April 18, 2024

Take All of Us by Natalie Leif (review)

Key Points

Ian faces the challenge of unrequited love while navigating his new reality after death.
Key evidence shows Ian's struggle to communicate his feelings before his premature death and subsequent awakening.
The narrative employs a mix of horror and humor as it explores the themes of memory and friendship in a deeply affected town setting, with Ian as the focus of the experience and struggles of others he encounters in his journey through self-discovery and acceptance of fate. Provides a unique portrayal of the emotional landscape of being different while facing inevitable dissolution and friendship connections during a defining crisis, intertwined within the chilling backdrop of the parasite-induced living dead. This emotional depth appeals to both horror enthusiasts and romance lovers alike, calling for genuine engagement with the themes presented.

Abstract

Reviewed by: Take All of Us by Natalie Leif April Spisak Leif, Natalie Take All of Us. Holiday House, 2024 256p Trade ed. ISBN 9780823456611 19. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780823459285 11. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 Ian has been waiting for years to tell his best friend Eric that he loves him; the day he finally decides to do so also happens to be the day Ian has a seizure, hits his head, and dies. In this poisoned, small West Virginia town where folks were told far too late to avoid the water, however, death is slow to sink in for most people, and Ian wakes up absolutely dead but also still himself. Ian is determined to make the most of the little time he has left before his decomposing body catches up to him, but unfortunately, his beloved believes that killing Ian for good would be a mercy. Almost everyone in his town (including his family) has been evacuated by the government for shady reasons, and Ian can feel the core of himself slipping away quicker than he hoped. He is extraordinarily lucky to find allies in two teen girls who are also acutely aware of what it feels like to be different, and they bond quickly through a deep sense of bemused relief to feel like there is space for themselves in their empty town. Ian is an unforgettable narrator, particularly heartbreaking as his memories begin to fade and he admits to himself that his body is breaking down. His self-deprecating humor and wry perspective on life, clearly tools that have always helped him make peace with his seizures (and, later, his feelings about Eric that he believes are unrequited), become essential to keep Ian from losing much End Page 327 of his scarce remaining time to self-pity or despair. Horror fans will likely appreciate the mystery built in around the parasite that creates the (briefly) living dead, and romance buffs with strong stomachs will find Eric and Ian deeply likeable as a potential pair who deserve whatever happiness they can find. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

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