The Ballad of Perilous Graves

 

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings  456 pp.

First I want to acknowledge Kara's review of this book. I listened to the audiobook version which is amazing with the narrator embracing the patois of New Orleans beautifully. Perilous "Perry" Graves, his sister, Brendy, and their friend Peaches live in a version of the city where there are sky trolleys, dead cabs, graffiti comes alive, and haints dance in the streets to the music of haint musicians. Doctor Professor, a haint piano player enlists Perry, Brendy, and Peaches with saving the city by saving the music that is rapidly disappearing along with other parts of the city. They find themselves up against some of the songs themselves, like Stagger Lee. If the music is lost, the city will die in a storm that is coming. Perry must learn to use music to combat the evil that is trying to destroy them. This book is confusing, amusing, a little scary, and I loved it. It is rare to read a book with so much life in it (even though a lot of the life is already dead). Now I want to visit New Orleans again.