Title: Everlost
Author: Neal Shusterman
First published October 1, 2006
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780689872389 (ISBN10: 0689872380)
Rating: 3.96
Overview
In Neal Shusterman’s captivating novel, Everlost, the afterlife takes an unexpected turn for Lila and Max. After a freak accident, their souls are trapped in a world between the living and the dead, known as Everlost.
Here, the rules are different, and danger lurks around every corner. Lost children roam free, and a wrong step can lead to sinking into the center of the Earth.
When Lila and Max meet a group of lost children, they think they’ve found a new home. But Lila longs to move on, and against all warnings, she begins to learn the art of haunting.
As she delves deeper into the mysteries of Everlost, Lila discovers a monster called the “Night’s Watchman” who threatens the very existence of this world. With thought-provoking themes of life and death, Neal Shusterman’s Everlost is an imaginative journey into the unknown.
About the Author
Neal Shusterman, an award-winning author, began writing at an early age in Brooklyn, New York. He spent his junior and senior years of high school in Mexico City before attending UC Irvine.
While there, Neal made his mark on the UCI swim team and wrote a successful humor column. Soon after graduating, he landed his first book deal and was hired to write a movie script.
Since then, Neal has become a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. He is a full-time writer and his books have received numerous awards, including from the International Reading Association and the American Library Association.
In addition to writing, Neal has directed short films, written music, and stage plays.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for popular shows such as “Goosebumps” and “Animorphs,” and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect.” Currently, he is adapting his novel Everlost for Universal Studios.
Neal is also a dynamic speaker and storyteller, frequently speaking at schools and conferences. His unique approach to writing comes from his degrees in psychology and drama, and his novels deal with topics that appeal to both adults and teenagers.
Reviews of Neal’s novels have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising his ability to weave true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, all while maintaining a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Neal currently resides in Southern California with his children, who serve as a constant source of inspiration.
Editoral Review
Neal Shustermans Everlost is a gripping and imaginative young adult novel set in the eerie world of the afterlife. First published in 2006, the book is a captivating blend of fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age themes that will appeal to readers of all ages.
Shusterman, a respected writer of young adult and middle-grade fiction, has received several awards for his works, including the National Book Award for his popular series Unwind. In Everlost, he weaves a haunting story of two young souls, Nick and Allie, who find themselves deadish after a car crash and are plunged into a strange and mysterious world inhabited by other lost souls, or Afterlights.
The two teenagers soon realize that they are in a purgatory of sorts, where the rules of life and death no longer apply. They cannot be seen or heard by the living, and they are stuck in a limbo between their old lives and the next phase of existence.
As they struggle to understand their fate and navigate their new surroundings, Nick and Allie encounter a cast of eclectic characters, many of whom have been trapped in Everlost for centuries. Shustermans vivid descriptions of this fantastical setting are one of the books greatest strengths.
His imaginative world-building is rich in detail and creates a deeply immersive experience for the reader. From the sprawling Chicago skyline to the rundown motels and haunted amusement parks that dot the afterlife landscape, the setting of Everlost is as intriguing as it is nightmarish.
The pacing of the book is also well executed, with the plot moving at a brisk pace that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. Shustermans characters are equally well-crafted and sympathetic, with Nick and Allie both undergoing significant personal growth throughout the story.
However, one of the books few weaknesses lies in its sometimes heavy-handed thematic elements. The exploration of life and death, loss, and grief are central to the story, and while they are thoughtfully explored, they can feel a little too didactic at times.
There are also moments where the story veers into sentimental territory that may put off some readers. Overall, Everlost is a highly enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of other young adult fantasy series like the Percy Jackson books.
Shustermans inventive world-building, well-drawn characters, and tight plotting make for a satisfying and immersive reading experience. 4/5 stars