Everwild by Neal Shusterman

Everwild

Author: Neal Shusterman

Pages [hardcover]: 424

Book 2 of the Skinjacker trilogy; book 1 is Everlost

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Opening Lines: There were rumors. Of terrible things, of wonderful things, of events too immense to keep to oneself, and so they were quietly shared from soul to soul, one Afterlight to another, until every Afterlight in Everlost had heard them.

Memorable Quote: And perhaps you can sense, in some small twisting loop of your gut, the convergence of the wrong, of the right, and of the woefully misguided.

Favorite Character: Allie & The McGill

Summary:

Everlost, the limbo land of dead children, is at war. Nick the “Chocolate Ogre” wants to help the children of Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Mary Hightower, self-proclaimed queen of lost children and dangerous fanatic, is determined to keep Everlost’s children trapped within its limbo for all eternity. Traveling in the memory of the Hindenburg, Mary is spreading her propaganda and attracting Afterlights to her cause at a frightening speed.

Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking the living, until she discovers the shocking truth about skinjackers.

Review:

Neal Shusterman is one of my favorite authors. I discovered his books by accident a year ago, and have been attempting to get my hands on more ever since. Everlost was the first book I picked up that was written by him. I had no idea that there was going to be a sequel, yet Everwild suddenly appeared. And, in February, the trilogy will be complete.

Everlost, which I haven’t reviewed on this blog, tells the tale of two young teenagers who happen to be involved in a car crash together, die, and awake nine months later in a strange, gray world, where you sink into the living earth if you aren’t careful. Terrified, they meet several other kids along the way-no one in this strange place is over sixteen-and eventually encounter the Sky Witch, Mary.

Everwild picks up a little after the first book left off. Nick and Mary are at odds, each attempting to save the children of Everlost in their own way.

I loved this book! The characters are so unique-I’ve never before read about a Chocolate Ogre battling a Sky Witch-and the world of Everlost is described so perfectly that the reader can believe it really exists-at least while reading the book. And that is one of the most important components of a book like this.

I’d recommend this for anyone who enjoys fiction, science-fiction, or reading about the afterlife and doesn’t mind reading about ‘ghosts’ [if you can call them that] or death.  I give Everwild 5/5 stars.