Books Addicts Guide has put together a Read Along for Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard and I am so excited to be a participant! I can’t tell you how excited I have been about this book ever since this video was retweeted and made its way on my timeline a few weeks before SDCC and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on the book each week through the read along!

The questions that I will answer for week one (Chapters 1-7) are below. My answers will be posted on Friday (Update: Saturday). Be sure to check back each week for a new round of questions & answers. If you’d like to participate, check Books Addicts Guide for more information!

Week 1 Q&A:

Character Impressions
Clarence: What are your first impressions of Clarence? Does he seem like a trustworthy person, or is he hiding ulterior motives behind good looks?
My first impressions of Clarence… he’s a charming guy but is not as well versed in the art of being discreet. Unless he’s not trying to be. Hmm. Is he indeed pacing himself with the information that he is telling Eleanor and stringing her along until it is the right time to reveal even more? Some people want to be caught. Or perhaps he did not intend to be caught and now has Eleanor to distract from his plans, whether they are good or bad is too early to say. He’s clearly hiding something but does that take away the ability to trust him? I think Eleanor is getting to the point where she can trust what he says for what it is and and trust when there’s something in between the lines so it could benefit her search either way. Let’s hope. I am looking forward to learning more about Clarence, his motives, and his connection with Eleanor’s brother.

Eleanor Fitt: What are your first impressions of Eleanor? It seems like her mother always wants to put her family’s reputation above all else. How do you think Eleanor feels about this?
Eleanor is ahead of her time. Many people think, “I was so born in the wrong time period,” and Eleanor is clearly a great example of that because she is her own woman in a time (and place) when women needed to have a third party present in order to receive a greeting from a married man.

She knows when to follow the rules of society, twist them for her own benefit, and ignore them completely. She has a mind of her own and is not afraid to use it… or doesn’t see how other women don’t. Which brings me to the term “brave.” She was a little frazzled during the first alarm but once she realized she had to find her brother, no matter what… game on. It no longer becomes about what she’s afraid of, she has no choice but to find and possibly save her brother. That’s unconditional love is what that is. I guess unconditional love is brave if it’s not your family but I feel like it’s a default when your family is involved. It reminds me of the line Veronica Roth wrote in Divergent, something about bravery meaning three things, one of which is acting as though there is no other choice. Following this belief, it will be interesting to see what roadblocks are ahead for Eleanor and what lane she chooses to drive in (default unconditional love lane, society’s lane, or her own lane) at each block.

Finally, Eleanor is not concerned about reputation. She is aware of her financial reality and the importance of the well being of her family. Round of applause for someone who has their priorities in order!

Daniel: Daniel is quite brash with Eleanor when they first meet in the Spirit-Hunter’s lab. Do you see potential for a friendship? For a romance?
I agree, Daniel was quite brash on his first meeting with Eleanor. I think a great word to describe him would be “passionate.” That plus the description on the back of the book leads me to believe that yes, a romance will form but who knows. Anything can happen and I am sure either way, friendship or romance, we will be taken on quite a ride with this Daniel character.

1. Mrs. Fitt decides to hold a seance as a last minute fill-in for the party’s entertainment. How would you feel about this if you were a guest at the party? Do you think that’s wise with the Dead running around?
No, a seance is not wise with or without the walking Dead running around. I would have left the party as soon as it was announced what was happening.

2. Eleanor lives with only her mother and the live-in help since her father passed away and her brother is in New York and possibly taken by the Dead. I feel like the absent family member – especially a parent – is a theme I see a lot in YA novels. Why do you think that is? What aspect does this add to the story?
I think a missing parent is a theme in many YA novels because it is a theme in many young adult readers’ lives and… well, write what you know or write what you don’t know to explore and find the strengths and weaknesses in your unknown. Either way, it adds more depth to the story.

3. We first see the steampunk feel when Eleanor wanders into the Centennial Exhibition to find the Spirit-Hunters. What do you think of machines and science fighting the zombies and paranormal?
This is the first book that I am reading with the steampunk feel and so far, it is very thrilling and fun to read! I really hope this gets made into a movie one day so that I can see the steampunk aspect in particular come to life. I feel like this aspect specifically is more grand than what I am envisioning.

4. What do you think really happened to Elijah? Do you think he was captured by the Dead, or are there more secrets hidden behind his disappearance?
I’d like to think that Elijah discovered a way to live among the walking Dead, walk alongside them alive, imitating them, infiltrating to exterminate the Dead for good and that information got him tied up in all sorts of craziness. I have a feeling I am reaching there haha so I am just going to end by saying that I don’t know what to think about Elijah but I am anticipating finding out!

Extras
Favorite Quotes:
Page 21
“Next time, though, I suggest you use less obscure insults. They might hit their mark better.”

Page 48
“Our treat,” Luis added.
“Yes!” I blurted. “Join us!”

Page 86
Was I being overly suspicious? I am seeing monsters everywhere.

Page 87
More and more strange confessions were piling up between Clarence and me. If I didn’t watch myself, he would soon be uncovering mine.

To buy Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard, click here.