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A review by bookph1le
Everlost by Neal Shusterman
5.0
I have become an enthusiastic consumer of YA literature. Like all literature, it is not all created equal. Everlost is one of those books that stands above the rest, for a multitude of reasons.
The world of Everlost is very well developed, very nuanced, and really intriguing. There is a logic to it. It has its own rules to which all characters are subject. I also found it a very poignant universe, one in which deep emotions leave a lasting impression. I loved this concept and loved the depiction of the objects that cross over. There is something so lovely in the thought that a beloved building, a cherished book, or an adored stuffed animal goes on to lead a sort of second life, providing comfort to those who find themselves stuck in a sort of in between.
As wonderful as the setting is, the real gem and mastery of this book (indeed, of the whole series) is in the characters. Shusterman has a wonderful ability to create varied, nuanced, interesting characters. Using a third person narrative is something of a risk, but I'm glad he used this particular device because I was endlessly fascinated by each of the characters and always enjoyed getting to see inside their heads.
Allie and Nick are both simply wonderful. I really liked the fact that they initially don't get along and band together simply because there is safety in numbers. I also loved that neither of them was perfect. Each has their own flaws: with Allie, it's a tendency to being somewhat overbearing and prickly while with Nick, it's a tendency toward being whiny. I found them both exasperating at times, but this only served to make me love them more because of this important point: Shusterman shows the reader that there is more to Allie and Nick than what we first see. They are both complex and show a great deal of growth over the course of the novel.
As great as Allie and Nick are, I thought the McGill was even better. I loved the fact that he starts out as being something of a caricature, but is revealed to have many surprising layers. Far too often, I think authors rely on very cardboard villains, so it's always a delight to me to find a bad character who I grow to like and about whom I care. This doesn't excuse the McGill's actions, and I don't think that's Shusterman's intent. Instead, I think that the McGill serves to show that it's not necessary to remain stuck in a rut.
On the other side of the coin, we have Mary, who is a perfect foil for the McGill. Where he appears to be awful, she appears to be wonderful. Again, it is delightful to observe as her layers are peeled back. In some ways, Shusterman has inverted the traditional structure of good versus bad, and I think that's a wonderful thing. He's showing the reader that it's important to dig deeply rather than accepting everything at face value.
I was also very happy with the handling of the romances within the book. I felt there was chemistry between the characters, and I liked that not everything worked out the way they hoped it would. Love is messy and difficult at times, and I think Shusterman captures it perfectly. He's also very good at creating passionate, heart-felt romances that are also very chaste, which I think is a particular challenge. What happens between the characters is deeply, deeply emotional, which is how a love story really should be. While physical passion is certainly an important part of a romance, I feel that far too many authors rely so heavily on this aspect that there is no real foundation of feeling to provide support. I'm so glad Shusterman isn't that sort of author.
I really loved the ending of this book. I thought it built up into a very suspenseful and satisfying crescendo that also included several curveballs I didn't see coming. While there is a definite sense of an ending to this phase of the story, Shusterman also does a nice job of setting the stage for the next installment. This is truly top notch fiction that provides a satisfying read with a myriad of complex themes for everyone from teens on up.
The world of Everlost is very well developed, very nuanced, and really intriguing. There is a logic to it. It has its own rules to which all characters are subject. I also found it a very poignant universe, one in which deep emotions leave a lasting impression. I loved this concept and loved the depiction of the objects that cross over. There is something so lovely in the thought that a beloved building, a cherished book, or an adored stuffed animal goes on to lead a sort of second life, providing comfort to those who find themselves stuck in a sort of in between.
As wonderful as the setting is, the real gem and mastery of this book (indeed, of the whole series) is in the characters. Shusterman has a wonderful ability to create varied, nuanced, interesting characters. Using a third person narrative is something of a risk, but I'm glad he used this particular device because I was endlessly fascinated by each of the characters and always enjoyed getting to see inside their heads.
Allie and Nick are both simply wonderful. I really liked the fact that they initially don't get along and band together simply because there is safety in numbers. I also loved that neither of them was perfect. Each has their own flaws: with Allie, it's a tendency to being somewhat overbearing and prickly while with Nick, it's a tendency toward being whiny. I found them both exasperating at times, but this only served to make me love them more because of this important point: Shusterman shows the reader that there is more to Allie and Nick than what we first see. They are both complex and show a great deal of growth over the course of the novel.
As great as Allie and Nick are, I thought the McGill was even better. I loved the fact that he starts out as being something of a caricature, but is revealed to have many surprising layers. Far too often, I think authors rely on very cardboard villains, so it's always a delight to me to find a bad character who I grow to like and about whom I care. This doesn't excuse the McGill's actions, and I don't think that's Shusterman's intent. Instead, I think that the McGill serves to show that it's not necessary to remain stuck in a rut.
On the other side of the coin, we have Mary, who is a perfect foil for the McGill. Where he appears to be awful, she appears to be wonderful. Again, it is delightful to observe as her layers are peeled back. In some ways, Shusterman has inverted the traditional structure of good versus bad, and I think that's a wonderful thing. He's showing the reader that it's important to dig deeply rather than accepting everything at face value.
I was also very happy with the handling of the romances within the book. I felt there was chemistry between the characters, and I liked that not everything worked out the way they hoped it would. Love is messy and difficult at times, and I think Shusterman captures it perfectly. He's also very good at creating passionate, heart-felt romances that are also very chaste, which I think is a particular challenge. What happens between the characters is deeply, deeply emotional, which is how a love story really should be. While physical passion is certainly an important part of a romance, I feel that far too many authors rely so heavily on this aspect that there is no real foundation of feeling to provide support. I'm so glad Shusterman isn't that sort of author.
I really loved the ending of this book. I thought it built up into a very suspenseful and satisfying crescendo that also included several curveballs I didn't see coming. While there is a definite sense of an ending to this phase of the story, Shusterman also does a nice job of setting the stage for the next installment. This is truly top notch fiction that provides a satisfying read with a myriad of complex themes for everyone from teens on up.