A 16-year-old boy struggles to navigate his way through heaven and back to Earth after a serious mountain-biking accident. Hunter Callaghan never felt more fearless or free than when riding his bike, helmetless, before falling precipitously onto a rock face. He soon realizes he has entered the afterlife, complete with a mentoring guide. The journey Hunter embarks on feels largely ecumenical (although his love interest in heaven is named Trinity); indeed, early on he reveals that he's not sure that he believes in God. Instead, Archie (possibly short for archangel), his guru, leads him through an exploration of Jungian archetypes, and when he re-emerges into his living body, his therapist helps him explore his unconscious beliefs and projections. Choyce gradually reveals the details of Hunter's accident and his subsequent challenges with love through accessible chapters in verse. Segments range in tone from breezy to intense. Although largely told in the first person, the alignment of the verse allows for multiple voices to be included. The three key human characters appear to be white, while Archie, the spirit guide and mentor, seems potentially ambiguous. A sincere, skillfully told exploration of choices, consequences, near-death experiences, heaven, and the meaning of life. (Verse fiction. 14-18)

Gr 7 Up-fter an accident, Hunter Callaghan wakes up in a green afterworld ("Heaven is as good a name as any."). Archie, his guide, helps him with the transition. As Hunter becomes accustomed to this new world, he encounters Trinity, a former classmate and crush. They spend time together, and Hunter learns Trinity's story. Then Archie announces that Heaven is closing down, and both Hunter and Trinity are sent back to Earth, where, once again, Hunter has adjustments to make. He meets others who came back from Heaven, too, and he wonders if he can alter life events, but he finds himself seemingly trapped in a loop. The conclusion, though satisfying, leaves readers uncertain about what really happened to Hunter. The book is written in verse, and the poems are sometimes hard to follow because of the spacing of the words, and the verse focuses on dialogue and feelings, with spare descriptions of locations and events. An appended interview with the author helps to fill in some gaps. This intriguing tale deals with questions of life, death, choices, and consequences, all while avoiding a didactic tone. VERDICT A good choice for middle and high school libraries, but the use of verse might limit its appeal.Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA