast paced read by Barrington Stoke who specialise in high interest but relatively easy books to read for kids who are dyslexic or have lower reading abilities, but are looking for good challenging plots which do not patronise them. If you’re looking for something along those lines Juno Dawson delivers, this very talented author usually does.

[Kela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Juno Dawson illustrates a gothic vision of love and obsession in Grave Matter. Samuel is devastated after losing his girlfriend, Eliza in a car crash and is plagued with guilt . In a misguided attempt to right his supposed wrong, he launches himself into a mission to get her back by making agreements with uncontrollable forces. Dawson explores death and grief in her book as well as the consequences of challenging nature. Her haunting imagery was entirely captivating as well as her sorrow stricken scenes. I didn’t give it five stars because of a few dialogue choices and some odd sentences that stuck out like a sore thumb. The illustrations were a cool touch, wish it had more