It’s Your Funeral

Gr 7 Up–Marnie Winters is dead, but that’s just the beginning of this next chapter in her life. See, she’s not all the way dead; there’s something holding her back from moving on to the next realm. But luckily she’s not totally stuck as a ghost; there is a secret organization that helps humans navigate their unfinished business. Unfortunately for the antisocial Marnie, her assigned caseworker X’lakthul is overeager, buoyant, and paperwork-obsessed. When X’lakthul can’t seem to identify what’s keeping Marnie from moving on, she hires Marnie as an intern in the Department of Spectral Affairs. Marnie helps X’lakthul and the other caseworkers find what’s holding deceased humans back, and in turn she learns a lot about herself. Riesbeck, Kramer, and Krotzer have created a zany, compelling world of charming otherworldly characters. Prickly Marnie is a darkly comedic foil for the exuberant members of the Department of Spectral Affairs. The bright colors and dynamic physical comedy evoke kid’s cartoon shows, yet this tale takes on tough subjects such as grief and depression.