Stuck Down [Paperback]

Eileen Rosenbloom (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

After a yelling match with his dad, teenaged Kevin went skiing and suffered a fatal accident. Since his death seven months ago, he has quickly adjusted to the afterlife in Nirvanaville—spending time with his girlfriend Nicole in a heavenly world of singing flowers, talking pets, and endless games.

His idyllic lifestyle is shattered when he volunteers to deliver a letter to his girlfriend's mother on Earth. A motorcycle crash lands him in jail and puts him face-to-face with Morty, a menacing "dweller" who prefers to spend the afterlife wreaking havoc on humankind.

Stripped of his powers, Kevin cannot return to Nirvanaville until he takes care of "unfinished business"—repairing the fragile relationship with his father. Convincing his dad—who is also the prosecuting attorney in Kevin's trial—that he's come back from the dead won't be easy. And if they can't reconcile their differences . . . Kevin will be stuck down on Earth forever.    

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10–After a fight with his father, Kevin storms off for a day on the ski slopes, where he has an accident and dies. The novel jumps ahead seven months to find the 17-year-old happily adjusted to his afterlife in Nirvanaville where he spends time with his girlfriend and plays endless games in an idyllic world complete with singing flowers. This pleasant lifestyle changes dramatically when he volunteers to take a letter from his girlfriend to her mother in San Francisco. He flies to Earth on a motorcycle but, after delivering the letter and convincing Nicole's mother that it is legitimate, is arrested for suspicion of theft of the motorcycle and false identity (he carries the license of a dead person after all). Kevin not only loses his powers but is also plagued by a mean Dweller who refuses to leave Earth after death, still caught in a web of unfinished business and revenge. His wisecracking, along with some funny characters and some spoofing, adds to the book's humor. The prosecuting attorney at Kevin's trial is none other than his father, who is eventually convinced that this is his dead son. They set aside their past conflicts and reconcile. The flowers are right: "Love is all you need." Kevin is no longer "stuck down" on Earth, but happily returns to Nirvanaville, knowing he'll be together with his family someday. While the maudlin ending is a bit heavy-handed and the characters are not fully developed, kids may find the idea of an idyllic afterlife and returning after death intriguing.–Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
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About the Author

Eileen Rosenbloom (California) is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Wee Ones, On the Line, and My Friend. A native of Philadelphia, Rosenbloom has studied writing at the Institute of Children's Literature and the Univerity of California-Los Angeles. Stuck Down is her first book.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738706582
• ISBN-13: 978-0738706580
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,558,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devilish Fun About An Earthbound Angel!, June 29, 2005

By 

Linda Joy Singleton "Linda Joy Singleton" (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stuck Down (Paperback)

Kevin's death would be a tragedy if he wasn't having so much fun in the afterlife; hanging out with a girlfriend, zooming on clouds and doing almost anything he wants. Still, he can't resist returning to Earth when he gets a chance to deliver a letter to his girlfriend's mother. So he hops on a motorcyle and roars back to Earth. Only things go wrong and he ends up in jail and accused of crimes in a courtroom with a prosecuting attorney he knows too well -- his own father!

This is a creative, exciting and intriguing book. It explores the concept of afterlife, while offering a thrilling adventure. The author's legal experience shines through and adds a sense of reality to this out-of-this-world story.

Don't miss out on this unique and wonderful book. Have fun reading!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Will Keep You Stuck Down Reading!, July 24, 2005

By 

Adrienne Enderle "Adrienne Enderle" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stuck Down (Paperback)

I absolutely loved this book! Special delivery? You bet! Kevin has to deliver a message to Nicole's (his best friend) mom on Earth. But, poor Kevin finds himself stuck down until he can rekindle his relationship with his lawyer-father. I simply could not put this book down. Ms. Rosenbloom weaves an exciting tale from here to Nirvanaville.