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Book Review By Emily Kingston
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jensen

Louis Drax is an accident-prone nine-year-old boy. He almost died eight other times, but luckily was saved by his mother. His mother and father seem to be struggling with a secret, and whether or not they should share it with their son. One day Louis and his parents go on a picnic. Louis falls into a ravine and dies, yet the details of his death are muddled. Not to mention, his father is nowhere to be found. According to the mother, he just "ran away."

Louis is taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, but he miraculously comes back to life. He is attended for by a doctor at a hospital specialising in coma patients. The doctor falls in love with the boy's mother, yet someone (the father?) has sent threatening letters to both of them. The more research the doctor does into the mother and child's past, the more doubtful he is that the mother is telling the truth about the details surrounding Louis' fall.

Meanwhile, Louis (whose peers call him "Wacko Boy," and whose psychologist calls him a "Disturbed Child,") shares his thoughts with the reader, and the experience of being in a coma. There is something special about this boy. His mother calls him an "angel."


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Family, caring for ill Yes
Who is sick? - Son
because he/she is - physically ill
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Religion theme? Yes
Religion theme: - musings from the afterlife

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
United States Yes

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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