Yep, it's March 19th, and this IS my first COYER review. Hmm, something tells me I'm not going to be quite as successful with this challenge this time around. But that's okay. :) Any books I read and review are that many fewer I have sitting around, taking up space on my ereader, right?!? Well, that's my positive spin on things anyway. *ha*
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Release Date: March 15, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: I received an ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3 Bookworms
Synopsis:
Even being dead isn’t enough to get you out of maths class.
Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever. In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back to her perfect life, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as perfect as she thought it was.
And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...
Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.
Dying wasn't on sixteen-year-old Riley Richardson's to-do list. And now, not only is she dead, but she's stuck in a perpetual high school nightmare. Worse still, she's stuck there with the geekiest, most annoying boy in the history of the world, ever. In a school where the geeks are popular and just about everything is wrong, Riley has become an outcast. She begins a desperate quest to get back to her perfect life, but her once-perfect life starts to unravel into something not nearly as perfect as she thought it was.
And maybe death isn’t really that bad after all...
Welcome to Afterlife Academy, where horns are the norm, the microwave is more intelligent than the teachers, and the pumpkins have a taste for blood.
Afterlife Academy was a really cute read with some important lessons tossed in. It's a great read for YA readers, especially those on the younger end.
Riley Richardson is a pretty and popular girl. She's dating a handsome and popular boy, and she and her best friend are the girls that every other girl envies. Being in the 'it' crowd, of course, means being less that generous with the outcasts in school - and Riley has quite a talent for being mean. And illicit joyride with her boyfriend ends with Riley and a student she's tormented, Anthony, in an alternate dimension at the Afterlife Academy.
Having a front row seat as Riley learns how to deal with the afterlife was fun. She's made to attend regular teen classes such as math but she also must attend special classes, like Redemption class. She's determined to return from the dead, go back to her perfect life because here in the afterlife, she's the different one. In this grey world, she's the only one that still has color. And Anthony's here and being nice and making it hard for her to remember why she was ever mean to him.
Afterlife Academy was a pleasure to read. I did find it a bit predictable but that didn't detract from the story. Riley's moaning and mooning over her lost love, Wade, got a bit irritating for me but as a mother of teen girls, I know that melodrama is par for the course. :) I really liked the messages the story conveyed though. Young adults should think before they treat others unkindly, because you never know what karma will bring your way.
Riley Richardson is a pretty and popular girl. She's dating a handsome and popular boy, and she and her best friend are the girls that every other girl envies. Being in the 'it' crowd, of course, means being less that generous with the outcasts in school - and Riley has quite a talent for being mean. And illicit joyride with her boyfriend ends with Riley and a student she's tormented, Anthony, in an alternate dimension at the Afterlife Academy.
Having a front row seat as Riley learns how to deal with the afterlife was fun. She's made to attend regular teen classes such as math but she also must attend special classes, like Redemption class. She's determined to return from the dead, go back to her perfect life because here in the afterlife, she's the different one. In this grey world, she's the only one that still has color. And Anthony's here and being nice and making it hard for her to remember why she was ever mean to him.
Afterlife Academy was a pleasure to read. I did find it a bit predictable but that didn't detract from the story. Riley's moaning and mooning over her lost love, Wade, got a bit irritating for me but as a mother of teen girls, I know that melodrama is par for the course. :) I really liked the messages the story conveyed though. Young adults should think before they treat others unkindly, because you never know what karma will bring your way.
This sounds like a read I'd enjoy!! I like books set around schools! American's do it so differently to Aussies, then throw in fantasy elements... awesome!! Although it was a little predictable, it looks like it was fun! Great review!
ReplyDeleteNaomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
It is enjoyable if predictable, Naomi. It's actually set in England - so still different? It was for me. :)
DeleteThis sounds really really sweet and I love books with "weird" schools. I'm also a big fan of that cover! I may just check this one out when I need something light and cute. Great review!
ReplyDeleteTeresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives
Yeah, I loved the cover too, Teresa. It's actually why I wanted to read it. *ha*
DeleteAnother of my blogging friends read this, and it seems her thoughts matched pretty closely to yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reviews, Brandee!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Andrea. :)
DeleteThis book definitely sounds cute and, even if it was a bit predictable, I'm glad you really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts, Brandee :)
It was cute. I wouldn't steer anyone away from it - especially younger teens. It was a cute story...just predictable with lots of teen melodrama. :)
DeleteSounds great. But if you liked it so much why didn't it get more worms?
ReplyDeleteHi Beth. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate it. I rated this 3 worms for it's predictability - which while it didn't take away from the story, it prevented the story from developing more depth and for Riley's melodrama because while it is appropriate, it wore on me. It's still a pleasant read with a good message, particularly for younger teens. I guess I didn't do a good job of conveying that.
DeleteSo this sounds more like juvenile YA than mature YA. I probably rate it the same way you did because of the predictability and the cuteness factor but because I'm older I think it will leave me wanting in terms of depth, etc.
ReplyDeleteP.S. #FBF, sureness, participate sporadically if you like.
It's definitely more juvenile YA, Braine. Cute, predictable, lots of teen drama...but yes, lacking in depth for an older reader. You said it better! *ha*
DeleteI think I have this one on my eReader too! I think it sounds like a good, cute read - the teenage angst will probably wear on me a bit, but as you said, it's appropriate! I love that it has such an important message, too. Great review Brandee :)
ReplyDeleteOh and don't feel bad, yep - 1 more book of the eReader is a step in the right direction :)
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Berls! :)
DeleteI have this waiting for me on my Kindle. :) I read the author's book, North Pole Reform School, which was a very memorable and fun book. I'm looking forward to reading this one. Melodrama is definitely par for the course during the teen years, lol! My daughter will be there before I know it, yikes! Great review, Brandee! :)
ReplyDeleteOh just you wait, Jennifer. The drama...ugh!! You'll enjoy the book...and your daughter might as well. :)
DeleteIt just seems so unfair to have to go to high school when you die! I love that you said you're familiar with melodrama! I want to hear more about that. I'm drowning in superheroes and Ninja Turtles. Great review, Brandee. I would get tired of the moaning and mooning too. I hope you have a fabulous Friday. I'm working (not at a Middle School).
ReplyDelete