Rating: 4 stars
The inevitable journey from life into death is the one unfailing certainty in this world. what if we didn't make the journey alone though? What if there were angelic beings to hold our hand and lead us into the afterlife; to show us the way? For Meridian Sozu, the idea of angelic guides is unbelievable. Even more unbelievable is that she is one, and she has only a few weeks to learn what she must.
Meridian has always been surrounded by death. Her earliest memories are of insects and small animals climbing into her bed to die. She has spent her life as a near-pariah, friendless and gripped by mystery pains that no doctor can diagnose. She knows she is different but no one will talk about it.
On the afternoon of her sixteenth birthday, Meridian witnesses a tragic car accident that puts her into unbearable pain. As they rush her away, her parents inform her that she is now a danger to them and she will be going to Revelation, Colorado where she will learn what she needs to know. Confused and scared, Meridian flees to her great-aunt Merry, a new friend named Tens, and a new life among death.
As with the standard paranormal genre, YA paranormal is being glutted with entries of every conceivable nature and most are not good. Fortunately, Amber Kizer has created the start of what may be a very promising series. The characters of Meridian, Tens, and Aunt Merry have a good depth and flow, moving naturally through their strange world. Unlike the polished and prettily-coiffed heroes of more recent books, Meridian and Tens are true teenagers; disheveled, confused, and hormonal. It's a refreshing change.
The only sour note in the story is the ending, which felt decidedly rushed. It almost seemed as if Kizer was in a sudden hurry to set-up the sequel and move along. I'm looking forward to the sequel, but I would have preferred a cleaner ending. Overall however, this is definitely a brilliant start.
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Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385736681
ISBN-13: 978-0385736688