Repossessed (review)

Kiriel, a demon who has spent eons at the boring work of tormenting the damned ("it practically does itself—no lie"), decides to take a vacation on Earth, so he steps into the body of a middle-class American teen named Shaun just as Shaun nearly steps in front of an oncoming truck (Kiriel figures Shaun's fair game since he would have died without Kiriel anyway). Kiriel then starts living Shaun's life while trying to minimize the suspicions of Shaun's family and friends about the teen's changed behavior. The demon knows he'll eventually be caught by the higher-ups and sent back to the fiery depths, but in the meantime he wants to have an impact, to attract God's notice just once, to maybe change some lives for the better—oh, and to experience a few deadly sins while he's at it. From his love affair with ketchup to his insightful handling of Shaun's withdrawn younger brother and his plans to deflower the girl crushing on Shaun, Kiriel acts honorably while evincing delicious intent, experiencing real emotions and wallowing in the wonder of corporeality. Jenkins works magic on readers, who will come to care about Kiriel and his need for validation. The relationships he builds, along with his reactions to the world above ground, are genuine and sweet, and Jenkins handles her demon with care, avoiding both gore and sensationalism. This is a provocative outsider's look at the beauties and strains of ordinary life, sort of a contemporary demonic twist on Our Town, and teens seeking food for thought will appreciate its warm, heartening message of hope coupled with a little rebellion.