Book Review: Be Not Afraid by Cecilia Galante

Be Not Afraid

By:
Cecilia Galante

Release Date:
April 28, 2015

Publisher:
Random House Books for Young Readers

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GR's Summary:

Marin spends a lot of time avoiding things. She avoids thinking about her mother's suicide and what she could have done to prevent it. She avoids looking at people directly-because she can see their pain as bright, colorful shapes. And she avoids Cassie Jackson, who used her in a sinister ritual months ago, although Marin's not exactly sure why. 

When Cassie stands up at school, screaming, raking her nails down her cheeks, and pointing a finger at Marin, whispering "YOU," Marin's days of avoidance come to an abrupt end. Cassie's older brother believes that Marin holds the secret to Cassie's illness. So they team up to solve the mystery of what Cassie has unleashed. But as they look deeper into the darkness and things begin to go bump in the night, can Marin trust what she sees? 

Cecilia Galante, author of The Patron Saint of Butterflies, presents a chilling story with horror-movie thrills and nail-biting suspense. Perfect for fans of American Horror Story, Paranormal Activity, and The Exorcist, and readers who love to feel goose bumps.

My Thoughts:

I love horror stories, and it has been way too long since I've read one.  Be Not Afraid reeled me in, and hooked me.  I devoured this story.  I hadn't read anything written by Cecilia Galante, but after this story, I am looking forward to reading more of her work.  Let me tell you why!  For one, I love Ms. Galante's writing style.  Her prose are hauntingly beautiful, and there's almost a poetic feel to her writing.  The way she describes everything is perfect!  She doesn't over describe, where you get bored and bogged down by too many details, and she doesn't under describe.  She tells the story in such a way where you can picture the setting, and the events unfolding perfectly inside of your head; to the point where you feel as though you are a part of the story right alongside the characters.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, entertaining, and addicting young adult paranormal horror story, have I got one for you!  Be Not Afraid was superb!  I cannot gush enough about this supernatural story full of unexpected twists, and on the edge of your seat plot developments!

The main character, Marin, can see people's pain.  As she looks at a person she can see various colors that indicate to her if a person has any type of pain, from trace amounts, like a cut, all the way to more serious types of pain, like heart trouble.  She came in to this ability after her mother's tragic suicide.

Cassie, a classmate of Marin's that attends the same private Catholic high school, has a bone chilling, traumatic episode at mass.  Cassie's older brother, Dominic, seeks Marin's assistance in trying to figure out what is wrong with his sister.  Cassie is no longer herself.  She has been acting strange, and violent.  Dominic thinks that Marin might be the key to solving Cassie's condition, due to the fact that his sister singled out Marin at Mass, keeps begging for her presence, and her behavior changed after Marin visited her one day six months ago...

Be Not Afraid was a sinister story that was full of mystery.  Ms. Galante spoon feeds us bits and pieces of the puzzle, until we end up with the terrifying conclusion.  I loved every moment of trying to figure out more about Marin and her ability, as well as Cassie's condition, and what happened between the two girls six months ago.  The anticipation had me speedily turning the pages, as I tried to solve the mysteries.  

My Rating:

I give, Be Not Afraid, by Cecilia Galante, 4 Eerie, Insidious, Malevolent, Twisted, Mystery Filled Stars!  Fans of books and movies on demon possession, and exorcism, that involve horror and paranormal events will enjoy this creepy and chilling tale.

My Favorite Quote:

"You still have things to do, places to see.  But you won't be able to do them unless you make the choice again to believe in yourself.  To believe in your own goodness.  Because I'm pretty sure after all this time, that that's what God is.  The goodness in us.  That's his gift to us.  Our blessing."  (eARC, Loc. 3450)

~Marin

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About Cecilia Galante:

Cecilia Galante was born in June of 1971. Raised in a religious commune until the age of fifteen, she subsequently settled with her family in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where she attended high school, and graduated from King’s College. A high school English teacher for several years, she went on to complete her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, Vermont, and is currently teaching fiction at Wilkes University’s Graduate Creative Writing Program. 

Cecilia honestly can’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing something. From very early stories (passed down from her father) about two baby bears named Ruby and Looby, to horrible poetry about sadness and chocolate cake in her teen years, she has pretty much found the time to write it all down. She didn’t set out to be a children’s author, either. That just sort of happened, the way a lot of things do in life. It also took her a long, long time to get published. Years and years. And then a few more years after that. She wanted to give up lots of times. As in too many to count. But she didn’t. For some reason, the burning desire to tell her stories was stronger than the worst despair on the absolute worst day. And so she kept at it. She’s glad she did. Now, she is the author of numerous young adult and middle grade novels, as well as a chapter book series for early readers.

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