Book Reviews: Neal Shuster-fest

Finally I got around to finishing the Skinjacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman--and after reading one book, you get an instant craving for another.

Goodreads Challenge 47/85:  Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

Neal Shusterman takes the empath to its extremes in Bruiser. Whew that was a painful ride! Painful because of my own empathic tendencies, though. As usual, Mr. Shusterman creates great characters, gives them all a voice, and poses a question for them: What if? What if a person could really absorb all the pains of other people? I thoroughly enjoyed Bruiser, and I really couldn't put it down until the story resolved on the last page. A real easy read told in the point of view of several characters, so the book flies by quickly. Enjoy yourself when you read it, but don't feel too much for the characters--it might be painful.

Goodreads Challenge 46/85: Smith of Wootton Major by J.R.R. Tolkein

A well-written, sweet little fairy tale by the hobbit master.

Goodreads Challenge 45/85:  Everfound by Neal Shusterman


The Everlost trilogy (Skinjacker, actually) presents a wonderful view of life after death. And I'd like to put emphasis on the word "life," because there's a whole world out there full of ghosts wandering in some kind of limbo, and all of them are children. What I love most about this world, though, is the idea that beloved objects and buildings can cross over into the afterlife. Each story is a walk down memory lane of loved objects.

In the last installment of this trilogy, Everfound, the character follow their own arcs that sometimes take an unexpected turn. In a kind of bittersweet trajectory we come to accept all that happens in the end---because that's the way it has to be.

I basically love just about anything Neal Shusterman writes--and with the Skinjacker trilogy, I love the world he created as well. Thanks for the ride!