Review The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker

Hello Readers,

I was first introduced to Shawn Smucker on episode 84 of What Should I read next. I enjoyed hearing his top three picks because his reading style is very opposite of my own. His favorites are mostly fantasy which is not a genre I gravitate towards. I tend to pick up books based firmly in reality and if it's historical even better. However I am trying very hard to stretch myself and read outside of my comfort zone, so this episode was filled with lots of books to add to my TBR. During the course of the episode Anne had mentioned that Shawn had written a book and it was a coming out in the fall. It sounded very interesting and when she posted a picture of her copy I knew I wanted to read it as well. 

Here is the full description of The Day the Angels Fell -

"It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. As he recalls the tumultuous events that launched a surprising journey, Samuel can still hardly believe it all happened.

After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to bring her back. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question: could it be possible that death is a gift?

Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid. With this powerful story, Shawn Smucker has carved out a spot for himself in the tradition of authors Madeleine L'Engle and Lois Lowry."

Doesn't the above description make you want to pick this book up to read? Unlike the lovely Anne I did not read this book in two days. It took me a few weeks to read it because Smucker writes in a thoughtful way and I wanted to take my time reading his words so I would not miss out on them. I could tell that each sentence was thoughtfully written and not in a forced way but in a grab your journal so you can write down his words way. I couldn't pick this book up to read unless I had a highlighter handy. Here are some of the many passages I highlighted in this book. 

"Time covers things, but that doesn't mean they're are gone." Page 13

"We always think we have one more day. We always think tomorrow can do nothing but come around. It's one of the great illusions e live with that time will go on and on, that our lives will never end." Page 31

"...names are powerful things. Sometimes they can form us into who we become" Page 34

"Sometimes there are no words that fit into the space provided" Page 46

"Stories will do that for us. bring beauty back even in the mist of such overwhelming darkness." Page 106

"But we always try to fit the things we see into the world we understand, the world we can comprehend. Anything that doesn't fit into our ted understanding brings fear" Page 254

The Day the Angels Fell makes you think about life and death and how far you would go to bring someone you loved back. Smucker delves into the world of grief and how it touches each person in a different way. Specifically how it touches young children and how they handle loss. I would continually think to myself what I would do in young Samuel Chambers position. It was definitely a thought provoking read. Smucker also writes about friendship in such a real and true way. After the book ended I looked up the date for his next novel so I can eagerly anticipate reading more of his work. 

I would recommend this book for readers who enjoy thoughtful writing with tons of beautifully written magical realism throughout the story. Also for readers who love symbolism and going on a epic adventure with two best friends. 

Overall Rating - 4/5 Stars

Thank you to Revel a vision of Baker Publishing group Publishing for supplying me with an advance reading copy of The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker.

Hardcover: 320 pages

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Revell 

ISBN-10: 0800728491

Happy Reading,

Rachael