Kiriel is one of the fallen, working in Hell, tormenting the other damned souls. And he's bored. But he has a plan...take the body of a human just before he dies. Which is how he ends up in the body of 17-year-old Shaun. He doesn't want it forever...he just wants to take a short "vacation" to experience the sensations of Earth. True, it's unauthorized and he's breaking all sorts of rules and committing lots of sins, but what's the worst they could do to him? Send him to Hell? Kiriel decides it's his duty to "plant some seeds" while on Earth, like suggesting to a bully to treat people better and convincing an unpopular, overweight girl that she is beautiful. But he also works to improve the relationship with Shaun's brother and mother, and paves the way for his geeky 8th grader brother to come out of his shell and make friends. This book is hard to put down and the characters and situations are flawless. Much of Kiriels's time is preoccupied with sex and plans to experience it firsthand. The ending is unexpected leaving readers satisfied that after Kiriel has returned to Hell, his work while on Earth will not have been wasted. This 2008 Printz Honor selection gives the reader something to think about while making him giggle the entire time. Highly recommended for teens in grades 10 and up.
