Book Review: The Girl Who Came Back to Life: A Fairytale by Craig Staufenberg

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 16, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1497532736
• ISBN-13: 978-1497532731

A book about love and loss, and how to live in a world filled with both... When you die, your spirit wakes in the north, in the City of the Dead. There, you wander the cold until one of your living loved ones finds you, says "Goodbye," and Sends you to the next world. After her parents die, 12-year-old Sophie refuses to release their spirits. Instead, she resolves to travel to the City of the Dead to bring her mother and father’s spirits back home with her. Taking the long pilgrimage north with her gruff & distant grandmother—by train, by foot, by boat; over ruined mountains and plains and oceans—Sophie struggles to return what death stole from her. Yet the journey offers her many hard, unexpected lessons—what to hold on to, when to let go, and who she must truly bring back to life.

About the author: Craig Staufenberg

Craig Staufenberg is a writer & filmmaker living in NYC.

contact: craig.staufenberg@gmail.com

My review:  I went into this book thinking "fairy tale" but came out of it thinking WOW.  I was brought into this magnificent world where the spirits wait for loved ones to send them on.  I loved how strong headed Sophie is from the start and how determined she is to bring her parents spirits home with her.  Though through her many trials on her journey she slowly learns many difficult, but necessary lessons that ultimately guide her decisions in the end.  This books descriptive words reminded me of a sleepy hollow type book to begin with, but as the story progresses its more than just a typical book.  This book was thought provoking as no one is immune to losing loved ones in this world and we all must accept death.  This book highlights the different ways people might deal with such loss.  I give this book a 5 out of 5 for the constant adventure and smooth writing style.  I look forward to reading more from Craig.

Views expressed are those of Two Children and a Migraine and not influenced in anyway.  A book was supplied for review purposes only and no compensation was received for this post.