After reading a multitude of young adult novels it's clear that original and unique plots or writing styles are always a breath of fresh air. And Afterworlds was a whole tank full. I've never read a book that tells a paranormal story about the underworld but also tells the story of the author as she waits for her book to be published and navigates the world of New York and publishing. I've read the Uglies series by Westerfeld, and loved it, but I have to say that Afterworlds is by far my favorite of his novels. It is one thing to think up an adventurous idea, but to write it and have it world is another. And Westerfeld does just that!

He does a brilliant job weaving Darcy and Lizzie's interchanging story, and by the end of the book you are rooting for the author and her character. One story has the excitement of ghosts and terrorists, while the other one has the fear and exhilaration of leaving home for the first time.

I hope that he decides to continue on with this series!