WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT DEATH

An overview of select funerary practices and customs worldwide, offered in hopes of giving bereaved young readers some comfort or perspective.

Introducing herself as a “psychopomp,” or spirit guide for her (living) readers, Chavez opens with soothing remarks about how death is a part of life. She quotes an expert’s savvy insight that grief can’t be “fixed” but with sympathetic help can be “carried.” From there, she touches on a series of helpful, informative topics from funeral home embalming and the stages of physical decomposition to food, flowers, and festivals associated with funerals, as well as memorials of both the physical and virtual “necrotech” sorts. Her wide-ranging discussions of burial practices “green” and otherwise include descriptions of cremation, composting, and aquamation: “People are always inventing ways to make death care more meaningful, accessible, and environmentally friendly.” If some of her glancing claims about many beliefs and practices tend toward the general—“special devices” delivered “libations” to the dead in ancient Rome—they may spur readers on to further research. Sharp comments about archeological grave robbers and racially segregated cemeteries, for example, serve as occasional reminders that the topic has controversial issues. In brightly hued cartoon images, Le Large scatters a racially and culturally diverse cast of corpses and survivors, along with death-related artifacts from hearses and caskets to columbaria and catacombs.

Likely to help normalize a universal experience.