Everwild

A novel by Neal Shusterman, and the sequel to Everlost.

The second novel of The Skinjacker Trilogy.

There was a rumor of a beautiful sky witch,who soared across the heavens in a great silver balloon. And there were whispers of a terrible ogre made entirely of chocolate, who lured unsuspecting souls with that rich promising smell, only to cast them down a bottomless pit from which there was no return.

Everlost, the limbo land of dead children, is at war. Nick the "Chocolate Ogre" wants to help the children of Everlost reach the light at the end of the tunnel. Mary Hightower, self-proclaimed queen of the lost children and dangerous fanatic, is determined to keep Everlost's children trapped within its limbo for all eternity. Traveling in the memory of the Hindenburg, Mary is spreading her propaganda and attracting Afterlights to her cause at a frightening speed.

Meanwhile, Allie the Outcast travels home to seek out her parents, along with Mikey, who was once the terrifying monster the McGill. Allie is tempted by the seductive thrill of skinjacking, until she learns a shocking secret: those who skinjack are not actually dead.

Critically acclaimed author Neal Shusterman writes a book about life, death, and how the choices we make define ourselves in this luminous sequel to Everlost, which Orson Scott Card called "marvelously inventive ... and magically beautiful."

Has a Character Sheet.

This series provides examples of:
"Mikey had no idea whether or not Milos was a good spirit, or bad, all he knew was that he hated Milos for simply existing."
 * Affirmative Action Girl: Zin.
 * All Girls Want Bad Boys: Mikey and Allie, Milos and Allie.
 * Belligerent Sexual Tension: Mikey and Allie.
 * Betty and Veronica: Mikey and Milos for Allie. Nick and for Mary, although Nick doesn't even know about the competition...
 * Body Horror: When turns into  once again... and into a various of different forms.
 * Also, Nick is called the "Chocolate Ogre" for a reason.
 * Body Surf: Skinjacking plays an even bigger part in the story. Obviously because it's even in the title.
 * Breaking the Fellowship: Nick and Allie are separated
 * Butt Monkey: Mikey for some time in the story since he's not as threatening in his fourteen year old body than he was as the monsterous McGill, and well, because Loners Are Freaks.
 * Cannot Spit It Out: Mikey in his feeling-left-out when he is around the Skinjackers, his ability to change... and his feelings for Allie.
 * Cassandra Truth: When Mikey tells the Afterlights at the diner that he was the McGill or when Mikey tells Milos, Squirrel, and Moose that Mary Hightower is his sister.
 * Character Development
 * Character Focus
 * Cliff Hanger
 * Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are:
 * Cool Horse:
 * Cool Train: The only source of transportation for Nick's team.
 * Darker and Edgier
 * Date Peepers: Mikey spying on Milos's and Allie's "lesson," or rather, it was supposed to be a lesson, but it developed into a date of sorts. Let's just say that everything went downhill after that...
 * Dating Catwoman: Nick and Mary.
 * Dragon With an Agenda:
 * Earn Your Happy Ending
 * Enigmatic Minion: Jackin' Jill and
 * Five Bad Band:
 * Mary's Team:
 * The Big Bad: Mary Hightower.
 * The Dragon:
 * Evil Genius: Speedo.
 * The Brute:
 * Dark Chick:
 * Five Man Band:
 * Nick's Team:
 * The Hero: Nick.
 * The Lancer: Johnnie-O.
 * The Smart Guy: Zin.
 * The Big Guy: Kudzu. Doubles as Team Pet.
 * The Chick: Charlie.
 * Allie's Team:
 * The Hero: Allie.
 * The Lancer: Mikey.
 * The Smart Guy: Milos.
 * The Big Guy: Moose.
 * The Chick: Squirrel.
 * Fridge Logic: Afterlights cannot age in Everlost, but Nick is described as a fifteen year old in Everwild when he was fourteen when he died.
 * Nick's probably just one of those people who look older than they are, and other Afterlights mistake him for a year older. Having half his features covered in chocolate probably doesn't help on that front...
 * Green Eyed Monster: Mikey sees Milos as a threat, and dislikes/is jealous of the growing closeness between Allie and Milos and how much time they've been spending together.
 * Fridge Logic: Afterlights cannot age in Everlost, but Nick is described as a fifteen year old in Everwild when he was fourteen when he died.
 * Nick's probably just one of those people who look older than they are, and other Afterlights mistake him for a year older. Having half his features covered in chocolate probably doesn't help on that front...
 * Green Eyed Monster: Mikey sees Milos as a threat, and dislikes/is jealous of the growing closeness between Allie and Milos and how much time they've been spending together.

"Milos: "I know it is not a romantic place for a date."
 * Heterosexual Life Partners: Nick and Johnnie-O.
 * Holding Hands: Allie holds Mikey's hand whenever she needs to reassure him.
 * Allie holds Mikey's hand at one point to show to reassure Mikey and to show their new companion Milos that "the two of them were together in every way that mattered."
 * Becomes a bit of a mind game between Milos and Allie when either refuses to hold the other person's hand.
 * Hot Blooded: Mikey.
 * Humanity Is Infectious: Mikey as he gradually learns many of the feelings that humans feel.
 * If I Can't Have You:
 * I Have You Now My Pretty: Happens twice to Allie (by and again then by, happens once to  (by ).
 * In Love With Love: Even Milos knows he falls in love too fast. Falls for Jackin' Jill, then Allie, and then
 * I Will Find You:
 * Jacob Marley Apparel / Limited Wardrobe: Even more so.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: Mikey.
 * I Kiss Your Hand:
 * Kid Hero
 * Kiss Kiss Slap:
 * Loners Are Freaks: Mikey.
 * Lovable Traitor: Jackin' Jill, in her own way. Of course, she's not so lovable to her former teammates she betrayed...
 * Love Hurts: Mikey and Allie.
 * Love Makes You Crazy: Mikey
 * Love Makes You Evil:
 * Love Triangle: Mikey, Allie, and Milos.
 * Like Brother and Sister: Nick and Allie.
 * Luminescent Blush: Or glowing lavender instead of blue...
 * Meaningful Name
 * Mentor Ship: If you ship Zin with either Nick or Johnnie-O.
 * Milos and Allie can count for this one too.
 * Mood Whiplash
 * Never Got to Say Goodbye: Nick thinks of this about Allie. He believes that their lives have been intertwined through their journey together, and since she had always been there for him, he regrets never telling her goodbye. Nick hopes that Allie took a coin and completed her journey, but secretly wishes that Allie stayed in Everlost so he could meet her again.the ocassion calls for it.
 * Not a Date: What Allie tells Milos whenever their lessons seem to borderline something more.
 * Not a Date: What Allie tells Milos whenever their lessons seem to borderline something more.

Allie: "Good thing it's not a date.""


 * And then again:

"Allie: "Do you think I don't know what this is all about?"

Milos: "Indulge me. One dance is all I ask."

Allie: "Why should I?"

Milos: "Out of simple gratitude for all I have taught you."

Allie: "No -- you lied to me! You said tonight would be a lesson, not a free dance ticket.""


 * Not Good With People: Mikey, oh so much.
 * Not So Different: At times, Mikey and Mary. Or even Nick and Mary.
 * Number Two: Johnnie-O to Nick, Mikey to Allie.
 * Odd Couple: Nick and Johnnie-O, Johnnie-O and Charlie.
 * Older Than They Look
 * Oranyan: Mikey - Type A. Harsh towards people he doesn't know or when socializing with others in general. Sweet towards Allie.
 * Our Ghosts Are Different
 * Pinocchio Syndrome: Allie wishes she could become human once again.
 * The Power of Trust:
 * Psychotic Smile:
 * Ragtag Bunch of Misfits
 * Red Oni Blue Oni: Mikey and Milos.
 * The Rival: Milos to Mikey.
 * Rival Turned Evil:
 * Roaring Rampage of Revenge: The mob of Afterlights that chase after the Deadlies when their belongings are stolen by a missing Jackin' Jill.
 * Romantic False Lead: Milos.
 * Samus Is a Girl: "Zach the Ripper," soon revealed to be Zinnia "Zin" Kitner, a fourteen year old girl who secretly joined the Conferderate War. Nick noticed that there was something off about "Zach's" eyes and face, but the entire realization didn't process until the end of the chapter.
 * Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Johnnie-O and Charlie.
 * Sequel Hook
 * Sibling Yin Yang: Mikey and Mary.
 * Slap Slap Kiss: Mikey and Allie.
 * Johnnie-O and Zin (even Lampshaded by Nick).
 * The Smurfette Principle: Allie, Zin, and Jackin' Jill in their respective teams.
 * Stern Teacher: Nick abd Johnnie-O can count for this towards Zin.
 * Tall Dark and Handsome: Milos.
 * Tall Dark and Snarky: Milos.
 * Theres No Place Like Home: Allie's journey.
 * Time Skip: It's been three years since the events of Everlost.
 * Trapped in Another World
 * Time Skip: It's been three years since the events of Everlost.
 * Trapped in Another World


 * True Companions: Allie, Johnnie-O, Charlie, and Zin for Nick. Nick and Mikey for Allie.
 * Unresolved Sexual Tension: Nick and Mary, Mikey and Allie, Milos and Allie.
 * Villain With Good Publicity: Mary.
 * What Is This Thing You Call Love: Mikey, who initially doesn't understand/denies his feelings for Allie.
 * Wholesome Crossdresser: Zin, who dressed as a boy to pass into the Confederate War. Unfortunately, she is unable to dress off of it thanks to the inability for Afterlights to remove the clothes they died in.
 * Will They or Won't They: Mikey and Allie.