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Growing up is hard enough when you’ve got good friends and a stable home life. But if you’re constantly living in fear, moving from one place to another, it makes things so much more complicated. In Iain Lawrence’s Deadman’s Castle, all one boy wants is a normal life—but that could prove to be dangerous.
The story follows the adventures of a preteen boy who, along with his family, has spent years on the run, constantly packing up and “bugging out,” moving on to a new home and new identities. Years ago, his dad witnessed something terrible—and, ever since then, they’ve been on the lookout for a man known only as the Lizard Man, who’s sworn revenge. When they move into yet another new house in yet another new town, something seems comfortable. For the first time ever, he’s even allowed to go to school and make friends. But the threat of the Lizard Man is always hanging over their heads.
The constant suspense definitely makes Deadman’s Castle unlike the typical preteen coming-of-age story. While the main character (who decides to give himself the name Igor in their new town) struggles with fitting in and making new friends, there’s so much more to the story. The author puts it all together in a way that’s suspenseful but also open-ended, leaving readers constantly questioning the situation. Is the family really in danger? Are their Protectors real? Or is the boy’s father just crazy and paranoid? It’s sure to keep readers guessing.
Be warned, though, that this is a dark and eerie book. Though it’s targeted for middle grade readers, my almost-nine-year-old didn’t get past the first chapter or two—and for good reason. The story is haunting and suspenseful—and even when things are going well for this hopeful young boy, he’s always looking over his shoulder, keeping an eye out for the black cars and tattooed men, expecting the worst. He and his friends later explore dark, abandoned buildings, rumored to be the location of so many gruesome events. And if that won’t give young readers nightmares, later encounters probably will—making this a book strictly for fearless action fans.
Deadman’s Castle is a gripping story with a cast of likably damaged young characters and plenty of suspense, too. But readers should be prepared for a whole lot of eeriness and life-threatening peril, too.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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