Sleator, W. (2006). The Boy Who Couldn't Die. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
ISBN-13: 9780810987906
•Plot Summary
Just two weeks ago, Ken's best friend (Roger) died in a plane crash. Now Ken is terrified of dying as well, and is determined to become invulnerable. Meeting with Cheri Buttercup in her New York apartment, he pays her fifty dollars to make it so that he can never die. Almost immediately, Ken starts having odd, graphic dreams. He doesn't know what they mean, but has managed to not be burned by a pot taken straight from the oven or have anything broken after being attacked by the school bully and his friends for taking the guy's girlfriend (Kaitlin) out on a date. He notices that food now lacks most flavor, and he doesn't derive real satisfaction from anything anymore, but hears about a shark attack near St. Calao and is determined to come face to face with one himself. Convincing his parents to take the trip, the trio journey to the island, where Ken and his father take lessons to earn their diving certification. Once Ken has his certificate, he goes farther into the water than he is supposed to, and finds his shark. Yet, he had not planned on one of the diving instructors, a girl his own age (Sabine), following him. The shark tries to bite his leg off, but is unsuccessful, and Ken must explain to Sabine the truth about his meeting with Cheri. Horrified, Sabine explains that Ken has been duped, that Cheri has made him an astral zombie using voodoo magic of a bad kind. Equally worried now, Ken goes to meet with Cheri when he returns to New York, but finds out she wants fifty thousand dollars to return his soul to him. Knowing there is no way for him to get that kind of money, even with his wealthy parents involved, he consults Sabine via email. She has already told him to take something personal, but not magical, from Cheri's apartment. Together, the two make a plan based on dreams Ken has had, finding the location where his soul may be kept. They travel to the Adirondack Mountains, and must dive into a frozen lack in order to infiltrate the cave where Cheri has hidden Ken's soul. Ken has had another dream, and realizes that the innkeeper (Mrs. Harding) where they are staying is also one of Cheri's zombies, one that tries to attack Sabine in the middle of the night. She is thwarted by Sabine, but the time is running out, and they find that they guardian awaiting them in the cave is Roger. Successful in pinning the chain binding him, to the wall, they begin to search all the bottles Cheri has hidden in the cave. Their air tanks are running out of oxygen, and when Ken locates his soul in a Calvin Klein perfume bottle, he is as vulnerable as Sabine. They slowly ascend, and are concerned when they realize they have to remain another night at the inn. Ken awakens at 4 am, wondering why Mrs. Harding hasn't tried to attack again-Cheri believes she still has his soul, because it is still in the bottle. After searching the house, they realize the Hardings are gone, and that they were only present on an astral level. Like Ken, they have been doing Cheri's bidding, only as a pair. After a delay in their return due to snow in New York, Ken and Sabine call his mother. Cheri has put in a call claiming that she has Ken in her possession, and has demanded one hundred thousand dollars for his return. Plotting with Ken's dad, although his parents just believe he was gullible and convinced his soul was taken, the pair involve the police. People have claimed before that they were forced to commit murders, then disappeared before the police could do anything about it. Believing Ken must know what he is doing, it is agree that Ken's father will leave a briefcase of "money" for Cheri to pick up. Just as Cheri emerges, so do two Kens, the one released from the bottle fusing with the physical version. Cheri is arrested, and receives a life sentence, not to mention a restriction from the other voodoo practitioners for her work as a bokor (practitioner of bad voodoo magic). Ken and Sabine, along with his parents, return to the cave when Summer arrives. They must free Roger, as well as the other zombies. When they reach the cave, Roger is gone, replaced by a man Ken had killed early on in a dream. He fights with Sabine, and pieces begin to fit together. Sabine is a zombie as well, also of the astral variety, and now Ken must wonder if a whole human can ever love a zombie.
•Critical Evaluation
Swift, clever novel, only occasionally mired down by too much description of things such as money spent on Ken's trip, and similar situations. Were Ken's parents not wealthy, the actual circumstances would have been very different, as much of the story does hinge on Ken's easy access to funds.
•Reader’s Annotation
Suitable for all teens. Nothing to violent or graphic, and language is mild.
•Information about the author
•Genre
Fantasy
•Curriculum Ties
Religion
Social Science
•Booktalking Ideas
Voodoo, zombies
•Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9-12/Ages 14-18
•Challenge Issues
N/A
•Why did you include this book in you’re the titles you selected?
This novel seemed to have an imaginative plot, and a lot of action.
