The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried
by Shaun David Hutchinson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 19, 2019
Shaun David Hutchinson’s newest novel, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED, is a stunning portrait of friendship and love in the face of loss. There are many things that can be said about this novel, but one thing you cannot say is that it is a young adult trope. In an age where it feels every YA book has the same plot, this novel is a delightful exception. A young adult, aptly named Dino, is working at his family’s funeral home when his ex-best friend July, who died, suddenly comes back to life in front of him. In a whirlwind of a night, Dino and July must come to terms with their hatred of each other and learn to value the important things in life.
This was the first Hutchinson book I’ve read, and upon finishing it, I immediately went searching for another book of his to read. He has an inexplicable talent for storytelling and not for a second did I want to put this book down. It was a thrilling read that kept me interested throughout while expanding on the relationship between Dino and July in a fascinating manner. Hutchinson writes with such emotional precision that I never doubt for a second that the characters are real, despite the unlikelihood of someone rising from the dead. In the end, THE PAST AND OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD STAY BURIED is a wonderful book with a wildly original concept that is a must-read for lovers of young adult fiction.
The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza
by Shaun David Hutchinson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
THE APOCALYPSE OF ELENA MENDOZA by Shaun David Hutchinson provides a story that deals with the rights of one to choose one’s own fate. The main character, Elena Mendoza, is a product of a virgin birth and, as the story begins, she finds that she has the power to heal by touch. The catch is that everytime she heals someone, alien forces that appear to her as voices from inanimate objects are able to “rapture” people in beams of light to who knows where. Elena struggles with the decision to save the lives of those in pain who seek her “miracles” or let them suffer and prevent any more people from being taken. The aliens claim that they are saving people from the end of the world, but there is no way for Elena to know where the people really go.
Throughout the entire book Elena hesitates to take any sort of action. Despite advice from her best friend, the girl she likes, and her mom, she can’t make a definite choice. If the voices are right, then not healing anyone is dooming them all, but if the voices lie, then she's allowing the aliens to take innocent people without consent. Elena is frustrated that she is forced to make choices for people she doesn’t even know. Stuck in this perfectly crafted trap it seems there is no way for her to resolve this impossible problem.
Hutchinson presents an interesting book that, despite its surface level plot, focuses on emotions more than action. Emotions such as the weight of responsibility, indecision and uncertainty (both with her situation and her love life), and the pain of not being able to help someone in need. Even with such a difficult problem, Hutchinson wraps up the story nicely and leaves the reader satisfied.
