Colfer, Eoin. The wish list.Hyperion. 252p. c20O0, c2003. 078681863-8. $16.95. JS * When a nasty teenage boy named Belch belch v. To expel stomach gas noisily through the mouth; burp. and his even nastier dog Raptor involve 14-year-old Meg in the attempted robbery of an old man, an unexpected explosion occurs. Meg, Belch, and Raptor are blown up and their souls are flung out of their bodies. Belch and Raptor somehow meld into one creature and wind up as a minion min·ion n. 1. An obsequious follower or dependent; a sycophant. 2. A subordinate official. 3. One who is highly esteemed or favored; a darling. of Satan, but Meg's soul ends up in limbo limbo In Roman Catholicism, a region between heaven and hell, the dwelling place of souls not condemned to punishment but deprived of the joy of existence with God in heaven. The concept probably developed in the Middle Ages. , with Saint Peter and the Devil vying for it. Meg is given a last chance at salvation: she is sent back to Earth to help the man she had tried to rob. Old Lowrie McCall knows he will die soon, and he has a wish list of regrets to set straight. Meg tries to help him, but Belch (now with many comically com·i·cal adj. 1. Provoking mirth or amusement; funny. 2. Of or relating to comedy. com doglike qualities) has been sent back to Earth to make sure she fails. Where will Meg's soul finally end up? Fast, funny, and irreverent ir·rev·er·ent adj. 1. Lacking or exhibiting a lack of reverence; disrespectful. 2. Critical of what is generally accepted or respected; satirical: irreverent humor. , this is a clever and thought-provoking novel by the Irish author of the wildly popular Artemis Fowl series (see review of The Eternity Code, above). It's full of action (though when people inhabit each other's bodies it can be a bit confusing), and the moral issues raised make this more than just an amusing fantasy/adventure tale. Sure to be popular. Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk (1) See Asterisk PBX. (2) In programming, the asterisk or "star" symbol (*) means multiplication. For example, 10 * 7 means 10 multiplied by 7. The * is also a key on computer keypads for entering expressions using multiplication. highlights exceptional books. |
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