Thin Space, Jody Casella (Simon Pulse/Beyond Words, 2013, 243 pp.)
Cover, Thin Space
At the time of this review, the book holds a 4.6-star review on Amazon with 38 reviews.
Young Adult, Paranormal
Book Obtained By: Purchased from Amazon after the author presented workshops at the Upper Arlington Library (Ohio) Write Stuff event in November 2016.
My Chocolate Rating on Scale of 5: 4.5 Ghirardelli Salty Caramels (just shy of perfection)
From the back cover
“thin space n. A point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.
Ever since the car accident that killed his twin brother, Marshall Windsor has been consumed with guilt and crippled by the secrets of that fateful night. He has only one chance to make amends and set things right. He must find a thin space—a mythical point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.
But when a new girl moves into a house down the street, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.
As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living … and the dead.”
Thin Space, Jody Casella (Simon Pulse/Beyond Words, 2013, 243 pp.)
Spoiler-Free Review
Jody Casella builds a likeable, hurting character in Marshall (Marsh) Windsor. His family and school are at wit’s end with his obsession of shuffling around in his bare feet, despite the freezing cold and snow on the ground. He’s going through the motions at school, detached from everyone he used to call friends, even picking fights with them, as he beats himself up for the accident that busted up his face but killed his twin brother. All the while, he needs his feet bare in case he touches a thin space.
Each page, Marsh’s hurt grows as he searches those public spaces while he yearns to enter the empty house where an old lady died. She was the one who told him and his twin of thin spaces, and it’s the best shot he has. But when a family from down south buys it, he finds a girl hurting in her own way at this abrupt move—Maddie. Her drawl sets her apart as much as her sadness, but around Marsh, she has glimmers of happiness. With their friendship built on a lie—his desperate need to get into that house—what will happen between them when everything unravels? Guidance Counselor, parents, friends and former friends, neighbors, each other, who can these kids trust?
You’ll ache for Marsh, wanting him to find peace. You’ll cry for Maddie and Marsh, wanting them to find each other sooner than they may find that thin space:
I’m already past the driveway when I turn to see Maddie dragging her arm across the glass. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but I stride back, step between her and the car, and swipe the snow off fast. I can see her out of the corner of my eye, shivering in her thin jacket, looking down at my boots.
She leans toward me, whispers, ‘Are you okay?’
Funny thing. I don’t remember anyone asking me that in a long time. Another funny thing: I have no idea what the answer is. Before I can say anything, a horn beeps and a car rolls up to the curb. (p. 85)
This book, solidly written, carries all that hurt of high school, deepened by the need to make up for one horrible decision you’d do anything to take back.
Now that it’s getting colder, why not curl up with Thin Space?
About the Author
Learn more about Jody Casella at her website.