Ellie Everlasting
This book receives a waxing gibbous.
Ellie Everlasting tells the compelling story of how an eighteen year old girl moves past her tragic murder. To her disbelief she awakens in Neverland, where she learns that her favorite childhood story and its characters are real. Meanwhile, her friends and family left behind on Earth now face their own struggles with overcoming Ellie's death. The tales from life and death intertwine to craft a spellbinding tale.
The novel starts off with an engaging bang, jumping right into the action of Ellie's story. Scheck does a good job of making Ellie's murderer seem trustworthy from Ellie and Olivia's, Ellie's girlfriend's, perspective while also giving the reader insight beyond what the characters possess. In addition, as the story progresses and more is revealed about all of the characters, it becomes easier to empathize with and understand the murderer. For some readers, he may never be truly likable, but he is able to redeem himself, at least in part.
As the story unfolds, it grows beyond just the murder of one girl to encompass the fate of not just Neverland, but parts of Earth as well. Ellie is a large part of this, but as the problems grow beyond her own personal experience, she too begins to grow. By the end of the novel, Ellie may still be eighteen, but she has learned and experienced much that has propelled her beyond her age.
Although the writing style is sometimes a bit clunky and though some elements of the story are introduced in a confusing manner, overall, those minor flaws do not take much away from the experience of the novel as a whole. Because the story is relatable, even nostalgic for some, by speaking to the reader's inner child, one is too captivated by the unfolding events to be too distracted by those few flaws.
On the other hand, prior knowledge of Neverland and the story of Peter Pan is not necessary to enjoy this novel. Scheck does a wonderful job of interweaving the background with the story she is telling that one does not feel lost without knowledge of Peter Pan. After all, the story is, first and foremost, about Ellie, so the focus on her is well-balanced.
This novel ends in a bit of a cliche manner, however, that does not ruin the experience of the story. The conclusion is still a satisfying wrap placed on the entire story, even if the presentation may not be to every individual reader's liking. On the whole, if you are looking for a book that is deeply thought-provoking with complex prose, then this book is not for you. However, if you are looking for a book that transports you to a whole other world and reminds you of your childhood, then Ellie Everlasting is definitely the book for you.
Here's hoping you'll love it to the moon and back!
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