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The Afterlife Academy
For fans of "Because of Mr. Terupt," "Mr. Terupt Falls Again," and "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library," this funny, suspenseful adventure is about two very different twelve-year-old boys who must save the world from demons while dealing with parents, school, bullies, and girls.
Walter Prairie knows how to deal with bullies. He just has to beat them to the punch. But he doesn't see the biggest hit of his life coming when he is struck dead by a bolt of lightning. Before Walter even knows what's happened, he is sent to a Categorizing office, fast-tracked through the Afterlife Academy, and assigned as a Guardian Agent to protect a High-Level Target.
Walter's HLT, Charlie Dewdle, isn't exactly the most popular kid in school. He's what you might call paranormally obsessed. When Charlie finds an ancient book with spells that can be used to open the Gateway for demons to wreak havoc on earth, it's up to him and Walter to fight an eclectic horde of enemies and protect humankind at all costs.
But saving the world isn't so easy. Especially when your protector doesn't know the first thing about the Underworld, bullies like Mo Horvath are trying to hunt you down, pretty and popular Melissa Bittner is suddenly talking to you, and your parents think you're going crazy.
Walter Prairie knows how to deal with bullies. He just has to beat them to the punch. But he doesn't see the biggest hit of his life coming when he is struck dead by a bolt of lightning. Before Walter even knows what's happened, he is sent to a Categorizing office, fast-tracked through the Afterlife Academy, and assigned as a Guardian Agent to protect a High-Level Target.
Walter's HLT, Charlie Dewdle, isn't exactly the most popular kid in school. He's what you might call paranormally obsessed. When Charlie finds an ancient book with spells that can be used to open the Gateway for demons to wreak havoc on earth, it's up to him and Walter to fight an eclectic horde of enemies and protect humankind at all costs.
But saving the world isn't so easy. Especially when your protector doesn't know the first thing about the Underworld, bullies like Mo Horvath are trying to hunt you down, pretty and popular Melissa Bittner is suddenly talking to you, and your parents think you're going crazy.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
928 people want to read
About the author
Frank L. Cole
17 books267 followersFrank L. Cole has lived in such exotic places as the Philippines and Kentucky, and currently lives with his wife and three children out west. While he strived for years to earn his publishing credits, Frank considers sharing his message of “Exercising Your Imagination” to over 100,000 kids across the country as his greatest accomplishment. Frank has been published with Cedar Fort Books, Delacorte Press, and Shadow Mountain Publishing. The Legend of the Last Library is Frank's 15th published book. You can learn more about his writing at frankcolewrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
December 30, 2015
Would you want to read a book by an author who didn't even like his own book? Naturally, I give it a 5.
September 5, 2015
I can hardly wait for this book! My kids are so excited for this one. It comes out September 8th, and if I had it now I would devour it. This is an excellent read for all those middle grade kids. I would recommend it to all book loving boys and girls!
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November 12, 2024The Afterlife Academy
Walter Prarie sees a flash of white light and all of a sudden he’s in what looks like a principal’s office. Alton Tremelton informs him he’s dead. Meanwhile, Charlie Dewdle is examing what he thinks is a burial sight on the lacation of a shopping site. There’s a hole and inside the hole there’s a book that appears to be hundreds of years old. The EMF detector goes off and he’s surrounded by three spirits from the Underworld.
Walter finds out he’s been cleansed so he doesn’t feel grief. It’s been erased which is why he doesn’t remember it. Now he has to be categorized and take a quiz for placement. It has two thousand questions. He’s not in heaven and he’s not in hell. Although most who pass end up in heaven. This is just a “holding place” until he’s ready. There’s a book full of job picks to choose from. Charlie gets taunted by some bullies (Mo and Wheeler) on the way home who grab the book, but he’s able to get it
back and gets home just as a storm hits.
Walter meants Ronald, Reginald, and Riley Logan (triplets) who died in their sleep. (Walter died due to being stroke by lightening). They’ve been assigned as guardian agents and are leaving for an assignment. They got the job from enrolling in the Afterlife Academy. Walter says sign him up but it’s a four year program and he can’t go with them until he’s trained in such tings like (shade spotting, hand to hand combat, thought whispering and energy transfer, shielding and animal communication.
When he’s done with the questionare, Walter is sent through a door where “Field Day” is happening and cadets are given a chance to test their skills. He meets a lady named Ugo, but shortly after he’s taken to a man in a suit that asks the man that escorted him there if “he’s the one”. Wisdom Willow contacts Charlie. He’s a well-known internet paranomal specialist. He responds back wanting to know more about the book. Charlie starts to study the book even though it’s not in words he recognizes.
The man’s name is Darvin. He works for HLTA. He announces Walter made a perfect score on his entrance exam. He gives him a lamenated card (a H.L.T) He confesses he just made stuff up, but Darwin tells him he used his instinct. He shows him a picture of a boy wih orange hair. It’s Charlie Dewdle. He also gives him a pamphlet of rules and regulations. He isn’t given much more information and is just told he needs to investigate this boy. The shades (gathered in Charlie’s bedroom) recognize the Summoner’s book and the Head says they must act immediately. They then call up *her*.
Walter finds himself inside a closet. He immediately sees the Shades but they aren’t intimidated in the least by him and back him back into the closet. Charlie is still studying the book and doesn’t notice either the Shades or Wlater. He tries to go back through the wall to get help but ends up in the bathroom with Charlie’s sister. Back in charlies room it’s now overflowing with Shades and there’s a grotesque woman in black. He consults the book which tells him to identify the spirit. From reading the book, he learns that what he’s up against is a Dark Omen aka a Banshee. Walter fights off the shades but sees the banshee going for Charlie. As her tentacles go down his throat, he jumps on her.
Charlie awakens to rain and the taste of a dead frog in his mouth. He says a grotesque woman on his ceiling and a voice yells at him to get out of there. The woman vanishes. He sees the Shades and they vanish too. Charlie hears Walter and search’s for him but he doesn’t see him. Walter then gives Charlie a shock and tells him he’s standing inside him. Walter tells him he’s an Afterlife Academy Agent and he’s been sent to protect him. After some background info about who he is, how he got there, and where he came from (and looking him up online), they look at paranormal videos. All fake stuff. It freaks out Walter so he turns it off by controlling Charlie’s hand. After this Charlie wakes up his mother and father and gets banned for a week from his computer,
Walter discovers Charlie’s dad has a somewhat dangerous job. He picks up money and delivers it to the bank. On the advice of Trutti, Hoonga calls in muscle to defeat “the child” and get the book. At school, there’s more harassing from the bulliers (Mo, Wheeler, Oswald) and they pour lemonade on Charlie and tell everyone he wet his pants. A attractive girl (Melissa) sticks up for him notably. After this, Walter convinces Charlie to skip school. When he reaches his apartment, he sees a red gorilla with horns. The creature commands them to unattach. It reach’s his hand into Charlie’s body and Walter screams. Charlie can feel it tortuing Walter and tries to get it off but to no avail. His attempts pass right through it. Charlie runs to the church and the creature smacks into a building. It asks where he’ll go and says he can wait forever, but then he vanishes. Charlie tells him THAT was a demon and Walter wants to know who he pissed off in the Underworld. Luckily the book is still where he left it in his room.
Gorge reports to Hoonga and says he’ll try again next time it rains. The problem is there’s no rain coming up. Gorge’s punishment is making it up to them by playing Old Maid. Tharic announces that Hoonga will be paid a visit by someone of great importance. When Mellisa comes up to talk to Charlie, he freezes up. He notices she has on a spirit bracelet (one sold by Wisdom). Charlie asks his Spanish teacher (Mrs. Morales) is she recognize s the lange in the book and she says no. It must be a dead language. Walter suggest he upload the pages and ask Wisdom if he recognizes it. He uploads the pages on a forum and someone tells him it’s Shadow Speech. Demonic books contain it. It’s probably a code to warn off demons. (This is from Wisdom). He says it’s unlikely that demons would come after a book unless it’s the Summoner’s book.
Wisdom warns them not to recite any of the words out loud. There’s a decoder at the back of the book. If you stare at it for three minutes you’ll be able to read the whole book. When Charlie looks at the book there are spells and ddemonic rituals. Walter sees nothing. They both agree they need to get rid of it. Wisdom says they need to bury it but not in the hole. He says he’ll come to them. Walter warns him against this and knocks his hands out of the way before he can type his address. Wisdom says he’ll research it. Later, they see a wraith outside their window. It becomes Charlie to come down, but it can’t get in. Charlie says it’ll be gone by dawn since it can’t tolerate sunlight.
A figure gives Hoonga heat for not yet being able to get the boy and the book as it’s important for his kind to be able to go through the gateway and not be invisible. He has a stone that seems to keep Hoonga in place. Hoonga tells Tutti he has an assignment for him that he thinks he’ll like. At lunch, Walter channels his energy through Charlie and crushes Mo’s hand when he demands money from him. Mo surprisingly tells the principal he caught his hand in a table and Charlie was helping him get it out. Walter tells him he’ll be back for him. Melissa isn’t impressed but Charlie’s just happy she knows his name. (He broke three of Mo’s fingers).
At dinner, Walter makes Charlie find out who his dad’s boss is (Lawrence Howser), whose the CEO (Sheldon Underhill), where he lives (Presley), and that he has a son in HS. They look up Tyrone but most of his page is blocked. Walton realizes she’s the one Ronald is guarding. They’ll go find him and ask what do to with the Summoner’s Handbook. Wisdom advises them to stay inside. They’ve been lucky up until now but the danger is sure to increase and so will the demons coming for the book. They find Tyrone and Charlie wanders right into a Shade attack (meant for Tyrone). After this Ronald Hoonga gets a report that two of the shades were exterminated by bursts. Trutti gives Hoonga a Monopoly game as a gift and says he can punish him with it to make up for the Shades. Someone calls and tells Hoonga to come to the meeting point tonight. Waiting time is over! There’s going to be a storm and he needs to bring Charlie to *him*. Hoonga says he can’t do it. He has other things to do. The voice tells him to gather up his followers and meet him at the meeting point when the first rain falls. Hoonga hangs up the call and tells Trutti Charlie needs to stay in his apartment and he needs him to do it alone.
Ronald is amazed they sent Walter on this assignment with no training or weapons. He shows him the ETD (energy transfer device), and the Feral Whistle. He also can’t believe that Walter was able to possess Charlie. Something that those who study it for years can’t do. Now demons and wraiths can touch him. Last but not least the celestral stone which can destroy Shades and Wraiths. It can also self-explode. They suspect that a non-demon is summoning the demons. Someone whose unhappy with things but can’t change them. Alton. We learn that after Alton died he enrolled at the Academy but was rejected and made a janitor. He was then put in Categorizing. He applied for many positions but each time was turned down. He must have altered Walter’s answers. We warns them about a storm that night. Storms bring out demons.
At home, a strange dog wanders into the apartment with red pupils and it attacks. Charlie uses the whistle to calm it down, but when he and Walter head to take the dog to the vet, they’re surrounded by many more and a woman in gray. Ronald goes to Darwin with his suspicions and it appears that he doesn’t take the claims seriously but after he leaves we see differently. Using the whistle doesn’t work on the dogs. Trapped inside his apartment, Charlie tells his parents the truth. Of course, they don’t believe any of it. He messages Wisdom and Ronald. Wisdom tells him the book can be destroyed with chamber torch’s. They can be found in an underground tomb in a cemetary. Wisdom is in Minesotta and invites them there. He has torch’s. Charlie’s dad wants to take him straight to the hospital and call animal control, but the streets are now full of dogs and red hooded things are clawing at the window. A voice tells Charlie and Walter to bring out the book and they’ll call off the dogs.
Trutti is the one manipulating the dogs, but Charlie’s birds interfere with the dogs trance. They all decide to go to the Wraith convention where Wisdom is. When they finally meet up with Wisdom who weirdly knows where he lives. He can also hear Walter. Walter thinks something is off. There’s a knock on the door and Wisdom goes to answer it. The book is gone. When he comes back there’s a creature with him. It’s Hoonga. Hoonga reaches into Charlie and snatches Walter out. Charlie is knocked out and picked up by a demon. His parents are tied up and taken too. Walter is told by Hoonga, Chalies soul will be sucked into the book and the gates will be opened for his kind. The Logan brothers show up and try to take Hoonga down. Walter ends up being taken out by Gorge and finds himself back in Alton’s office.
Walter accuses him of trying to send demons to get the book to get back at the Board. Alton, of course acts surprised by this. Darwin comes out and calls Walter to talk to him and sends Alton on “a long break”. Walter finds out Darwin is the one behind the whole thing. After 300 years he’s being forced into retirement. Then he’ll go to heaven. End of story! He was the member of the Board and up for Director but because of poor decisions he was let go. If he initiated the attacks they’d think twice about letting him go. Arnold aka Wisdom will perform the cermony and take control of the demons so they won’t get the book. Alton and the Logan brothers them burst into the office. Alton pins Darwin down and he’s taken away by some other agents.
Wisdom has Charlie and his parents tied up in a boys locker room at Conrad School. A place that holds history and significance for him. He tells Charlie to read from the book. Wisdom it turns out motivation is because he was bullied. Melissa walks in and sees a tied up Charlie. She demands to know what he’s doing and he says their practicing an act. Melissa is dumb and won’t leave so she gets taken off by the alligators with Charlie’s parens. Ronald decides to use Walter as a decoy while they grab the stone so they can destroy it.
Walter makes his entrance. He distracts Wisdom and the other demons until the other Agents charge the room and take out the demons. Hoonga retreats. Gorge is speared through the chest by Walter. Walter jumps into Wisdom and he drops the stone. He touches the strone from inside Wisdom and sets off an explosion. The monsters disappear in puffs. The book vanishes leaving behind ash in it’s wake. The stone is no more. Walter is taken out of Wisdom with the ETTD. Wisdom is left behind in the locker room Nothing he’s done will hold in a human court. Alton gets his promotion. Walter gets to continue to go into the field but has to go to the Academy for training and he stays on as Charlie’s guardian. Wisdom kind of vanishes.
My Thoughts:
For a kid’s book, this was ok. It wasn’t what I expected tho. I have a flash drive packed with books. Some have sat simply because there are SOOO many. I was going through them and this title caught my attention. What probably caught my attention then and now was the title “The Afterlife Academy”. So, I thought it would be about “The Afterlife Academy”. But it really wasn’t. The Afterlife Academy seemed to be an after thought that really was only mentioned at the start of the book. I kinda wanted to know what went on in this place. What courses were tahgt? Then when I learned it was a training academy I wanted to read some more about that. It sparked something in me that maybe this academy would serve as a loose guide in my own writing. But what I got instead was a story about an untrained boy not even a day into the afterlife sent to guard another by because of the bitterness of a lack luster Head Master. I think I need another book that just focusses on Walter’s training at the school. I’ll give this points because it covered up the Headmaster’s involvement well enough that it didn’t make it too easy.
Rating: 6
Walter Prarie sees a flash of white light and all of a sudden he’s in what looks like a principal’s office. Alton Tremelton informs him he’s dead. Meanwhile, Charlie Dewdle is examing what he thinks is a burial sight on the lacation of a shopping site. There’s a hole and inside the hole there’s a book that appears to be hundreds of years old. The EMF detector goes off and he’s surrounded by three spirits from the Underworld.
Walter finds out he’s been cleansed so he doesn’t feel grief. It’s been erased which is why he doesn’t remember it. Now he has to be categorized and take a quiz for placement. It has two thousand questions. He’s not in heaven and he’s not in hell. Although most who pass end up in heaven. This is just a “holding place” until he’s ready. There’s a book full of job picks to choose from. Charlie gets taunted by some bullies (Mo and Wheeler) on the way home who grab the book, but he’s able to get it
back and gets home just as a storm hits.
Walter meants Ronald, Reginald, and Riley Logan (triplets) who died in their sleep. (Walter died due to being stroke by lightening). They’ve been assigned as guardian agents and are leaving for an assignment. They got the job from enrolling in the Afterlife Academy. Walter says sign him up but it’s a four year program and he can’t go with them until he’s trained in such tings like (shade spotting, hand to hand combat, thought whispering and energy transfer, shielding and animal communication.
When he’s done with the questionare, Walter is sent through a door where “Field Day” is happening and cadets are given a chance to test their skills. He meets a lady named Ugo, but shortly after he’s taken to a man in a suit that asks the man that escorted him there if “he’s the one”. Wisdom Willow contacts Charlie. He’s a well-known internet paranomal specialist. He responds back wanting to know more about the book. Charlie starts to study the book even though it’s not in words he recognizes.
The man’s name is Darvin. He works for HLTA. He announces Walter made a perfect score on his entrance exam. He gives him a lamenated card (a H.L.T) He confesses he just made stuff up, but Darwin tells him he used his instinct. He shows him a picture of a boy wih orange hair. It’s Charlie Dewdle. He also gives him a pamphlet of rules and regulations. He isn’t given much more information and is just told he needs to investigate this boy. The shades (gathered in Charlie’s bedroom) recognize the Summoner’s book and the Head says they must act immediately. They then call up *her*.
Walter finds himself inside a closet. He immediately sees the Shades but they aren’t intimidated in the least by him and back him back into the closet. Charlie is still studying the book and doesn’t notice either the Shades or Wlater. He tries to go back through the wall to get help but ends up in the bathroom with Charlie’s sister. Back in charlies room it’s now overflowing with Shades and there’s a grotesque woman in black. He consults the book which tells him to identify the spirit. From reading the book, he learns that what he’s up against is a Dark Omen aka a Banshee. Walter fights off the shades but sees the banshee going for Charlie. As her tentacles go down his throat, he jumps on her.
Charlie awakens to rain and the taste of a dead frog in his mouth. He says a grotesque woman on his ceiling and a voice yells at him to get out of there. The woman vanishes. He sees the Shades and they vanish too. Charlie hears Walter and search’s for him but he doesn’t see him. Walter then gives Charlie a shock and tells him he’s standing inside him. Walter tells him he’s an Afterlife Academy Agent and he’s been sent to protect him. After some background info about who he is, how he got there, and where he came from (and looking him up online), they look at paranormal videos. All fake stuff. It freaks out Walter so he turns it off by controlling Charlie’s hand. After this Charlie wakes up his mother and father and gets banned for a week from his computer,
Walter discovers Charlie’s dad has a somewhat dangerous job. He picks up money and delivers it to the bank. On the advice of Trutti, Hoonga calls in muscle to defeat “the child” and get the book. At school, there’s more harassing from the bulliers (Mo, Wheeler, Oswald) and they pour lemonade on Charlie and tell everyone he wet his pants. A attractive girl (Melissa) sticks up for him notably. After this, Walter convinces Charlie to skip school. When he reaches his apartment, he sees a red gorilla with horns. The creature commands them to unattach. It reach’s his hand into Charlie’s body and Walter screams. Charlie can feel it tortuing Walter and tries to get it off but to no avail. His attempts pass right through it. Charlie runs to the church and the creature smacks into a building. It asks where he’ll go and says he can wait forever, but then he vanishes. Charlie tells him THAT was a demon and Walter wants to know who he pissed off in the Underworld. Luckily the book is still where he left it in his room.
Gorge reports to Hoonga and says he’ll try again next time it rains. The problem is there’s no rain coming up. Gorge’s punishment is making it up to them by playing Old Maid. Tharic announces that Hoonga will be paid a visit by someone of great importance. When Mellisa comes up to talk to Charlie, he freezes up. He notices she has on a spirit bracelet (one sold by Wisdom). Charlie asks his Spanish teacher (Mrs. Morales) is she recognize s the lange in the book and she says no. It must be a dead language. Walter suggest he upload the pages and ask Wisdom if he recognizes it. He uploads the pages on a forum and someone tells him it’s Shadow Speech. Demonic books contain it. It’s probably a code to warn off demons. (This is from Wisdom). He says it’s unlikely that demons would come after a book unless it’s the Summoner’s book.
Wisdom warns them not to recite any of the words out loud. There’s a decoder at the back of the book. If you stare at it for three minutes you’ll be able to read the whole book. When Charlie looks at the book there are spells and ddemonic rituals. Walter sees nothing. They both agree they need to get rid of it. Wisdom says they need to bury it but not in the hole. He says he’ll come to them. Walter warns him against this and knocks his hands out of the way before he can type his address. Wisdom says he’ll research it. Later, they see a wraith outside their window. It becomes Charlie to come down, but it can’t get in. Charlie says it’ll be gone by dawn since it can’t tolerate sunlight.
A figure gives Hoonga heat for not yet being able to get the boy and the book as it’s important for his kind to be able to go through the gateway and not be invisible. He has a stone that seems to keep Hoonga in place. Hoonga tells Tutti he has an assignment for him that he thinks he’ll like. At lunch, Walter channels his energy through Charlie and crushes Mo’s hand when he demands money from him. Mo surprisingly tells the principal he caught his hand in a table and Charlie was helping him get it out. Walter tells him he’ll be back for him. Melissa isn’t impressed but Charlie’s just happy she knows his name. (He broke three of Mo’s fingers).
At dinner, Walter makes Charlie find out who his dad’s boss is (Lawrence Howser), whose the CEO (Sheldon Underhill), where he lives (Presley), and that he has a son in HS. They look up Tyrone but most of his page is blocked. Walton realizes she’s the one Ronald is guarding. They’ll go find him and ask what do to with the Summoner’s Handbook. Wisdom advises them to stay inside. They’ve been lucky up until now but the danger is sure to increase and so will the demons coming for the book. They find Tyrone and Charlie wanders right into a Shade attack (meant for Tyrone). After this Ronald Hoonga gets a report that two of the shades were exterminated by bursts. Trutti gives Hoonga a Monopoly game as a gift and says he can punish him with it to make up for the Shades. Someone calls and tells Hoonga to come to the meeting point tonight. Waiting time is over! There’s going to be a storm and he needs to bring Charlie to *him*. Hoonga says he can’t do it. He has other things to do. The voice tells him to gather up his followers and meet him at the meeting point when the first rain falls. Hoonga hangs up the call and tells Trutti Charlie needs to stay in his apartment and he needs him to do it alone.
Ronald is amazed they sent Walter on this assignment with no training or weapons. He shows him the ETD (energy transfer device), and the Feral Whistle. He also can’t believe that Walter was able to possess Charlie. Something that those who study it for years can’t do. Now demons and wraiths can touch him. Last but not least the celestral stone which can destroy Shades and Wraiths. It can also self-explode. They suspect that a non-demon is summoning the demons. Someone whose unhappy with things but can’t change them. Alton. We learn that after Alton died he enrolled at the Academy but was rejected and made a janitor. He was then put in Categorizing. He applied for many positions but each time was turned down. He must have altered Walter’s answers. We warns them about a storm that night. Storms bring out demons.
At home, a strange dog wanders into the apartment with red pupils and it attacks. Charlie uses the whistle to calm it down, but when he and Walter head to take the dog to the vet, they’re surrounded by many more and a woman in gray. Ronald goes to Darwin with his suspicions and it appears that he doesn’t take the claims seriously but after he leaves we see differently. Using the whistle doesn’t work on the dogs. Trapped inside his apartment, Charlie tells his parents the truth. Of course, they don’t believe any of it. He messages Wisdom and Ronald. Wisdom tells him the book can be destroyed with chamber torch’s. They can be found in an underground tomb in a cemetary. Wisdom is in Minesotta and invites them there. He has torch’s. Charlie’s dad wants to take him straight to the hospital and call animal control, but the streets are now full of dogs and red hooded things are clawing at the window. A voice tells Charlie and Walter to bring out the book and they’ll call off the dogs.
Trutti is the one manipulating the dogs, but Charlie’s birds interfere with the dogs trance. They all decide to go to the Wraith convention where Wisdom is. When they finally meet up with Wisdom who weirdly knows where he lives. He can also hear Walter. Walter thinks something is off. There’s a knock on the door and Wisdom goes to answer it. The book is gone. When he comes back there’s a creature with him. It’s Hoonga. Hoonga reaches into Charlie and snatches Walter out. Charlie is knocked out and picked up by a demon. His parents are tied up and taken too. Walter is told by Hoonga, Chalies soul will be sucked into the book and the gates will be opened for his kind. The Logan brothers show up and try to take Hoonga down. Walter ends up being taken out by Gorge and finds himself back in Alton’s office.
Walter accuses him of trying to send demons to get the book to get back at the Board. Alton, of course acts surprised by this. Darwin comes out and calls Walter to talk to him and sends Alton on “a long break”. Walter finds out Darwin is the one behind the whole thing. After 300 years he’s being forced into retirement. Then he’ll go to heaven. End of story! He was the member of the Board and up for Director but because of poor decisions he was let go. If he initiated the attacks they’d think twice about letting him go. Arnold aka Wisdom will perform the cermony and take control of the demons so they won’t get the book. Alton and the Logan brothers them burst into the office. Alton pins Darwin down and he’s taken away by some other agents.
Wisdom has Charlie and his parents tied up in a boys locker room at Conrad School. A place that holds history and significance for him. He tells Charlie to read from the book. Wisdom it turns out motivation is because he was bullied. Melissa walks in and sees a tied up Charlie. She demands to know what he’s doing and he says their practicing an act. Melissa is dumb and won’t leave so she gets taken off by the alligators with Charlie’s parens. Ronald decides to use Walter as a decoy while they grab the stone so they can destroy it.
Walter makes his entrance. He distracts Wisdom and the other demons until the other Agents charge the room and take out the demons. Hoonga retreats. Gorge is speared through the chest by Walter. Walter jumps into Wisdom and he drops the stone. He touches the strone from inside Wisdom and sets off an explosion. The monsters disappear in puffs. The book vanishes leaving behind ash in it’s wake. The stone is no more. Walter is taken out of Wisdom with the ETTD. Wisdom is left behind in the locker room Nothing he’s done will hold in a human court. Alton gets his promotion. Walter gets to continue to go into the field but has to go to the Academy for training and he stays on as Charlie’s guardian. Wisdom kind of vanishes.
My Thoughts:
For a kid’s book, this was ok. It wasn’t what I expected tho. I have a flash drive packed with books. Some have sat simply because there are SOOO many. I was going through them and this title caught my attention. What probably caught my attention then and now was the title “The Afterlife Academy”. So, I thought it would be about “The Afterlife Academy”. But it really wasn’t. The Afterlife Academy seemed to be an after thought that really was only mentioned at the start of the book. I kinda wanted to know what went on in this place. What courses were tahgt? Then when I learned it was a training academy I wanted to read some more about that. It sparked something in me that maybe this academy would serve as a loose guide in my own writing. But what I got instead was a story about an untrained boy not even a day into the afterlife sent to guard another by because of the bitterness of a lack luster Head Master. I think I need another book that just focusses on Walter’s training at the school. I’ll give this points because it covered up the Headmaster’s involvement well enough that it didn’t make it too easy.
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2015
The Afterlife Academy is another very enjoyable book from Frank Cole. I am a big fan of his books, and I was thrilled for this new adventure. Frank writes perfectly for his audience (and for the adults, like me, who enjoy his books). His writing truly reflects his personality. He is a super fun guy with lots of humor and heart, and this book is a great example of that. This story is so much fun and the characters are awesome, even the bad guys. Walter and Charlie couldn't be more different, but I loved how their friendship develops. There is tons of fun and adventure with every turn of the page. The twists and turns were enjoyable. There was one scene with Charlie and his parents that had me laughing out loud!
5 out of 5 stars! This is the perfect middle grade book, and I loved it!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
5 out of 5 stars! This is the perfect middle grade book, and I loved it!
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2015
I have been waiting for this book to come to life! I've known about this book while in the process of being developed. Its a great book for Jr High kids and adults. I love how the author's personality is linked with the characters in the book.
December 4, 2017
I'm not quite sure how to describe this book. Funny, yes. Creepy, yes, there are demons after all. Creative, yes. Action-packed, yes. These are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about this book. I think the combination of humor and action are what make the book a winner in my mind. Many middle grade readers love both of those things after all. I also really appreciate the fact that the plot isn't like any plot I've ever read before. Admittedly, while there are a lot of books available about guardian angels or some such idea, this book creates a guardian AGENT, and a completely untrained one at that. Some other things that I enjoyed about the book include: demons using human games such as Jenga and Old Maid to torture each other, the back and forth dialogue between Walter and Charlie once Walter 'possesses' Charlie, and the involvement of Charlie's parents at the end of the story.
While I did figure out who the 'real' villain is in the story (other than the Underworld creatures), it didn't bother me too much because of the creativity exhibited in the rest of the story. And the author does through in a red herring or two as well. Both Walter and Charlie are fun, interesting characters that I had no trouble rooting for, but their differences were what made the book so entertaining. This is a fun book, perfect for reluctant readers who like lots of action and who don't mind a monster or two.
While I did figure out who the 'real' villain is in the story (other than the Underworld creatures), it didn't bother me too much because of the creativity exhibited in the rest of the story. And the author does through in a red herring or two as well. Both Walter and Charlie are fun, interesting characters that I had no trouble rooting for, but their differences were what made the book so entertaining. This is a fun book, perfect for reluctant readers who like lots of action and who don't mind a monster or two.
April 2, 2020
I can't get over the fact that Walter was struck by lightning. Out of all the ways for a kid to go. I guess it would end up being a lot more serious if it had been something else.
I have to admit, if I had Walter stuck in my head trying to tell me what to do, I think I would go insane. That kid has his own way of looking at the world, and it isn't necessarily the safest or sanest. I think it works for Charlie though. He is so obsessed with the otherworldly, that while Walter is annoying, he just kind of rolls with it.
This book is a mix of all sorts of things. You have good verses evil, a kid that goes on a journey of self discovery, mystery, monsters, battles, all sorts of stuff. While it is a lot, I think that makes it more enjoyable for a wide range of readers. I personally liked the mystery and the fact that board games were considered a punishment.
For kids that are maybe not completely ready for YA, but ready to move so something with a little more depth, this is a great option.
Author: Frank L. Cole
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 8th 2015
I have to admit, if I had Walter stuck in my head trying to tell me what to do, I think I would go insane. That kid has his own way of looking at the world, and it isn't necessarily the safest or sanest. I think it works for Charlie though. He is so obsessed with the otherworldly, that while Walter is annoying, he just kind of rolls with it.
This book is a mix of all sorts of things. You have good verses evil, a kid that goes on a journey of self discovery, mystery, monsters, battles, all sorts of stuff. While it is a lot, I think that makes it more enjoyable for a wide range of readers. I personally liked the mystery and the fact that board games were considered a punishment.
For kids that are maybe not completely ready for YA, but ready to move so something with a little more depth, this is a great option.
Author: Frank L. Cole
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 8th 2015
March 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this unique and creative story so I want to start off by mentioning why I gave it only 4 stars. I loved everything about this book including the characters and story line but I think the religious aspect didn't sit well with me and it would restrict the reading audience. I can see why the author went with the heaven and hell destinations but I think the story would of stood just as strong without even mentioning the areas at all. The story follows Walter and how he was struck by lightning and died. He found himself being fast tracked into the Afterlife Academy and sent back to earth to protect a horribly bullied boy named Charlie but he wasn't sent to protect him from bullies so much as demons. I don't want to go into the story more as to not spoil it and I would recommend it to others.
June 9, 2018
This book was cute, I understand it was a children's book which is why i'm giving it a 3 instead of a 2. For the first half of the book it was well done, I read it in a day, however, after that, it simply got immensely slow and tedious. It took me a little over a week to read this book which, for me, is about 8 days too many. It was a very cute idea and well enough done, however, at the end it sort of felt like the author didn't know how to resolve part of the issue and just kinda came up with something without explaining why it happened.
TLDR: It was cute but a bit slow, good for a kids book but I'm not sure I would have read it when I was younger. Some things didn't seem thought through, but okay.
TLDR: It was cute but a bit slow, good for a kids book but I'm not sure I would have read it when I was younger. Some things didn't seem thought through, but okay.
March 2, 2021
Initial: Didn't know anything about this book. Standalone, middle grade fantasy, which is interesting, there aren't many of those.
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Notes: Shifts focus between Walter, Charlie, and other characters. No beating around the bush, stuff happened pretty quick withing the first four chapters. Somethings seemed convenient. I don't know if one book was enough. Reads kind of like a TV show/movie.
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Pros: Fast paced. There is some mystery and humor too, some action as well.
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Cons: Considering the pub. date (2016) there are some stereotypes within this book, in a specific section.
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Post: I thought it was an enjoyable and interesting read. I liked the second half of the book more than the first half. I wasn't expecting the villain to be who it was!
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Notes: Shifts focus between Walter, Charlie, and other characters. No beating around the bush, stuff happened pretty quick withing the first four chapters. Somethings seemed convenient. I don't know if one book was enough. Reads kind of like a TV show/movie.
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Pros: Fast paced. There is some mystery and humor too, some action as well.
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Cons: Considering the pub. date (2016) there are some stereotypes within this book, in a specific section.
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Post: I thought it was an enjoyable and interesting read. I liked the second half of the book more than the first half. I wasn't expecting the villain to be who it was!
July 18, 2023
This book jumps around too much for my liking. The chapters are all very short and the author jumps to a different perspective every chapter. It feels almost like you are reading several different stories at once until the end when they all tie into each other better. Thank goodness Charlie got possessed by Walter as the jumping between Walter and Charlie was way to often prior to that.
Other than that it was a decent book. The plot twist ending was well executed. I would have liked more explanation of how things worked instead the Afterlife Academy Agents being able to do a lot of cool stuff that wasn’t really explored.
Other than that it was a decent book. The plot twist ending was well executed. I would have liked more explanation of how things worked instead the Afterlife Academy Agents being able to do a lot of cool stuff that wasn’t really explored.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2017
This was such a fun engaging read, perfect for kids (and adults) looking for a different kind of supernatural tale. There was adventure, danger, mystery, friendship, a crush, and just the right amount of humor (which is my favorite part!). I would definitely recommend this tale for anyone looks for some quality escapism reading or looking for the perfect kid friendly gift.
As a side note, the author is the nicest of guys! He goes above and beyond for his readers and all book lovers, making him one of my favorite authors.
As a side note, the author is the nicest of guys! He goes above and beyond for his readers and all book lovers, making him one of my favorite authors.
March 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's about these two boys, ones dead and is a guardian agent while the other is just an ordinary boy, become unlikely friends when they are suddenly task d with protecting "the Summoners Handbook," a book that will let demons into our world. As they try to run away from demons, wraiths, and bullies, they find that it's better to trust your instincts and to work together than alone. I liked the message it brings forth at the end that bullies will never truly win in the end.
December 20, 2018
A brilliant Middle-Grade novel that captures humor, wit, and non-stop action. First of all, the narrator of the audio book is fantastic. His voice really brings life to the story. This is a unique story where a young boy who dies, goes to the Afterlife Academy. There, he is sent back to earth, to help out another kid who is in need. He realizes he is out of his league, and accidentally ends up inside of the teenage boy. He's trapped, but can communicate with him in his head. They have an epic adventure, and humor follows the whole way through the book. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
May 13, 2018
My review is based on the audiobook. It is not often that I find a story that appeals to both me and my 13 yr old son but we both agree that Afterlife Academy was a great listen. It kept us engaged from start to finish and we found it hard to stop listening because we were so invested in the characters and wanted to know what would happen next. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story and characters to life. I hope there are more stories about the Afterlife Academy
October 27, 2018
Recently killed by a lightning strike, Walter is assigned to the supernatural-loving Charlie as an agent and is tasked with keeping him and the mysterious book he's found safe from the likes of terrifying demons and ghouls. Cole delivers a witty and entertaining adventure that will please readers with its enjoyable cast and quirky humour. Can Walter protect Charlie from such powerful enemies without any training of his own?
November 5, 2018
This was a funny book about the unsuspected dead trying to help the living. Walter was having a hard trying to figure out how he was supposed to help Charlie. Charlie seemed to know more about what was happening than Walter. These two make a fun pair in fighting off evil.
This book had me laughing up a storm. I would like to read more about these characters.
This book had me laughing up a storm. I would like to read more about these characters.
June 23, 2023
It was…fine. It sidesteps the whole ‘the young MC is dead’ angle, which is a bit of a cheat seeing as how he never once seems to have any emotions about that other than thinking it’s cool that he gets ghost powers. Does he miss his family? Do they miss him? Don’t know.
Anyway, it’s clean and it breezes along. I probably would have enjoyed it more in 5th grade or so.
Anyway, it’s clean and it breezes along. I probably would have enjoyed it more in 5th grade or so.
March 11, 2019
It's super cute!!! I love the friendship built by Charlie and Walter!!! They are different and I think they will never friends if the magical situation never happen... Lol idk what's the right word... But all I can say it's a cute friendship story... And I love how Charlie is a paranormal freak 😂😂😂
November 24, 2019
A fantastic entry book to the creepy and the paranormal for middle grade readers. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters. I wish there was a little more of Walter's history put in. But other than that it was a fantastic, witty story.
February 10, 2020
I read Afterlife Academy with my eight-year-old son, and he can’t figure out why it’s not a movie. I loved watching his face as he figured out the mystery. He loved Charlie and Walter and their witty banter. A great MG book for any adventurous kid.
August 16, 2018
Good Read
This is a cute tale and is very well written. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!
This is a cute tale and is very well written. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!
November 24, 2018
And an adventure after you die... two unlikely friends try to save the world. Scary and creative. Good for middle school aged kids.
October 23, 2019
Well written, interesting take on the afterlife..life. Interesting characters and just enough mystery for the age it was written for.
September 25, 2020
I loved this book, I've read it about 5 times, and each time it gets better.
June 21, 2021
3.25 stars
January 4, 2022
I loved this book! Super fun read from Frank L Cole.
April 24, 2024
adorable when i read it in 5th grade
January 29, 2016
Oh boy. What a fun ride this book has been! Afterlife Academy was my first exposure to Frank Cole's writing, and it has definitely been a positive experience.
Mr. Cole doesn't waste any time at all in dropping readers straight into the action, first with Walter Prairie's sudden death by lightning strike and then with Charlie Dewdle's unwitting discovery of a dangerous occult book. Walter finds himself in the afterlife and applies to the Afterlife Academy, an elite school for the deceased where they train to protect important living people from shades, demons, and other supernaturals of the evil persuasion. But instead of going into training, Walter is thrust immediately--and completely unprepared--into the field as Charlie's Guardian Agent, just in time to see Charlie being assaulted by a throng of shades as he pores over the nefarious book he unearthed. Walter, with no idea what he's doing, only manages to save Charlie by possessing him, and thus begins the two boys' adventure together as they attempt to discover the true nature of the book while (unsuccessfully) avoiding the attentions of various agents of the Underworld.
Afterlife Academy had no shortage of funny moments, which I appreciated. Life and books are both boring when there's nothing to laugh at. Frequently Charlie would talk to Walter, forgetting that nobody else could hear him, which made for some humorously awkward attempts to cover up what appeared to be Charlie talking to himself. Also amusing were the demons' antics; they really didn't get along with each other, so there were lots of opportunities for slapstick as they bickered.
Another element of the book that I appreciated was the surprise of who was actually behind Walter's being sent into the field untrained for such an important mission. The main characters had a suspect, and I was totally behind them in their suspicions, but when the truth came out it wasn't who I expected. Yet the explanation behind it made sense. I like that kind of plot twist. And speaking of plot twists, I'm glad to say that I had a hunch all along about the identity of the mortal who was helping the demons. I do like being surprised by plot twists, but I also like sometimes being able to guess them ahead of time, and Afterlife Academy had one of each, so it was a win-win!
All in all, a very enjoyable book that has gotten me interested in Frank Cole's other work. If you want a lighthearted adventure that is just a little bit creepy, Afterlife Academy is the book for you!
Mr. Cole doesn't waste any time at all in dropping readers straight into the action, first with Walter Prairie's sudden death by lightning strike and then with Charlie Dewdle's unwitting discovery of a dangerous occult book. Walter finds himself in the afterlife and applies to the Afterlife Academy, an elite school for the deceased where they train to protect important living people from shades, demons, and other supernaturals of the evil persuasion. But instead of going into training, Walter is thrust immediately--and completely unprepared--into the field as Charlie's Guardian Agent, just in time to see Charlie being assaulted by a throng of shades as he pores over the nefarious book he unearthed. Walter, with no idea what he's doing, only manages to save Charlie by possessing him, and thus begins the two boys' adventure together as they attempt to discover the true nature of the book while (unsuccessfully) avoiding the attentions of various agents of the Underworld.
Afterlife Academy had no shortage of funny moments, which I appreciated. Life and books are both boring when there's nothing to laugh at. Frequently Charlie would talk to Walter, forgetting that nobody else could hear him, which made for some humorously awkward attempts to cover up what appeared to be Charlie talking to himself. Also amusing were the demons' antics; they really didn't get along with each other, so there were lots of opportunities for slapstick as they bickered.
Another element of the book that I appreciated was the surprise of who was actually behind Walter's being sent into the field untrained for such an important mission. The main characters had a suspect, and I was totally behind them in their suspicions, but when the truth came out it wasn't who I expected. Yet the explanation behind it made sense. I like that kind of plot twist. And speaking of plot twists, I'm glad to say that I had a hunch all along about the identity of the mortal who was helping the demons. I do like being surprised by plot twists, but I also like sometimes being able to guess them ahead of time, and Afterlife Academy had one of each, so it was a win-win!
All in all, a very enjoyable book that has gotten me interested in Frank Cole's other work. If you want a lighthearted adventure that is just a little bit creepy, Afterlife Academy is the book for you!
November 16, 2015
Walter is struck by lightning and wakes up three days later, only to discover he's dead! He aces his orientation test and is immediately sent on his first assignment for The Afterlife Academy, skipping the required four years of training. His job is to protect Charlie from any evil creatures, like wraiths, shades, and demons. Charlie has discovered The Summoner's Handbook, a book that will allow him to summon all of the evil creatures into the mortal world, and neither Walter nor Charlie truly realize the power of the book. Walter accidentally possesses Charlie's body, and it's clear that he doesn't have the training to handle the importance of this mission. He manages to fend off several attacks from shades and demons, but it's only a matter of time before Charlie and he lose the book and open the door to disaster.
This book is not among the classic novels of all time, but it was really fun to read. Walter and Charlie become unusual partners, since Charlie knows more about the evil creatures than Walter. Walter gives Charlie middle school advice to help him deal with bullies and the cutest girl in school. The plot is able to mix the "serious" problem of demons possibly overrunning the mortal world with interpersonal problems between Charlie and Walter, and between Hoonga (the main demon in the book) and other evil creatures. The book includes humorous moments, as Walter and Charlie try to work through middle school and after-death problems, and Hoonga plays terrible games like Old Maid, Monopoly, and a Jenga-like game played with bones. I recommend this book, and it's great for fans of the "Men in Black" movies.
This book is not among the classic novels of all time, but it was really fun to read. Walter and Charlie become unusual partners, since Charlie knows more about the evil creatures than Walter. Walter gives Charlie middle school advice to help him deal with bullies and the cutest girl in school. The plot is able to mix the "serious" problem of demons possibly overrunning the mortal world with interpersonal problems between Charlie and Walter, and between Hoonga (the main demon in the book) and other evil creatures. The book includes humorous moments, as Walter and Charlie try to work through middle school and after-death problems, and Hoonga plays terrible games like Old Maid, Monopoly, and a Jenga-like game played with bones. I recommend this book, and it's great for fans of the "Men in Black" movies.
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