Dispatches from Parts Unknown
By Bryan Bliss, Read by Joy Nash
Price: $8.99
Formats:
About the Book
*An Odyssey Award Honor Audiobook*
“The feel-good novel of the year.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)
Julie knows it’s unusual that a professional wrestler runs a constant commentary on her life that only she can hear. But grief can be awfully funny sometimes. National Book Award nominee Bryan Bliss delivers a thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind novel about how to tread the line between moving on and holding on. Dispatches from Parts Unknown is for fans of David Arnold, Nina LaCour, and You’ve Reached Sam.
Ever since her dad died three years ago, Julie has been surviving more than thriving. And surviving is sneaking into her parents’ closet when her mom is out, since it’s the only place that still sometimes smells like her dad. It’s roaming around the Mall of America. It’s pulling out the box of her dad’s VHS tapes, recordings of his favorite vintage professional wrestling matches.
And it’s hearing the voice of the Masked Man in her head, running a commentary of her life.
It’s embarrassing, really. Sure, he was her dad’s favorite wrestler, but that doesn’t mean she wants him in her head.
As Julie finally starts to come out of the haze of grief, maybe she’ll finally figure out why that voice is there, and how to let it go.
What happens when the voice that kept you safe is the one you need to leave behind?
- A Unique Voice for Grief: The Masked Man was her dad’s favorite wrestler. Now, he’s the intrusive, wisecracking, and strangely comforting voice running a play-by-play of Julie’s life.
- Heartfelt and Humorous: For fans of David Arnold and Nina LaCour, this novel balances the deep pain of losing a parent with genuinely funny, laugh-out-loud moments of witty banter.
- Friendship and Found Family: From late-night talks at the Mall of America’s Orange Julius to navigating high school, Julie’s friendship with Max is her anchor in a world that feels adrift.
- A Love Letter to Professional Wrestling: Filled with vintage matches, wrestling jargon, and the sacred code of kayfabe, it’s a story that understands how much we need something to believe in.
Product Details
Reviews
“Since her dad died three years ago, 18-year-old Julie has been having ongoing conversations with an imagined professional wrestler, the Masked Man, who lives in her head. . . . One of the joys of this terrific, character-driven novel is watching these lives intersect. . . . Julie’s grief for her dead father gives a poignancy that adds depth to her character and is never maudlin. . . . The engaging tone of this terrific novel is spot on, while Bliss demonstrates a welcome gift for dialogue. . . . The feel-good novel of the year.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Julie’s wryly funny, self-deprecating, and authentic narrative voice, the wide cast of eccentric but realistically drawn characters . . . and the beautiful, unshowy writing will keep readers going all the way to the auspicious end. A smart, poignant meditation on losing someone you love and living with the loss.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Bliss writes incisively about grief, approaching a weighty topic with empathy, grace, and genial humor. Sweet, caring relationships—parental, platonic, and romantic—add to the uplifting tone.” — Publishers Weekly
“Bliss ably balances humor, poignancy, and raw grief, emphasizing that mourning looks like all sorts of things.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Julie is a well-imagined, strong female lead, and the portrayal of her humor and strength is balanced with the way she navigates grief, loss, and love. Complex and thoughtfully constructed. . . . This book reminds readers that grief is not a one-size-fits-all process, and it opens a window into the world of professional wrestling and its fandom. A unique and moving portrait of grief and love.” — School Library Journal
About the Book
*An Odyssey Award Honor Audiobook*
“The feel-good novel of the year.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)
Julie knows it’s unusual that a professional wrestler runs a constant commentary on her life that only she can hear. But grief can be awfully funny sometimes. National Book Award nominee Bryan Bliss delivers a thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind novel about how to tread the line between moving on and holding on. Dispatches from Parts Unknown is for fans of David Arnold, Nina LaCour, and You’ve Reached Sam.
Ever since her dad died three years ago, Julie has been surviving more than thriving. And surviving is sneaking into her parents’ closet when her mom is out, since it’s the only place that still sometimes smells like her dad. It’s roaming around the Mall of America. It’s pulling out the box of her dad’s VHS tapes, recordings of his favorite vintage professional wrestling matches.
And it’s hearing the voice of the Masked Man in her head, running a commentary of her life.
It’s embarrassing, really. Sure, he was her dad’s favorite wrestler, but that doesn’t mean she wants him in her head.
As Julie finally starts to come out of the haze of grief, maybe she’ll finally figure out why that voice is there, and how to let it go.
What happens when the voice that kept you safe is the one you need to leave behind?
- A Unique Voice for Grief: The Masked Man was her dad’s favorite wrestler. Now, he’s the intrusive, wisecracking, and strangely comforting voice running a play-by-play of Julie’s life.
- Heartfelt and Humorous: For fans of David Arnold and Nina LaCour, this novel balances the deep pain of losing a parent with genuinely funny, laugh-out-loud moments of witty banter.
- Friendship and Found Family: From late-night talks at the Mall of America’s Orange Julius to navigating high school, Julie’s friendship with Max is her anchor in a world that feels adrift.
- A Love Letter to Professional Wrestling: Filled with vintage matches, wrestling jargon, and the sacred code of kayfabe, it’s a story that understands how much we need something to believe in.
Product Details
Reviews
“Since her dad died three years ago, 18-year-old Julie has been having ongoing conversations with an imagined professional wrestler, the Masked Man, who lives in her head. . . . One of the joys of this terrific, character-driven novel is watching these lives intersect. . . . Julie’s grief for her dead father gives a poignancy that adds depth to her character and is never maudlin. . . . The engaging tone of this terrific novel is spot on, while Bliss demonstrates a welcome gift for dialogue. . . . The feel-good novel of the year.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Julie’s wryly funny, self-deprecating, and authentic narrative voice, the wide cast of eccentric but realistically drawn characters . . . and the beautiful, unshowy writing will keep readers going all the way to the auspicious end. A smart, poignant meditation on losing someone you love and living with the loss.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Bliss writes incisively about grief, approaching a weighty topic with empathy, grace, and genial humor. Sweet, caring relationships—parental, platonic, and romantic—add to the uplifting tone.” — Publishers Weekly
“Bliss ably balances humor, poignancy, and raw grief, emphasizing that mourning looks like all sorts of things.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Julie is a well-imagined, strong female lead, and the portrayal of her humor and strength is balanced with the way she navigates grief, loss, and love. Complex and thoughtfully constructed. . . . This book reminds readers that grief is not a one-size-fits-all process, and it opens a window into the world of professional wrestling and its fandom. A unique and moving portrait of grief and love.” — School Library Journal
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