"Afterworlds" by Scott Westerfeld is a unique and ambitious novel that blends two distinct narratives into a single, compelling story. Here's a description of what the book entails: Dual Narrative Structure: The book alternates between two storylines: One follows Darcy Patel, a young writer who sells her debut novel, a paranormal thriller titled "Afterworlds," to a New York publisher. The other is the actual text of Darcy's novel, which tells the story of Lizzie Scofield, a teenage survivor of a terrorist attack who fakes her death and enters the "afterworlds," a realm between life and death. Metafiction and Writing Process: "Afterworlds" delves deeply into the process of writing, publishing, and navigating the literary world. Darcy's chapters provide insight into the challenges and joys of being a young author, including dealing with deadlines, critiques, and the social dynamics of the writing community. Exploration of Life, Death, and Identity: Lizzie's narrative explores themes of mortality, identity, and the nature of reality. The "afterworlds" setting allows for philosophical explorations of life after death and the boundaries between different realms. Genre Blending: The book seamlessly blends elements of contemporary young adult fiction, paranormal thriller, and metafiction. It caters to readers interested in both realistic portrayals of the writing life and imaginative explorations of the supernatural. Complex and Thought-Provoking: The book is long, and very in depth. It gives the reader much to consider about the writing process, and the nature of life itself. In essence, "Afterworlds" is a multifaceted novel that offers a unique reading experience by intertwining a realistic portrayal of a writer's life with a fantastical exploration of the afterlife.

ISBN: 9781481422345