Blog Tour & Review: It's a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt
It's a Wonderful Death
Release Date: 10/2015
Sky Pony Press
320 pages
Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she be comes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. She’ll take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?
But with each changing moment, RJ’s life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herse lf back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.
RJ is a snarky, unapologetic, almost unredeemable, very real girl. Her story is funny and
moving, and teens will easily connect with her plight. Prepare to meet the Grim Reaper, who’s cuter than you’d expect; Hawaiian shirt–wearing Death Himself; Saint Peter (who likes to play Cornhole); and Al, the handler for the three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hell. This cast of characters accompanies RJ through her time in the afterlife and will do their best to gently shove her in the right direction.
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Lissa's Review - Five Boundless Stars
This was really an amazing read. It caught me from the first page. The writing is done so beautifully.
RJ is a girl that is taken by mistake. She's taken to the afterlife and from there she waits to figure out what's going to happen. All she wants is to go back home. Like all of us we make mistakes and choices. I'm sure most of us would go back and change. As you can guess, she wasn't the nicest person.
Being a teenager, RJ doesn't keep quiet when she's suppose to. Also, doesn't want to listen, even when it's death himself. In order to go back, she has right some wrongs. Change the course of these people's lives. Proving that she can change and be a better person.
This really one of the most excellent YA reads. There's a lot of lessons. It deals with bullies, life choices, and how you should stick up for what you believe in. Not give in to the peer pressure, that I know can be difficult. I almost finished this in one sitting but I had to take a break to sleep.
This story really pulled at my heart strings. I found myself tearing up, laughing, feeling hope and sadness. Life is a lesson, one we shouldn't take for granted and each of us touches someone. Even if now who you were is but a memory.
"Don't discount your importance to the world. Each moment of your life has a purpose, even the ones you think don't matter"
^ that I need to remember every day. As well as anyone reading this. That you are important and that You can effect change. That your life matters.
This is Sarah's first novel and I really can not wait for the next. So I hope she plans on writing more! :D
About the Author
Sarah J. Schmitt is a K-8 school librarian and Youth Service Professional for Teens at a public library who, in addition to planning a variety of events, enjoys opening up the world of books to reluctant readers. She runs a teen writing program that combines Skype visits from well-known authors and screenwriters and critique group style feedback.
Prior to immersing herself in the world of the written word, Sarah earned her Masters of Science in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Indiana University where she worked with first year college students as they acclimated to college life. Sarah lives outside of Indianapolis with her husband, two kidlets and a cat who might actually be a secret agent. She is an active member of SCBWI, ALA and the Indiana Library Federation and is a regular participant at the Midwest Writer's Workshop. Her debut novel, IT'S A WONDERFUL DEATH, comes out Fall 2015 from Sky Pony Press.
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