Afterlife, Volume 1

March 1, 2007
Gr 10 Up-Everyone on Earth, good and bad, goes to the Afterlife after they die. It is ugly, cruel, and rapidly decaying, so Thadeus and his fellow guardians must use their extra powers to preserve it. However, Thaddeus decides to abandon his work and search for a mythical gate leading to a better world. While the book's packaging and layout resemble manga, its drawing style is more detailed and realistic. Manga fans will find the protagonists much less attractive than the heroes and heroines they're used to; they are drawn with gangly, thin bodies; wrinkled skin; and homely, uneven features. Readers who get past the less-trendy drawing style, though, will find a story that is gripping and melodramatic. A guardian named Mercutio searches endlessly for his lost love, and Thaddeus's dark narration may appeal to fans of gothic and horror fiction. Language and violence make this most suitable for older teens."Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.