Jeff Gunhus

In A Nutshell - This is a beautiful middle-grade novella that deals with handling grief, specifically after parental death.


Thirteen year old Caroline lost her dad a month ago and isn't able to cope with her grief. Nothing seems to help lessen the pain. One day, during a solo sojourn in the nearby woods, she discovers a window over a lake. While trying to peer inside it from atop an old oak tree, she falls inside and discovers a whole other world. The first "person" she encounters is Mordecai the Gand, who seems to be friendly but hiding his own secrets. What follows is a journey with Mordecai in this strange land, with surreal creatures and difficult situations. It's a journey of pain and courage, of self-discovery and self-realisation, of choices and compulsions.

The entire story is presented in the form of a letter that forty year old Caroline is writing for her son after she has been diagnosed with cancer. This is based on the author's own experience as he was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. As he reveals on his introduction, he was worried about leaving behind his wife and 5 children, and "didn’t want them to forget all our wonderful years together built on laughter and joy and love." He wrote the book as a kind of moral guide to help his children deal with his death. (Glad to report that the author is cancer-free for five years now.) This story wasn't meant for public eyes. But because he received a positive response from his family and friend circle, the author decided to publish this book. Good for us!

The entire story goes at a relaxed pace, as if the author understands that concentration is difficult during times of grief. Caroline's pain feels very real and raw. And in times such as the present days, when everyone knows at least one person who has died because of covid, it becomes very easy to identify with that searing emptiness of the heart. We progress along with Caroline and learn from her experiences. And at the end, we realise that what the book says about grief is true. What does the book say? Read it to find out.


There are many beautiful lines in this book. Here are my top three favourites:

❤️ ‘Why’ is almost always the right question. If we try to understand other people’s why, then we have a better chance of understanding our own along the way.
❤️ People who wait for something to happen rarely have anything happen to them at all. Not the best way to solve a problem.
❤️ Those in the habit of calling things impossible often prove themselves right, but only at the expense of achieving the implausible

4.5 stars from me to this delightful and meaningful read.

Thank you, BookSirens and author Jeff Gunhus, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.



***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.

Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews… (more)

Jack Templar, Monster Hunter
By Jeff Gunhus
This is one of those rare middle grade books that crosses the age barrier and is enjoyable to many people! The boy Jack, is turning 14 and doesn't realize what that means. He is an orphan and raised by his aunt. He is clueless about the real monsters that is hidden in plain sight. It's the day before his birthday and he feels different. Stronger, faster, and his reflexes are faster. His body is preparing to fight. Because the whole monster community has been waiting for years to kill Jack Templar on his 14th birthday!
It was so entertaining! Even for this old lady!… (more)

Jeff Gunhus writes some fabulous horror novels and when I saw this one in his newsletter I realized it was different than what I was used to from him. It is personal, written from the heart, and I LOVED IT. Caroline & Mordecai The Gand sends a subtle message through a fabulous adventure with a girl that wants things to be like they were before her father died.

Thirteen year old Caroline lost her father, her friend, and her grief is overwhelming. She does have her mother, who has her own struggles with her own loss, Abby and her Aunt Betty, but nothing fills the void.

When she fell from the tree, she entered a world that would open her eyes as she finds her way through her sorrow. Her adventure will take her back to herself.

I feel this is a book everyone who has suffered a loss would benefit from. Even in sadness there is happiness, smiles with the tears…

May you feast on your dreams

If you check out Jeff Gunhus, you will see why this book came to be. It may be a middle grade read, but I feel it holds a wonderful message for us all.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Caroline & Mordecai The Gand by Jeff Gunhus.

See more at http://www.fudinmental.com… (more)