Shea Norwood
Autor de Vanished from Dust
Obras de Shea Norwood
Vanished from Dust 2 copias
Etiquetado
Conocimiento común
- Biografía breve
- Shea Norwood is an American writer that lives in Texas with his family. Recently, he published his debut novel, Vanished from Dust, on Amazon in September 2013.
He was raised in the small rural community of McCamey, Texas and lived a short year in Odessa prior to moving to Snyder to complete high school.
He attended Angelo State University for his undergrad and graduated with a BBA in 1999. Many years later he graduated with a MBA from the University of Texas - Pan America and is currently pursuing a second masters from Texas Tech. He has spent most of his professional career in healthcare but has never given up his love of writing.
Miembros
Reseñas
Eric Stark is a seventh grader who is picked on by classmates because he used to see phantoms. Now they call him crazy train Eric. He only has a couple of friends at school, Josh, a fat kid who still calls his mother mommy that Eric rally doesn't like all that much and his new friend Kyle Barrett.
No one but Eric can see these phantoms that Eric sees and so they think he is either crazy or very imaginative. His parents have taken him to see a psychologist. He has seen the creatures since he was 8 years old. Now he doesn't admit to seeing them anymore because he doesn't want to be thought of as strange. But still he gets picked on. The only one who believes him is the town drunk and Kyle.
I didn't care much for the first part of the book when we were introduced to the characters because the adults in the story didn't seem to do anything about the bullying. The parents also swore at their children which I felt was wrong. Then Kyle and Eric were sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night to pull pranks on the townspeople. It seemed to me they were hoodlums in the making. I almost gave up reading the book. I'm glad I didn't.
Eric decided he had to figure out once and for all if he was crazy or not, so he and Kyle head to the local theatre that has been long abandoned and where a young girl disappeared from 5 years before. This is where the adventure really begins and the book takes flight.
From this point on the book is fast-paced and exciting. It was hard to put down and was a great read. Eric and Kyle demonstrated undecided loyalty to each other like the blood brothers they were. Through all the strange things that happened they stuck together and had one another's backs. They were resourceful but through it all they still remained the teenaged boys the author had set their characters up to be in the first part of the book. We just got to see the side of them that came out when under pressure and when necessity required.
Vanished From Dust is definitely part one of a series for the story doesn't end with this book. I hit the right side of my iPad several times trying to turn the page before I realized I was at the end of it. Hopefully it won't be long before book 2 is out because I want to find out what happens to these boys who have vanished from dust,
Due to the language the boys used and the other things I mentioned about the first part of the book, I am giving Vanished From Dust 3 stars out of 5. The second half of the book definitely rates higher than 3 stars but the first half pulls it down.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/vanished-from-dust-blog-tou...… (más)
No one but Eric can see these phantoms that Eric sees and so they think he is either crazy or very imaginative. His parents have taken him to see a psychologist. He has seen the creatures since he was 8 years old. Now he doesn't admit to seeing them anymore because he doesn't want to be thought of as strange. But still he gets picked on. The only one who believes him is the town drunk and Kyle.
I didn't care much for the first part of the book when we were introduced to the characters because the adults in the story didn't seem to do anything about the bullying. The parents also swore at their children which I felt was wrong. Then Kyle and Eric were sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night to pull pranks on the townspeople. It seemed to me they were hoodlums in the making. I almost gave up reading the book. I'm glad I didn't.
Eric decided he had to figure out once and for all if he was crazy or not, so he and Kyle head to the local theatre that has been long abandoned and where a young girl disappeared from 5 years before. This is where the adventure really begins and the book takes flight.
From this point on the book is fast-paced and exciting. It was hard to put down and was a great read. Eric and Kyle demonstrated undecided loyalty to each other like the blood brothers they were. Through all the strange things that happened they stuck together and had one another's backs. They were resourceful but through it all they still remained the teenaged boys the author had set their characters up to be in the first part of the book. We just got to see the side of them that came out when under pressure and when necessity required.
Vanished From Dust is definitely part one of a series for the story doesn't end with this book. I hit the right side of my iPad several times trying to turn the page before I realized I was at the end of it. Hopefully it won't be long before book 2 is out because I want to find out what happens to these boys who have vanished from dust,
Due to the language the boys used and the other things I mentioned about the first part of the book, I am giving Vanished From Dust 3 stars out of 5. The second half of the book definitely rates higher than 3 stars but the first half pulls it down.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/08/vanished-from-dust-blog-tou...… (más)
Estadísticas
- Obras
- 2
- Miembros
- 9
- Popularidad
- #968,587
- Valoración
- 3.5
- Reseñas
- 2
- ISBNs
- 1
Vanish from Dust by Shea Norwood is a perfect YA book. I feel that those 50+ will enjoy this audiobook. The reason I feel this is due to all the 1970’s references throughout the book. Today’s generation may have some of the items go over their heads. For me I was thinking “Wow, have not heard that term or type of item in such a long time” made me smile or a small laugh would come out. Though there is a lot of period shows and movies out there so YA’s may get it.
Set in 1987, Eric Stark finds that he has no friends. When it gets out that he is seeing a phantom, everyone nicknamed him Crazy. Who is this phantom and what does it want with him? It’s been a while since he has seen them appearing in his dreams or in his bedroom. However, it is now appearing during the day as well at night. This is when he meets his new friend Kyle Barrett. When Eric sees the phantom in school. Even thou Kyle cannot see the phantom. He still stands up for him and they quickly become best friends. Eric keeping his secret for a good portion of the beginning of the book from Kyle. He finally tells Kyle his secret of seeing the phantom. How a young girl disappeared years earlier and was never found. Both finding out that over the last 60 years of others that disappeared and never were seen again.
As more and more things begin happening in the town Eric and Kyle find themselves transported to a deserted Dust. Where was everyone? Why can Kyle now see the phantoms, too! That is one question that is not so obviously pointed out in the book but you will summarize like me. Now in the deserted town they find themselves facing more than the phantom. They needed a safe haven and food. They needed to get back to Eric’s house to retrieve a diary he kept when the phantom started to appear to him as a young boy. Maybe there is an answer in the diary, something he forgot. Why was the town slowly dissolving away? Why did the missing girl turn up in the deserted town of Dust? Why had she not age at all?
As the story opens up I knew that this was going to be an enjoyable listen with David Dietz doing the narration. His voice lends too many characters. Flawless transition between voices and moods that the characters were in. I don’t think there was a voice that I did not like or didn’t fit a character. Find that happens with some narrators doing multiple voices. Not knowing the difference in voice changes. Not with David he did a fine performance. I truly hope he lends his voice for Book 2.
Shea Norwood has a wonderful fantasy story line with this book. However, I did not like the abrupt ending. I know this is Book 1 and it is to get you back as a reader for book 2. I think that a rework of the ending to make it as a stand-alone read as many other authors I have read. It still brings me back to read the next novel when I fall for the characters. I like the characters in this YA fantasy. So I will not give away the ending and do look forward to Book 2. I want to know what happens to her characters Eric and Kyle. The “Why?” question that comes as the book approaches the end. Why were so many that ended up missing from the current day Dust? Why are only selected individuals seeing the phantom? I feel that some kind of hint to why would have been nice. I do recommend this listen/read of this book for all ages from YA to 50+.
The cover art I find that if I was to purchase the book would not draw me in. I think that the phantom should be in the background. The bodies of the boys seem frumpy. I would think that their bodies should be taller.
Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.… (más)