The Funeral Director's Son

I LOVE the opening lines of this book: "I spend a lot of time thinking about f-words. Food. Friends. Fun. And funerals. That's right, funerals." So begins the story of Christopher "Kip" Campbell, who is the son in Campbell and Sons Funeral Home, slated to take over the family business. He's 12 now, and looking to chart a new course a la Christopher Columbus...not be surrounded by dead people. This coming-of-age story is a fresh take on our main character figuring out what to do with his life and how to go about it. The spin comes in Chapter 4 when the reader learns that Kip can hear dead people and their wishes so as to move on to the other dimension of life. Kip becomes this messenger to relieve the dead of their unresolved issues, but Paratore has done this in a light-hearted and easy to digest fashion. It's not gory. It's not spiritual. It just is what it is. The whole "dead people talking to me" thing was getting to him and he swore he was done. Well, it seems there was another plan and the temptation of his weight in gold (he tries to bulk up in weight when he finds out what the cost of gold is) motivated Kip to help one last soul. As the story unfolds, the reader is reminded of the crossroads of the early teen years to decipher what one wants and what one's family wants and the intersection of the two. Paratore makes the writing seem easy in her seamless tale about growing up and making decisions.

I found this book to be a wonderful stepping stone to some truths that are hard to explain to younger children. This book may be the first time your child considers the concept of death. The view of death as sailing away on a ship allows an adult to talk about the seperation that happens at the death of a pet or loved one. I also liked the idea that there are things people leave undone when they pass on. The mystery allows Kip to realize that everyone is valuable and we only have to get to know their story to understand them. The fantasy of the four leaf clover pin allowing him to hear the dead is very clever, and the promise of payment encourages him to solve the mystery. Kip also finds that his family will support him whether he becomes a funeral director or not. He is more to his family than just the next in line. Finally he finds that he and his family are a very important part of Clover. This is not just a fun book but allows a child to learn a lesson and gives a parent or teacher a chance to open some of the doors that are waiting for a child to open. All in all a very cute read, that they will enjoy either by themselves or being read to a child. I recommend this book.

Kip is a normal active "tween" trying to come to terms with the not so normal family business and the expectation that he as the only "son" will one day run it. To complicate things Kip has a gift...no he doesn't "see dead people" - but he does have an inner voice that gives him an insight into issues that may limit a soul's ability to "sail". Kip learns that there is much more to the people around him when he listens to this voice. Coleen Murtaugh Paratore must have boys because she "gets" Kip and his friends and the pressures they face in dealing with everyday life! Her writing style is clean and really fun!

I suspect Ms. Paratore enjoyed writing this little volume as much as I did reading it. She is able to weave into this cute story many very worthwhile themes of interest to young people and to many adults, too. The focus is on an almost teenage boy known primarily for his family business, which he hopes to escape. Through an exciting and mystical set of experiences surrounding the death of a crusty old sailor in his small Cape Cod-area town, the young man comes to understand and appreciate the value his family business brings to the lives of their friends and neighbors. The worthwhile themes include reaching for maturity, appreciating all kinds of people, community spirit, a family working together, close boyhood friendships and loyalties, discovering one's identity and calling, and the reality of death in everyday life. The book would make a great gift for a young person in the 10 to 13-year-old range, and not just boys. A parent would enjoy reading it to children of almost any age. It is told in the voice of the main character giving a serial description of the events. The story is fast-paced and uplifting, with vivid characters and a few surprises.

Christopher "Kip" Campbell is the funeral director's son. The Campbell family lives in the small town of Clover and everyone knows Campbell and Sons Funeral Home. Everyone in the family has their job to do and the family business has been passed down from generation to generation, Christopher to Christopher. Kip doesn't want to be a funeral director. He wants to get away from his small town. No one thinks it's cool to live in a funeral home -- and it's certainly not very cool to have a funeral director as your dad. But Kip has a gift in the funeral business; he can hear what the deceased need help with in order to move on. When mean old Billy Blye passes away, Kip hears that helping Billy move on will be worth his weight in gold. That would be enough to help out his family's business and for him to quit. He has no choice but to find out what is holding Billy back. Author Coleen Murtagh Paratore, author of THE WEDDING PLANNER'S DAUGHTER, is back with the start of a new series. THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR'S SON has Ms. Paratore's trademark warmth and charm, but this time she takes on a boy's mindset. She also mixes in a bit of mystery. Kip is surrounded by a well-written cast of supporting characters that could easily star in their own novel. Nanbull, Kip's Grandmother, is full of spunk and sass, whereas Kip's friends are supportive and capture the voices of twelve-year-old boys. Ms. Paratore knows how to mix the feel of a classic with a modern story in a way that makes me wish her stories never ended. A great read for all ages and another winner from one of my favorite authors! Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen