Nick and Allie, our two protagonists, have conflicting views on this afterlife and work separately, albeit together, to figure out their true feelings. There were so many unique characters that had such distinct, whole personalities crafted by Shusterman. Review: This was a very character-driven novel. Nick and Allie must take all of this in stride and decide whether Everlost is a good or a bad place. Along this journey, Nick and Lief get kidnapped by the Haunter, Allie learns how to possess the bodies of living people, and she gets trapped on a ship by the McGill. While at first confused, the duo meets a young boy named Lief and a group of kidnappers who take them all to their “mother,” Mary Hightower. Rich in detail, with exceptional characterization and shot through with unexpected (and very necessary) humor, this is an engrossing and thoroughly satisfying ending to a unique saga of life after death.Summary: Nick and Allie are killed instantly when their cars crash, and now they’re in Everlost – a limbo between worlds for the lost souls of children. Alliances form and melt as characters decide between their own self-interest and what is right the shifting third-person perspective gives readers glimpses into everybody’s souls. But even those rules can be overset with the introduction of Clarence, the scar wraith, whose touch can extinguish anyone out of existence-forever. The rules of Everlost are unique, catering to the children who go there upon death and wait until they are ready to go into the light. The adventures continue, with Mexican Afterlight Jix joining the cast of characters as a furjacker, slipping into the bodies of giant cats as he spies on Mary’s army for the Mayan King.

Shusterman ends his provocative trilogy with a rock-solid adventure that manages to examine deep questions of faith and morality.Īt the end of Everwild (2009), Nick the Chocolate Ogre had dissolved into a mass of chocolate pudding, Mary Hightower was asleep in a glass coffin waiting to be reborn, Allie the Outcast was strapped to the front of a runaway train and Mikey McGill (formerly the monstrous McGill) was searching for a way to rescue her.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman