Angels, Demons, and Dead People

There is an interesting trend in Young Adult (YA) literature where the afterlife – or more accurately, characters found in the afterlife – take front and center stage. I read an article by Patty Campbell in the May/June 2008 issue of The Horn Book Magazine in which she explores some of the titles that include characters who are dead, close to death, or are spiritual beings such as Death itself. An interesting discovery she made is that these novels do not include spiritual questioning on the part of the dying characters. While the afterlife is described in myriad ways (Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, for example), teens do not actually explore spiritual issues in these novels.

I find that revelation interesting. Campbell questions why that is the case. She has no solid explanation. She speculates that teens like to explore scary subjects vicariously and these novels do a fine job of getting as close to what it is like to die as we can without actually dying. She also believes that this is simply a new twist in YA writing. Authors have found a fairly new niche with a premise that seems to appeal to readers and is fun to explore as a writer.

Whatever the reason, the books are definitely interesting reads. Death even becomes tired of all the victims he must claim in Hitler’s Germany in World War II in The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. And Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones is another book told from the perspective of a young murdered girl. If you are interesting in reading some other titles from this genre, here are three more of the dozens of titles available.

Clement-Moore, Rosemary. Highway to Hell. (2009).

This is the third book in the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series. In this novel, Maggie is a college freshman and is on her way to South Padre Island for spring break with her friend Lisa. Unfortunately, after hitting a cow which punctures their gas tank, Maggie and Lisa are stranded in a small Texas town where they quickly discover that they must fight evil in the form of a demon that looks like a petroleum-based monster. Unlike the discussion above where spirituality is not usually included, this novel actually does address theology without positioning it as right or wrong. And the plot line is always foremost.

Warman, Jessica. Between. (2011).

Elizabeth has turned 18. The morning after her party, she awakes to a horrifying revelation and embarks on a journey of discovery about her life and the lives of her friends that is dark and haunting and somewhat scary. Although Elizabeth’s life has seemed perfect, in reality, it has been far from it. The characters are well developed and they feel real, even in their supernatural state. The story has a quick beginning, and maintains a good pace throughout. It’s hard to put down!

Oliver, Lauren. Before I Fall. (2011).

Mean Girls meets Ground Hog Day as Samantha lives her last day over and over and over again – a total of seven times as she tries to figure out her death and unravel a life she has lived as a truly mean girl. Moving and touching and often depressing, the story is told beautifully by Oliver. The scenes are vividly described and the characters are well-rounded and developed. Sam’s development as a character is painstaking, as this type of growth would be for anyone who is shallow and self-centered. But it’s worth the trip with her as she realizes who she has been and who she wants to be.