Meet Kevin Kirk, the erstwhile hero of this series of novels for older children (three have already been published). Kevin and his family are about to make a move, one that isn't altogether pleasing to the youngster, not yet in his teens but having to grow up very quickly. His mother, for reasons not clear to Kevin, has just completed a course to become a mortician. Now Kevin learns they've bought an out-of-business mortuary, they're moving out of town and away from his friends, and, worst of all, they'll be living on the second floor of the mortuary!

One can only imagine what goes through a boy's mind under such circumstances. Happily, Kevin is unusually wise and introspective for his age. Yes, his reactions are sometimes rash and immature, but in the end, he shows grace (recognizing he has no other viable option).

The move isn't a complete catastrophe. He meets, and is smitten with, the young daughter of the local Stake President. And he finds himself enjoying his chores as he assists his parents in their duties. But he also encounters a vile bully in his school, and it takes everything he has to keep from fighting back.

As the book progresses, we learn more about why his family chose the mortuary business. And we also get a glimpse of tragedy in their background, all things he'd never heard before, and all deeply disturbing.

There's so much to say about this book. First, Patricia Wiles is an absolutely wonderful writer. I read the book in two sittings, and was not bored for an instant. She knows how to keep the story moving, and has surprises lurking around every corner.

Let me also say that Kevin Kirk is a wonderful character. Too many lead characters in religious fiction are cardboard cutouts of real kids. This one is all boy -- curious, active, and never quite settled. His interaction with his parents is only part of the story. In fact, this brief tale lives in two worlds -- the substantial world of flesh in which we struggle, and the more ethereal world of the spirit, where those who have passed continue to live and, occasionally, make an appearance in our carnal sphere.

There's just enough Mormon doctrine in this book to make it appealing to parents and older children, but not so much that it becomes preachy and sentimental. Instead, it treats real life issues with clarity, and otherworldliness with reverence.

What are missing from this book are the nearly-inevitable stereotypes we find in Mormon fiction. I thought the Stake President would be my least-favorite character. I just knew he would come across as preachy and whiny. Instead, he is presented as a fully fleshed-out fellow who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, and is able to transcend any kind of religious isolationism. In fact, I find real life Stake Presidents to be more like the one in this book than the ones I meet in some novels. It was a refreshing take, and most welcome.

I have the next books in the series. I'm really anxious to read them. Honestly, these are books to read and discuss with your kids. I am very pleased to recommend them to LDS readers, and hope they attain a wide readership.

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Jeff Needle
March 25, 2006