For the past two years, Ryan has basically checked out. He
spends most of his time getting stoned with his best (ok, only)
friend, Andy. Andy is overweight and lazy, and Ryan hates to admit
it, but all those sessions smoking pot in an old tree house (and
then giving in to the munchies) might have him heading in the same
direction. When he's not hanging out with Andy, Ryan shuts out the
world by sticking in some headphones and escaping with music.

Why is Ryan so down on life? It might have something to do with
the death of his younger sister from cancer. Ryan always saw
himself as Molly's protector, but even he couldn't protect her from
the disease that claimed her life. Ryan is not finding much support
at home, either; his mom is always busy singing with her choral
group (and flirting with one of its members), while his dad has
thrown himself so far into work that he doesn't seem to care what
his wife or son is up to. If Ryan's parents are having such a tough
time dealing with Molly's death in a healthy way, how is Ryan
supposed to do so?

Unexpectedly, it's when another girl ends up in the hospital
that Ryan starts to feel like living again. He doesn't really know
Charlotte Silano, a gorgeous, popular senior who has never given
him a second glance. But when she's in a coma following a riding
accident, he finds himself drawn to her hospital room. Ryan can't
quite explain it, but he keeps going back to the bedside of this
girl he doesn't know. When his hospital visits connect him with a
seriously ill young boy and with some new friends --- especially
Charlotte's volleyball teammate, Betty --- Ryan just might have
found a reason to unplug his headphones, get some great vintage
duds, head to the gym and check back into the world.

From the title, you might expect DEADVILLE to be a big downer
(or maybe a zombie novel). Surprisingly, given its subject matter,
it ends up being a hopeful novel even as it acknowledges the deep
scars traced by grief. The verbal banter between Ryan and his
friends --- especially Andy and Betty --- keeps the mood light, and
even though Ryan's loss is dealt with painfully and authentically,
his attempts to shake others, especially his dad, out of their own
malaise of grief also seem honest and true-to-life. DEADVILLE is a
balanced, carefully written portrayal of one young man's response
to death --- and his journey back to the living.

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