Repossessed

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Jenkins works magic on readers. Warm, heartening message of hope coupled with a little rebellion.”

The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

“Jenkins works magic on readers. Warm, heartening message of hope coupled with a little rebellion.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Jenkins works magic on readers. Warm, heartening message of hope coupled with a little rebellion.”

Publishers Weekly

Arebellious demon (who prefers the term "fallen angel") named Kiriel takes over the body of 17-year-old Shaun Simpson moments before the teen steps in front of a speeding cement mixer in Jenkins's (Beating Heart) latest. Eager to experience life as a human being-and feeling long overdue for a vacation from his duties of subjecting souls to eternal torment-Kiriel quickly gets underway living Shaun's life. (There is no conflict between the two personalities-in Jenkins's story, Kiriel's takeover sends Shaun's soul on to the afterlife.) Shaun was a prototypical slacker, brushing off his younger brother Jason (whom he calls a "jerkwad"), dressing and living like a slob and barely engaging at school. With funny and heartwarming results, Kiriel tries to engineer a lasting, positive impact on Shaun's family and friends, confronting a school bully-as a demon, Kiriel knows where the teen's actions will land him in the afterlife-and taking the reclusive Jason under his wing. Jenkins displays a wry sense of humor throughout-Jason catches his older brother "French-kissing his shirt" as Kiriel relishes the tactile sensation, and later Kiriel receives an IM from his demonic superiors who have discovered his transgression. Kiriel's own spiritual crises (he himself questions a "Creator" whom he's never seen or heard from) may mirror readers' uncertainties, and the demon's winning mix of cocksureness and inadvertent bungling should resonate with teens. Ages 12-up. (June)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

VOYA - Janet Scherer

Experiencing frustration with his job in Hell, Kiriel takes a much-needed rest in the body of seventeen-year-old Shaun. This fast-paced novel takes place over seven days as Kiriel attempts to experience as much enjoyment as he can with his newfound physical body. He is excited by a cool breeze on his cheek and the sweet taste of ketchup as well as with the usual things a boy finds pleasurable. Because of Kiriel's experience in Hell, witnessing the sins of souls who carry shame, guilt, and sorrow, he decides to change the life trajectory of Shaun's loved ones and classmates. Kiriel gives Shaun's friendless little brother the name of someone he should get to know and plants a seed in Shaun's mother's head about reconciling with her estranged brother. He helps a girl gain confidence in herself and confronts the school bully in hopes of making him realize the pain that he causes others. When Kiriel is called back from his vacation, he is confident that he accomplished good while inhabiting Shaun's body and gained insight on how to better handle his job in the future. This accomplished author writes an enjoyable and comical story with both likeable and believable characters. Readers might be disappointed that Kiriel's vacation does not last longer so that they can get to know him better. Jenkins provides a great choice for both girls and boys, reluctant readers, and those looking for a quick, fun read.

Children's Literature - Monserrat Urena

Kiriel is a demon, but he prefers to be known as a fallen angel, and he is tired of tormenting the souls of the damned. He decides that he is going to take a break. After careful consideration he takes over the body of a teenager named Shaun. Once in Shaun's body, Kiriel knows that it is only a matter of time before someone notices that he has ditched his post. He is determined, however, to take advantage of every moment he has in the mortal world. I fear that words can only cheapen the true pleasure I took in reading this book. It was impossible to put down. Its unconventional plot line holds your attention, but it is Kiriel's voice that keeps the reader going. He, as a fallen angel, has no human traits. His rational actions, however, exhibit a great amount of humanity. The joy, pain, and wonder expressed by this outstanding literary voice is touching and wickedly fun. The prose is crisp and beautiful in its conveyance of the experiences of this fallen angel. Given the true nature of the main character, however, many individuals may choose to turn away from this novel. It is a matter of choice, but for those who choose to read it, it is a rare gleam of light.

KLIATT - Paula Rohrlick

Fed up with endlessly overseeing the torment of souls in Hell, the spirit of a demon takes a little holiday: he moves into the body of a teenage boy named Shaun, who was about to lose his life to a speeding cement mixer anyway. At first, just experiencing the physical world entrances the demon. The sights! The sensations! Masturbation, for instance (though not explicitly described) is a thrilling new experience, and he's eager to try sex with a girl. As he goes about living Shaun's life, however, the demon starts to set other goals, and he decides to leave his mark on this new world. He tries to make life better for Shaun's little brother, takes care of a bully at school, and ends up falling in love with the girl he'd just wanted to have sex with (and they only kiss, in the end). He knows he'll be called back to Hell soon, and he longs for some kind of recognition from the Creator. Funny and clever, in the end the demon's tale is about appreciating existence and trying to do the right thing. It's a quick, quirky and entertaining read, with some meaty ideas in it, too, by the author of such noteworthy YA novels as Damage and Breaking Boxes.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up
Shaun's body has been snatched by one of the devil's lesser minions, who is unbearably bored. Since the teen was about to be killed by a car, the demon does not see it as such a big deal, even though he is clearly violating the rules. His function in hell is to reflect the self-loathing and regret of the souls of the damned back at them, something he has done for eons. He has observed the thoughts and actions of Shaun and his familiars and knows their innermost desires and fears. What he has lacked is an understanding of physical sensation, something he intends to indulge to the fullest in Shaun's body. Despite his knowledge of the human mind, the demon is never able to fully get into character. While this is sometimes amusing, it is just as often annoying. The novel ventures into deep waters, discussing the human condition and human failings. Teens will be much more interested in his physical experiences, including a not-too-graphic masturbation scene and his ultimately unfulfilled desire to experience sex. For a better demonic-possession story, direct teens to Sam Enthoven's The Black Tattoo (Penguin, 2006). A secondary purchase.
—Anthony C. DoyleCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Seventeen-year-old slacker Shaun steps off the curb and is smacked by a cement-mixer truck. Just before he goes under, a curiously sneaky "archangel" named Kiriel steps into Shaun's body. Thus begins Kiriel's near doe-eyed exploration of all the weird, whacked-out wonders of teenage boyhood, all of which eventually coalesce into the pursuit of friendly, feisty Lane Henneberger, the girl he knows will give her virginity to him. The infusion of Kiriel's inquisitively dogged personality into Shaun's teenaged body humorously amplifies all of Shaun's usual boy instincts: Lust, hunger and love all spring to the center, most affecting when Kiriel's educated near-Shakespearean words spout forth from Shaun's usually blunt and blase lips. Life, of course, gets better for Shaun, complete with a girlfriend, help for his troubled brother and better grades. Jenkins's writing, for all of her dabbling in the supernatural world, remains lean, mean and to-the-point. Though the replacement of a real boy with a do-gooder, lackadaisical demon makes this effort feel less directly urgent, less real than Beating Heart (2006), Kiriel's own search for meaning and direction from his own realm in this new life packs an intriguingly deep wallop. (Fiction. YA)

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Jenkins works magic on readers. Warm, heartening message of hope coupled with a little rebellion."