Closing Down Heaven

Gr 7 Up—After 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.