Best Nerds Forever
By Carrie Kingsley,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Ghostly mystery has humor, sadness, and surprising depth.
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What's the Story?
Middle schooler Finn McAllister dies in a bicycle crash and becomes a ghost in BEST NERDS FOREVER, a mystery by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. At his memorial service, the ghost of his deceased grandfather invites Finn to come with him, but Finn realizes he has some unanswered questions about his death, and unfinished business with his family and friends. While he tries to figure out what happened with the mysterious van that sped toward him at his final moments alive, he befriends Isabelle, the ghost of the girl who disappeared from their town just four months earlier and whose body was never found. The two ghosts try to solve their mysteries and help the people they care about grieve and heal.
Is It Any Good?
The mystery of Finn's death moves the plot of this engaging story, but the look at real friendship, human complexity, and appreciating life's moments are at the core of its emotional impact. Best Nerds Forever seamlessly blends grief and regret with humor and middle school pranks. In one moment, we see Finn's parents face the reality of their child's death, and in another we see Finn enjoying an all-night ice cream binge, knowing he'll never get caught. There are some big themes here, and authors James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein approach them with age-appropriate language and ideas that respect readers' emotional depth, curiosity, and empathy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the things Finn missed and regretted most after his death in Best Nerds Forever. Were you surprised by any of the things that hit him hardest? If you looked at your life from Finn's perspective, what do you wish you could spend more time on?
What messages would you want to send to your family and friends after your death?
Do you believe in ghosts? What do you think happens when we die?
Book Details
- Authors: James Patterson , Chris Grabenstein
- Genre: Mystery
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Middle School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: JIMMY Patterson Books
- Publication date: May 3, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 14
- Number of pages: 256
- Available on: Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 2, 2021
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