Review of "White Space"

"As Kramer drones, she stares at words and sentences that, up to five seconds ago, she thought were hers alone."

     In Ilsa J. Bick's White Space, we get a glimpse into the world of a writer. But Frank McDermott isn't your ordinary author: he gets his stories from the Dickens Mirror, an entrance to the Dark Passages that lets a creature his daughter refers to as "the whisper-man" give him ideas in return for blood. What he doesn't know is that his daughter has a similar talent: the ability to get into the minds of characters, dolls, and toys, to weave herself into them until it's impossible to tell who's who. And when Emma, a college student with a head full of metal, writes a short story that turns out to be a plagiarized version of McDermott's final, unfinished novel, things get even weirder. Soon, Emma is lost in a foggy valley with several strangers from different times, places, and lifestyles, and they can't help but wonder: In this crazy world, where pieces of their pasts rise up around them, what is truly real?

     Technically speaking, White Space is a YA book. Its characters are primarily older teenagers, with the exception of two Vietnam War veterans and McDermott himself. There's a bit of romance, and travel between Nows, and a girl whose abusive dad had thought it would be a brilliant idea to test whether his baby daughter would bounce against the basketball hoop. Add in a pair of brothers who killed Drunk Dad in self-defense, a young woman who can talk to ghosts, and a military commander whose head was blown off in 'Nam, and you have the cast and a bit of the plot of White Space. So yes, it is technically a young adult novel. Would I recommend it to a teen? Probably not.

     That's not to say it isn't gripping. I'm not usually a fan of horror stories, but White Space had me from "There is a crazy lady in the attic." Although much of it is confusing at first, most of the mysteries are explained near the end and the odd language--Nows, the Sign of Sure, Dark Passages, etc.--is simple enough to pick up on if you pay attention to context. The point of view switches constantly between the various characters, and there are times when the author switches to an entirely new Now: a flashback, or a piece of McDermott's life, or several scenes that follow the train of a character's thought. These are characterized by a third-person point of view that is written in the present tense, making it somewhat easy to tell what's happening when.

     One thing White Space really has going for it is the characters. Each person, from Frank McDermott to Lizzie, to Eric and Casey, is relatable on a fundamental level. Something about each one is sympathetic. Maybe it's a piece of their history, or a trait, or a manner of speech that sounds familiar, but there is always something about these characters that makes them feel real. They're rounded out, believable, and extraordinarily well-written.

     This book is a horror story. There are monsters, deaths, and terrifying encounters with the unknown as the characters traverse the White Space between words. The enemy is terrifying, their situation chilling. Characters curse in manageable doses, from "f---" to taking God's name in vain. Some are torn apart by monsters, another blown up, and one is possessed by a ghost from his past. If you're squeamish, this may not be the book for you.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a horror story that plays with reality. Despite it's flaws, it's very well-written and is enjoyable to read, even if it's confusing at times. While it is technically a YA book, it reads more like a NA one, but that's okay--the characters are wonderful, and the plot is great. As for a rating, I tend to lean toward four stars. So if you're interested in some Young/New Adult horror, try picking up Ilsa J. Bick's White Space for a chilling good time.