The Everafter

October 26, 2009
The story of Madison Stanton, dead of unknown causes at age 17, showcases debut author Huntley's skill at writing believable scenes of high school life. Floating in an oblivion she refers to as “is,” Madison bounces from scene to scene in her life, trying to understand how she died and figure out what “the Universe wants me to understand.” She is hampered by the fact that it is only through touching various objects she finds floating with her (her boyfriend's sweatshirt, a baby rattle, a hair clip) that she can connect with her past. The objects are items she lost in life, and she discovers that other spirits are also using the same means to revisit their lives. The premise feels somewhat contrived, and there's a random snapshot quality to the narrative as Madison gets sucked into and wrenched away from moments in her life, which can grow tedious. Nevertheless, Madison is an engaging protagonist, and the author builds a strong sense of tension; much of her story works well as slice-of-life realism. Huntley is an author worth watching. Ages 12–up.

January 1, 2010
Though Madison is dead, she can relive times in her life during which she lost things: beads, a hair clip, her homework, etc. By revisiting--and sometimes revising--these moments, she finds out who she really was while she was alive and, eventually, how she died. The story's mystery element is predominant; also present is a sensitive contemplation of love, family, and relationships.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

August 1, 2009
Grades 8-11 Maddy Stanton is dead and not exactly loving it. Shes floating in a dark space she refers to as Is, when she comes across various lost objects from her life, including a hair clip and some car keys. Through ghostly trial-and-error, she finds that she can use these items to shuttle back to the moments during which she lost them. Furthermore, she can even effect certain small changes upon the events. Piece by piece, she reassembles the life she has forgotten, and along the waygets closer to solvingthe biggest mystery: how did she die at age 17? Huntley gives Maddy a bouncy, ohmygod voice that injects some attitude into the dour setup, butmostly this is anunconventional angle ona conventional girl-meets-boy (and then dies) story line. The physics of the afterlife arenot especiallyclear (I ride the pulse of my soulbeat), and the episodic plot feels a bit scattershot. Regardless, this is catnip for those who like their romances draped in tragedy, and should find numerous devotees.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)

December 1, 2009
Gr 8 Up-Seventeen-year-old Madison Stanton is dead. When she awakes in a vast expanse of nothingness, she realizes that she doesn't remember her past life, much less how she died. As she explores her surroundings, she finds glowing items scattered about her, such as a bracelet, a pair of socks, keys, and a sweatshirt. When she imagines putting the shirt on her nonexistent body, she's brought back to a moment in her former life. From this experience she learns that every object around her is something that she lost while she was alive, and that using it will bring her spirit back to the moment in which it went missing. Armed with this knowledge, she attempts to discover how she died. With some help from the spirits of her boyfriend Gabe and her ex-friend Tammy, Madison learns the shattering truth of her demise. This fresh take on a teen's journey of self-exploration is a compelling and highly enjoyable tale. Huntley expertly combines a coming-of-age story with a supernatural mystery that keeps readers engrossed until the climactic ending. This touching story will appeal to those looking for a ghost story, romance, or family drama."Laura Amos, Newport News Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.