Did you ever read an author’s first book and make a note to yourself to read each and every book he or she will ever write?
That’s how I felt when I read Shawn Smucker’s novel, The Day the Angels Fell. Wow. It’s speculative fiction at its best. I love spec fic in a contemporary setting where the townspeople could be your neighbors and friends. See for yourself…
The Day the Angels Fell
It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. As he recalls the tumultuous events that launched a surprising journey, Samuel can still hardly believe it all happened.
After his mother’s death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to bring her back. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life–the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question: could it be possible that death is a gift?
Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid. With this powerful story, Shawn Smucker has carved out a spot for himself in the tradition of authors Madeleine L’Engle and Lois Lowry.
This book has angels, good and bad. But which is which? And there’s an awesome plot that leaves you reading far into the night. It’s really suspenseful at times but not too much. Just right for what I like. And Smucker’s beautiful descriptions and mastery of the English language almost makes me want to give up being an author myself because he is that good. And better yet, it’s a series. I devoured book two, The Edge of Over There, and am eagerly awaiting book three.
I highly recommend all of Smucker’s books. I’ve read four in the last six months. 🙂
