Everfound

Everfound
by Neal Shusterman
Skinjacker Trilogy, book three

While Mary lies in a glass coffin aboard a ghost train heading west, her minions are awaiting her re-awakening by bringing lots of new souls into Everlost to serve her. Meanwhile Jackin’ Jill has met Jix, a fur-jacker—a skin jacker who can take over the bodies of animals, most notably jaguars. Jix serves a Mayan god who collects Everlost coins, and has his own agenda. In the concluding volume of The Skinjacker Trilogy, Neal Shusterman reveals new sides of the characters of Everlost, who are pitted against each other in a battle that may destroy all life on Earth. (description from Amazon.com)

Without getting all spoilery...

What an epic conclusion to this trilogy. If you haven't already picked up the first book, Everlost, GO NOW and get it! These books take place in the purgatory-like in between afterlife that children go to when they aren't quite ready to make it to "where they are heading."

Neal Shusterman's conceptualization of this afterlife and the whole process that children go through to get to their "ultimate destination" is phenominally well done. Through their landing in Everlost, he is able to explore issues of self-identity (it's a place where you become what you remember the most about your self), inner strength (again mind over matter), life and death, morality (skinjacking allows some kids to inhabit living bodies and what they do with those bodies can have major consequences...), love, and tyranny.

Full of adventure, amazing feats, moments that made me cry, others that made me laugh...these three books are beautifully done. This was another series that ended PERFECTLY. There was nothing I would change. Neal Shusterman wrapped things up in just the right way... *sigh*

Definitely worth a GOLD STAR!

I repeat, if you haven't tried this series yet, go now and at least try the first book. You will not be sorry!

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for SLJ.