Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear

Gr 9 Up–Seventeen-year-old Sid Spencer is an awkward teen living in Wellsie who is trying to navigate high school, adoption, and romance. She is a curly-haired Korean American girl who feels isolated even though she lives in a tourist town. Wellsie is located on a fault line that has sealed away magic. But when the fault line is ruptured it releases zombies and her brother, Matty, goes missing. Brian Aster, a friend of Sid’s brother, reveals that he is a guardian of the fault line. Sid joins the guardians to save her brother, fight the undead, and protect the magic. This fantasy has plenty of horror and romance while dealing with strong themes of friendship, family, loss, and finding self- worth. Characters are witty and likable; the action is fast paced, coupled with gruesome scenes. Wasley builds an intriguing world while keeping the themes in check. Relatable characters grow throughout the novel and find inner strength sending a positive message to readers about the value of believing in oneself. Wasley writes with clarity and charm, allowing her characters’ true selves to shine through. Sid and Matty, who are Asian American, were adopted by white parents and live in a predominately white community.