Upon reading the first page of The Reminder it could appear to be a ghost story. Continuing on, you will discover it isn’t as it first seems; so if scary stories aren’t your thing (or even if they are), keep reading. The book wasn’t at all as expected and yet it was a really great read. This is such a well-written story of coping with the loss of a mother. Daisy, or Daze as many call her, struggles every day with losing her mother at a young age. Now she and her father work together to help raise her little brother which has its own frustrations, as if trying to deal with life as a teenager wasn’t enough. Rune Michaels makes the story feel so authentic with great characters and real emotions that you wonder if it was based on a true story. Michaels also throws a surprise at the reader in the end that was completely unexpected. Those who have lost a parent or loved one might find this story helpful in dealing with their loss. It will also appeal to those who are interested in a teen story with an atypical plot.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  1 religious exclamation; 2 mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore:  Several (11) brief incidents including character makes reference to potential to could get killed; character desires to hit and kick another; character jokingly wonders if another expects her to hit dolls with hammers; mother of young children dies; references to cancer; discussions about death; references to suicide; character kicks and gets kicked receiving non-life threatening injuries; character elbowed which results in a nosebleed.

Sex/Nudity:  Few (2) brief incidents including kissing and character puts hand on another’s; little boy removes clothes for bath.

Mature Subject Matter:

Anorexia, death, cancer, suicide.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Secondhand report of character dying of drug overdose.