The Wish List

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
The Irish author who created the criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl returns with this heavenly, stand-alone book about a girl out to save her eternal soul. With his knack for suspenseful plot twists and intriguing characters, Eoin Colfer tells the spirited tale of young Meg Finn, a girl who is accidentally killed by her partner-in-crime during a burglary. Fortunately for Meg's soul, one last-minute act of kindness rescues her from being sent through the tunnel directly to hell; after winding up in limbo instead, the girl's spirit returns to earth in the hope of eventually going through "the Pearlies." To make the heavenly cut, Meg goes to the aid of the elderly Lowrie McCall, a down-and-out bloke who has four wishes on his list before he dies. Sound simple? It would be, but the trouble is, the bad boy downstairs has an eye out for Meg's soul, too, and he's sent a "Soul Man" -- a vicious dog-boy creature, who happens to be Meg's deceased murderer -- to retrieve it. Colfer's energetic romp through heaven, hell, and all Irish points in between is a blissful trip. Even though The Wish List doesn't have the in-depth, magical, hi-tech lingo that the Artemis books are known for, it does have its share of cool gadgets and otherworldly hijinks that will keep fans turning pages. A quick read that'll just keep you thirsty for more from Colfer. Matt Warner

Publishers Weekly

"The author of Artemis Fowl turns his keen wit to the afterlife in this darkly humorous tale," wrote PW in a starred review of this novel, about an Irish girl who embarks on a journey to help the man she tried to rob before she was killed in an explosion. Ages 10-up. (July) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

KLIATT

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2004: When a nasty teenage boy named Belch 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 of Satan, but Meg's soul ends up in limbo, 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 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, this is a clever and thought-provoking novel by the Irish author of the wildly popular Artemis Fowl series. 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. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2000, Scholastic, 252p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Paula Rohrlick

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Meg, kicked out of her house by her stepfather after her mother dies, becomes a troublemaker. When she and her friend Belch attempt to rob Lowrie McCall, an elderly neighbor, a nearby gas tank inadvertently explodes and she finds herself in a tunnel, hurtling toward the beyond. Meanwhile, Saint Peter and Beelzebub argue over Meg's soul-she is not really a bad kid but neither is she a very good one. In order to decide her fate, they send her back to Earth, where she must try to patch things up with Lowrie. After a rough beginning, she and the dying man embark on a quest to help him right the mistakes that he made during his life. Their adventures are both humorous and poignant, as Lowrie confronts his regrets and Meg strives to attain salvation. Whether the events are set in Ireland or in a hereafter complete with computer technology, Colfer concocts a delightful novel that is written in a much lighter vein than his "Artemis Fowl" books (Hyperion). He brings together several unforgettable characters, including an irascible old man, a mouthy heroine, and a malevolent spirit that attempts to stop Meg from completing her mission. The interaction of the heavenly-and not so heavenly-beings adds an unexpected dimension to the novel. An entertaining and compelling read.-Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

An abused teen and a bitter old man find affection and redemption in this heartwarming . . . slapstick comedy? A bungled robbery leaves Meg and her pathetic partner Belch dead. Belch goes straight to hell, but Meg dies perfectly balanced between good and evil. She's given one last chance to save her soul by bringing some meaning to the last days of her intended victim, crotchety old-timer Lowrie. Soppy, perhaps, but for the humor of Lowrie's delinquent tasks for Meg, from trespassing to fisticuffs. Helping Lowrie won't do Meg much good if each of her good deeds moves her a little bit closer to hell. And Belch, more moronic than ever, has been sent back by Beelzebub to guarantee her failure. Worse, the temptation to use her reprieve for some late vengeance against her abusive stepfather might overwhelm Meg's mission. A lightweight and moving chuckler. (Fiction. 11-14)