What happens after death? Does everyone get to where they are going? According to Neal Shusterman’s young-adult novel, many children do not; they arrive in Everlost, living on earth as spectral beings among mortals, with whom they cannot directly interact.

In a Twilight Zone version of Lord of the Flies, the author tells the tale of Allie and Nick, two teens who never met until they were both killed in the same automobile accident. On their respective ways to their final destinations, they bumped into each other and awoke in a world of spirit beings, still on Earth. Dead, but not at rest.

As they try to make their respective ways to their original, earthly homes, they come into contact with all sorts of interesting characters, some of whom have learned how to inflict suffering upon spirits that no longer can feel pain. They also learn many of the peculiarities of their new world and use these to their advantage as they work to get by in their new home.

This is a very, very interesting tale that touches upon many different facets of good and evil, as well as the overall concept of life after death. The characters are fully fleshed out (pun intended), and it is fascinating to see how they deal with the variety of problems that come their way. Shusterman has created a world worth exploring and posited possibilities worth thinking about.

Rated: Mild, for a handful (less than ten) of mild curse words, and another handful of phrases that take the Lord’s name in vain.