The Boy in the Black Suit

Reynolds, Jason. The Boy in the Black Suit. 2015. 255p. 468 mins. ISBN 978-1-44245950-2. Available both as an audiobook from Overdrive and at FIC REY on the library shelves.

Matthew Miller just lost his mother to cancer. She died quickly, and she died young. At 17, Matt is entering his senior year of high school rudderless. His dad started drinking again, leaving Matt to fend for himself, both physically and emotionally. The gap his mother's death left behind is impossible to fill.

With a light school schedule that is done at noon, Matt looks for after school work. The money will come in handy, especially since his father can't seem to regain his senses and drop the bottle long enough to go to his job. He goes to the local fast food restaurant and asks for an application, but then is saved from greasy work by Mr. Ray, the owner of the local funeral home. Mr. Ray provided the funeral service for his mother.

Matt is at first scared of working with dead bodies, but on the first funeral he works he discovers that the experience of attending someone else's funeral can be very cathartic. Plus you can meet extraordinary people in this line of work, including local legends, and even Love. Along the way, Matt will find redemption and healing for others as well as for himself, and will realize that dead people can still teach valuable lessons.

Fans of boy reads will appreciate Matt's depth and the struggles he faces as a half orphan. His friendship with Mr. Ray blossoms into a mentor/mentee relationship, which allows him to grow as an individual and to find peace with the tragedy that affected him.