Book Review: Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick

Title: Saint Death

Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Released: April 2017

In a shack on the outskirts of the border city of Juarez, a teenage boy is visited by a long-lost friend.

Arturo scrapes together a living working odd jobs and staying out of sight. His friend Faustino has joined one of the city’s violent drug gangs. Now Faustino is in trouble: he’s stolen money from the narcos to smuggle his girlfriend and her baby into the U.S., and he wants Arturo’s help getting it back before they kill him for what he’s done.

If you only have a second: Interesting read that left me thinking.  

If you have a few minutes: This is the first Marcus Sedgwick book I've read, and I wasn't disappointed.  I know he won the Printz award once and a few honorable mentions, so I was expecting good.  He delivered.  It was an intense book that always felt like it was teetering on the edge of collapse.  That was a good thing!  It was how the characters in the book felt, so I liked that the book made me feel that way as well.  The language in the book is amazing.  The way Sedgwick draws the world is fascinating.  He describes things in ways I would've never thought.  It really brought Arturo's world alive for me, and that was important because his life is one I have no experience with.  That too was a strength of the book - it gave me a look at a world I no nothing about.  The look was real, detailed and unforgiving.  It's not a book you pick up for a light-hearted read.  It's a book that will make you think, fear, worry, question and learn.  

I do have to note - the writing style is different.  It's realistic fiction, but at times it seems to have some magical realism.  It doesn't really have it, but the way it's written gives it that feel. 

Best stick with you image:  The way the book opens when the pick-up truck comes into town.  Started the book off intensely.  
Best for readers who: Can handle very realistic fiction
Best for ages: 14+

Book provided in exchange for an honest review.