The Everafter
Amy Huntley
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 256

Rating: 5 stars

Madison Stanton doesn’t know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this–she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can re-experience–and sometimes even change–moments from her life: Her first kiss. A trip to Disney World. Her sister’s wedding. A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life–and death.

The Everafter is a totally unique book that’s not quite like anything else I’ve ever read. Amy Huntley draws you in with her first sentence, “I’m Dead” and doesn’t let you go, only sucks you in further and further.

It was such an interesting concept of after death – going back and reliving moments of objects you lost. Every object Madison found you were thrown into a random point in her life – you never knew which part of her life you’d be headed to next. Through these moments, you really get to know Madison and you see who shaped her life. All the secondary characters give you a clue as to who Madison is and why she is that way. The secondary characters were all extremely well written. Amy Huntley’s creativity shows through on every page.

The scenes with Maddy and Gabe were my favorite. Every scene with the 2 of them was perfect, never being too much.

The only thing I really would have liked to know is answers to a few questions that arise during the book.

Overall this was a stunning debut from an author I will be watching to see what she comes up with next!