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Devine Intervention

Devine Intervention - Martha Brockenbrough DEVINE INTERVENTION had been a book on my wishlist for awhile. Specifically, since the first moment I heard about it. I knew without a doubt that I needed to read this book and that I would love it. See, I have a special place in my heart for afterlife fiction, particularly comedic afterlife fiction, and do you know what? My instincts did not fail me on this one. I am just going to come out and say it - this is a book that you should go out and buy right now because it is definitely going on my Top of 2012 list, I know it now.Following Jerome, a 17 year old boy (for the past 16 years) shot by an arrow and relegated to soul rehabilitation, and his awkward, unpopular charge Heidi, DEVINE INTERVENTION is a story about one boy's attempts to convince the girl he protects that 1.) he is not schizophrenia and 2.) he can actually save her. When an unthinkable accident happens, splitting Heidi's soul from her body, Jerome only has little more than a day to make sure she gets to Heaven, because no matter what, the fact he got her killed means a one way trip to Hell for eternity.This book brought the tears - the happy tears, the sad tears, the tears of laughter that roll down your face in happy globs. It's a hilarious book about a difficult subject - life and the choices we make in it. It's so imaginative and unique and fun that I fear that I cannot accurately convey how much I adored this book and the characters in it. Bravo, Martha Brockenbrough - your YA debut has made me almost speechless. But not quite, because I have so much to just babble off about this one.The characters are atypical. Jerome is a black sheep in reform after killing a cat while participating in underage drinking. Heidi is a social outcast with an embarrassing track record behind her. The characters are all fun and fleshed out, from the main ones to the secondary cast to the canines and squirrels and angels. One thing I have to say I disliked, though, was the switch from first person (Jerome's POV) to third (Heidi's). I always found that I connected more with Jerome, which I suppose was the point. This really was Jerome's story as he fought for Heidi, but Heidi was still a girl you just had to root for in her quest to live despite all the hardship in her life.Oh, and the ending. THE ENDING. So climactic, and although I predicted most of it (and wondered why that hadn't been step one on Jerome's to do list - although we are told early on that he doesn't really obey or read the rules), one part of the resolution just boggled my mind. Trust me, it's a you have to read it to believe it type deal. There are two villains in this story really - one is time, and the other is creepy and devious and amusing. I just wish we got to know more about why he was so... EW!Let me just mention the romance very quickly. It wasn't the focus of the story, and in fact, it was pretty much left to one page of awkward awesomeness. Can I just say that I love books like this? It was realistic for a YA novel, and for me, that is worthy of special praise!Signed, sealed, delivered, this book had me, from the canine ghostly possession to the pizza rolls to the talent show gone bad. Jerome and Heidi's story was compelling, fun, sad, and a must read for any fan of contemporary fantasy. And I found out yesterday that DEVINE INTERVENTION has been optioned for film by Jerry Zucker, the guy who brought us GHOST, AIRPLANE, and NAKED GUN. Um, yes please! Oh, and the screenwriter is none other than the person who wrote MRS. DOUBTFIRE! Nothing short of an epic combination right there.Trust me. You need this book. Go and buy it now and thank me later.VERDICT: One of my favorite books of 2012 so far, DEVINE INTERVENTION is laugh out loud funny and thought provoking in one little package. About the choices we make and the things we can do to make up for mistakes, it is a can't miss YA debut.