Shawn Smucker: The Day the Angels Fell

By Kelly Bridgewater

It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. As he recalls the tumultuous events that launched a surprising journey, Samuel can still hardly believe it all happened.

After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to turn back time. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Samuel begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Samuel to grapple with an unwelcome question: could it be possible that death is a gift?

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My Thoughts:

I'm all for trying different novels in different genres. Who knows if I'm find something or someone else who will stay on my forever shelf. When Revell gave me a complimentary copy of The Day The Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker, I was intrigued. The book is titled general fiction, which isn't my normal cup of tea when it comes to book choices. Overall, I'm conflicted about how I feel about the novel.

The writing is crisp and concise. Smucker does a great job at bringing me into the story in the first chapter. I enjoyed watched the Old Man walk down the stairs and learn a little bit about him as he is an old man at the beginning of the story.  I could picture this down hidden between two valleys with a graveyard and a river running through the end. Smucker does a great job at inviting me into the setting and into the character's train of thoughts.

As for the plot, it was unique and completely unpredictable. I really had no idea the story was going to end the way it did. I have never read a story that had a little twelve year old chasing down the Tree of Life as a way to deal with the loss of his mother. While I enjoyed the concept, the delivery of the concept wasn't that captivating. I had a hard time staying focused. I became bored about a hundred and forty pages in and couldn't wait for the story to be done.

This spiritual element is pretty heavy, so be prepared to be hear more about angels and the existence of the Tree of Life with its Biblical elements.

Overall, The Day The Angels Fell didn't really capture my attention even though the writing and the early phases of nostalgia did make me think this would be a good book to dive into. I believe, and I could be wrong, that fans of Billy Coffey, author of There Will be Stars, and Frank Peretti's older writings might enjoy this novel. This story runs in the same vein.

I received a complimentary copy of The Day The Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars