The Dead I Know

Starred review from January 19, 2015
Australian author Gardner delves powerfully into the psychology of loss and the complexities of memory. Aaron Rowe has attended five schools in five years when his school counselor suggests that he take a job with funeral director John Barton. John leads Aaron through all of the aspects of the mortuary business, from attending funerals to assembling coffins and preparing the corpses, which is often shockingly gory. While Aaron excels in his work and finds comfort in providing a person with “a final grace,” at his trailer-park home he’s dealing with his unpredictable Mam: “Sometimes she was lucid and practical; other times she was a stormy two-year-old.” On top of everything, Aaron has recurring nightmares and sleepwalks, which puts him in increasingly dangerous situations. Gardner’s rich novel combines flashes of dark humor, an elusive narrator, and a carefully rendered supporting cast to create profound moments that will linger in readers’ minds. “What is life without a memory? Is it death?” Aaron wonders, as he makes peace with his past and finds a place in the future. Ages 14–up.