The Wish List

Starred review from October 13, 2003
Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl books, turns his keen wit to the afterlife in this darkly humorous tale. Left in the care of a brutish stepfather after her mother's death, troubled 14-year-old Meg Finn gets more than she bargains for when a break-in at the home of Lowrie McCall, an elderly neighbor, goes horribly wrong and her soul is "knocked clean out of her skin." A last-minute change of heart (Meg keeps her accomplice from killing the old man) earns her the rare distinction of a balanced life account ("dead even")—which means a return trip to earth as a ghost with a chance to redeem herself. Meanwhile, her partner in crime—now an unearthly amalgam of thug and pit bull—is sent back as a "Soul Man" charged with tipping Meg's balance sheet in evil's favor. Fueled by wisecracks, the story is also unexpectedly tender in its delineation of the bond that forms between Meg and Lowrie, whom she joins on his unlikely quest to right his life's wrongs before he dies. With its appealing Irish setting and strong characterizations—including a Gameboy-playing Satan with a, well, devilish sense of humor; his platinum-blonde receptionist ("The Lord of Darkness will see you now"); and a hilariously jaded Beelzebub ("A lawyers' convention bus goes over the edge of the Grand Canyon this afternoon. We're expecting a bit of a glut")—the tale will have readers rooting for plucky Meg, who, in a moving conclusion, winds up altering more fates than just her own. Ages 12-up.

Starred review from December 1, 2003
Gr 7 Up-Meg, kicked out of her house by her stepfather after her mother dies, becomes a troublemaker. When she and her friend Belch attempt to rob Lowrie McCall, an elderly neighbor, a nearby gas tank inadvertently explodes and she finds herself in a tunnel, hurtling toward the beyond. Meanwhile, Saint Peter and Beelzebub argue over Meg's soul-she is not really a bad kid but neither is she a very good one. In order to decide her fate, they send her back to Earth, where she must try to patch things up with Lowrie. After a rough beginning, she and the dying man embark on a quest to help him right the mistakes that he made during his life. Their adventures are both humorous and poignant, as Lowrie confronts his regrets and Meg strives to attain salvation. Whether the events are set in Ireland or in a hereafter complete with computer technology, Colfer concocts a delightful novel that is written in a much lighter vein than his "Artemis Fowl" books (Hyperion). He brings together several unforgettable characters, including an irascible old man, a mouthy heroine, and a malevolent spirit that attempts to stop Meg from completing her mission. The interaction of the heavenly-and not so heavenly-beings adds an unexpected dimension to the novel. An entertaining and compelling read.-Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2003
Gr. 6-9. The author of the Artemis Fowl books offers a cheeky look at life after death and how the ethical decisions made on earth influence one's ending up in heaven or hell. Within the first few pages, 14-year-old Meg Finn and her partner, Belch, along with his pit bull, are blown to smithereens while attempting to rob elderly Lowrie McCall. Belch and his dog meld into one unearthly creature headed straight to hell, but Meg's good deeds and bad are of equal weight. St. Peter and Beelzebub agree to give her a last chance; they arrange for her to help old McCall complete his wish list. But Beelzebub isn't about to play fair; he sends Belch after Meg to make sure she screws up. A dying curmudgeon's wishes may not be the most compelling plot device for young readers, and the narrative is so breezy that it's sometimes hard to follow--especially when the characters are often inhabiting one another's bodies. Yet the moral underpinnings of the story--why people do bad things and the idea of obtaining redemption--are presented in an interesting, amusing way. Surprisingly thought-provoking.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)