Blackwell+Hold+Me+Closer,+Necromancer+Review

//Hold Me Closer, Necromancer// by Lish McBride

McBride, L. (2010). //Hold me closer, necromancer.// New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 978-0-8050-9098-7
 * APA Citation w/ ISBN:**

Sam LaCroix, a college drop-out and fry cook at Plumpy’s, is having a normal day at work with his friends Ramon, Brooke, and Frank when a potato hockey game causes Sam to come face to face with a very powerful Douglas Montgomery. Through a succession of strange events, Sam learns that he, like Douglas, is a Necromancer, meaning he not only see ghosts, but can also raise the dead. The only problem is Sam didn’t know about his power because his mother, a witch, not only kept the secret from him, but put a spell on Sam to bind his power. Douglas however, recognizes the power in Sam and does not like it. Douglas, who has been preforming experiments on different creatures in his basement, kidnaps Sam and throws him into a cage with another powerful creature, a hybrid werewolf. The two connect and with the help of family and friends, work together to fight back against Douglas.
 * Brief Summary:**

This is different than the traditional vampire or werewolf creature story, which is why I was drawn to it. Also, I love the fact that the main character is not a necessarily successful young person, but instead a college drop-out who works at a fast food restaurant, and he is a boy. I think my male students could connect to Sam because even though he can see ghosts and even raise the dead, he is still trying to figure out who he is and what he wants to do with his life.
 * Critique:**

William C. Morris Debut Young Adult Award Finalist
 * Award:**

Reading Literature Grade 11-12 Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively as well as in words.
 * Curriculum Connection including grade level and KY Common Core Curriculum:**

Narrative Text Strategy 13: Imagination Recreation. In this strategy, students would silently re-read specific chapters of the text and, while reading, will record their inferences, questions, and impressions of the text. Then, in groups, students will discuss their chapters, their interpretations, and questions they have. Afterwards, groups will decide how to recreate their scenes (comic strip, skit, etc.), who will fulfill what roles, and will then present their recreations to the rest of their classmates.
 * Genre:** Young Adult Horror Fiction
 * Classroom Activity Using Developing Content Area Literacy:**

References: Antonacci, P.A. & O’Callaghan C. M. (2011). //Developing content area literacy//. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.