Scott Westerfeld’s “Afterworlds” should be put on your ‘books to read’ list. This book is composed of fresh details, eccentric characters and a distinguished plot.

Westerfeld interconnects the lives of two different characters, one with supernatural powers and the other one living her dream in New York City, without falling into a hole of tackiness and cliché phrases.
“Afterworlds” depicts the dynamic lives of Lizzie and Darcy Patel, who have each obtained a sudden and drastic lifestyle change.

The novel’s tagline sets the basis for the theme of the novel. “Darcy writes the words. Lizzie lives them.”

Westerfeld alternates chapters between the two characters. This writing style helps the reader draw parallels between the story lines.

Darcy is an average teenage girl who is preparing for her first year of college. The kicker is that she has a published novel, entitled ‘Afterworlds’, and has decided to defer college for a year to promote her novel and live the glamorous life of an author in New York City. However, it is not long before Darcy realizes that this life is not everything she had hoped.

She struggles with ‘fitting in’ with the adult world at the naive age of eighteen. The sleepless New York City lifestyle, countless parties with other authors, and high-style living are anything but fabulous. Darcy must learn how to face the world as a published author and the pressures that come along with the profession, while struggling with her own identity as a teenage girl. Westerfeld’s description and dialogue between Darcy and NYC authors should provide a few laughs for the reader.

Lizzie is the main character in Darcy’s book, ‘Afterworlds.’ Her story line begins when she is witness to a terrorist attack. During this experience, she discovers she has a supernatural talent; she can interact with deceased spirits.

Lizzie earns attention when it is discovered she is only survivor of the terrorist attack. Yet, she does not appreciate this distinguished title and does everything possible to feel normal again. Throughout the novel, Lizzie’s curiosity with the deceased world grows and she draws connections with certain spirits.
However, she is warned that “believing is dangerous” and not to let her connection with the spirits to take away from her current life on earth.

A young adult novel is not complete without some element of romance. Westerfeld portrays the characters’ awkward love lives in an amusing, yet relatable fashion for the reader.

“Afterworlds” is a fascinating read for several reasons. The author includes elaborate detail into Darcy’s thought process while creating Lizzie’s character. These details and descriptions help the reader understand the character of Lizzie on a different level. Darcy writes the character of Lizzie with emotions parallel to her own.

Westerfeld does well to create a piece of fiction with all of the winning elements of a successful young adult novel.

“Afterworlds” is amusing, dynamic and deserves to be placed on bookshelves everywhere.