Repossessed

June 18, 2007
Arebellious demon (who prefers the term ”fallen angel”) named Kiriel takes over the body of 17-year-old Shaun Simpson moments before the teen steps in front of a speeding cement mixer in Jenkins’s (Beating Heart
) latest. Eager to experience life as a human being—and feeling long overdue for a vacation from his duties of subjecting souls to eternal torment—Kiriel quickly gets underway living Shaun’s life. (There is no conflict between the two personalities—in Jenkins’s story, Kiriel’s takeover sends Shaun’s soul on to the afterlife.) Shaun was a prototypical slacker, brushing off his younger brother Jason (whom he calls a “jerkwad”), dressing and living like a slob and barely engaging at school. With funny and heartwarming results, Kiriel tries to engineer a lasting, positive impact on Shaun’s family and friends, confronting a school bully—as a demon, Kiriel knows where the teen’s actions will land him in the afterlife—and taking the reclusive Jason under his wing. Jenkins displays a wry sense of humor throughout—Jason catches his older brother “French-kissing his shirt” as Kiriel relishes the tactile sensation, and later Kiriel receives an IM from his demonic superiors who have discovered his transgression. Kiriel’s own spiritual crises (he himself questions a “Creator” whom he’s never seen or heard from) may mirror readers’ uncertainties, and the demon’s winning mix of cocksureness and inadvertent bungling should resonate with teens. Ages 12-up.

December 1, 2007
Gr 9 Up-Shaun's body has been snatched by one of the devil's lesser minions, who is unbearably bored. Since the teen was about to be killed by a car, the demon does not see it as such a big deal, even though he is clearly violating the rules. His function in hell is to reflect the self-loathing and regret of the souls of the damned back at them, something he has done for eons. He has observed the thoughts and actions of Shaun and his familiars and knows their innermost desires and fears. What he has lacked is an understanding of physical sensation, something he intends to indulge to the fullest in Shaun's body. Despite his knowledge of the human mind, the demon is never able to fully get into character. While this is sometimes amusing, it is just as often annoying. The novel ventures into deep waters, discussing the human condition and human failings. Teens will be much more interested in his physical experiences, including a not-too-graphic masturbation scene and his ultimately unfulfilled desire to experience sex. For a better demonic-possession story, direct teens to Sam Enthoven's "The Black Tattoo" (Penguin, 2006). A secondary purchase."Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School Library, CA"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.