Closing Down Heaven

In this highly readable YA novel, sixteen-year-old Hunter propels himself out of this world and into the next after pushing his ultralight mountain bike beyond its limits. He arrives in what he understands to be heaven and is met by Archie, his celestial guide who tries to interpret for Hunter the rules of this rather confusing realm.
It's not long before Hunter meets Trinity, a girl he used to know in Grade 6, and from then on, his mission is to love and protect her from both herself and the nasty character she was involved with before she died of a drug overdose. As part of this mission, Hunter is able to take advantage of a new policy in heaven that allows some recently deceased to return and pick up their lives again. In this way, Hunter tries to prevent the death of Trinity - but it doesn't work. Complications multiply until both Hunter and Trinity find a redemptive path which gives them both back their real lives and new opportunities.
Lesley Choyce has woven a sometimes comic, sometimes moving narrative, focusing on the kinds of mixed-up teens he seems to know so well. In the end love conquers almost everything, but the twists and turns are engaging and illuminating, as Hunter and Trinity find their way to happiness.