I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read this book. Good young adult books are a dime a dozen, which is perhaps why so many fall under the radar. This is one I think everyone should read. While not the most challenging read in the world, it’s incredibly well crafted and absolutely FASCINATING!
Everlost was written by Neal Shusterman and was published in 2006. It is the first book in the Skinjacker trilogy. It takes place in the world of Everlost – the realm between life and death.
Plot Overview
Teenagers Allie and Nick are both involved in the same car crash while out with their respective families. Neither of them survives the crash, but their souls don’t exactly end up in the right place.
They wake up from a deep sleep, only to find themselves in Everlost. Feeling very lost and confused, it takes the appearance of a young boy named Lief to explain to them what has happened.
They go on many adventures and make both friends and enemies while they explore Everlost and learn exactly how the mystical world works.
My Thoughts
This book is a pretty simple read, all things considered. It uses language that is easy to understand. While this strategy can sometimes succeed in dumbing down a book that otherwise could have been great, this is not the case here. The simplicity allows for readers to fully take in the new world they are being introduced to, and to experience it for themselves.
Shusterman really creates a wonderful setting. He places Everlost perfectly between life and death, right where it’s supposed to be, in the most believable way. The physical laws in Everlost are different from those of the living world. Many children there have special abilities that do not exist in the world of the living. Some of the things you will encounter in Everlost are completely outrageous, and yet you are able to accept them without question. While these things would be classed as fairy-tale to a living person, in Everlost, anything is possible. The entire thing is so creative and so captivating, I had a really tough time putting the book down.
One thing I really, truly love about this book is the characters. Nick and Allie are both very strong personalities, and they are both so dynamic. While they die and land in Everlost together, their paths do seperate and rarely cross again throughout the book. Each goes through many different trials, have different successes, make different friends, and their “lives” both change in incredible ways.
When I first found Everlost in the store and read the little blurb on the back, I’m not going to lie, I was expecting a nice, creepy ghost story. This is the main reason I picked it up, I love scary. While this book is really not very scary at all, I was NOT disappointed that my expectations were wrong. They may have been wrong but they were still absolutely met and exceeded.
With beautiful imagery and incredibly crafted characters with an extremely unique new world, Everlost is a novel you don’t want to ignore.
Have you read Everlost? Tell me what you think about it!
Want to Read?
It is available for purchase on Amazon:
I find this an interesting take on a plot in story line. However I have been involved in the paranormal field for a while and know that some possibilities exist. With that said I can see this being an interesting read especially for teenager who has an interest in the paranormal. You know if this will be a series of books?
It is! It’s a completed trilogy in fact! Everwild and Everfound are books two and three 🙂 Both are equally as good.
This sounds like my type of book! Even just the images I was getting in my head from the description..I want to be there! Lol I remember reading Neil Shustermen books when I was younger. Never a disappointment. He is a very good writer. I’ll definitely be checking this out. Thanks for the descriptive sypnosis!
You’re welcome! I read his stuff when I was younger and I still read his stuff now haha. He’s so good, it just never gets old.
Overall, Everlost is a charming read. It catches the tyke in me and makes me welcome the fun, enterprise, fear, trusts, dreams and stress and everything else experienced by the characters. It draws me to a captivating and frequenting world without having me arranged to what I will unearth. In addition, it makes me consider life and demise and to what will happen next.
Yours Truly,
Carlton
So glad you have so much appreciation for this awesome novel! You’ve described it perfectly – it really does make you think. I hope you check out the next two books, they are equally as good!