In this lyrical fairy tale from fantasy veteran Attanasio (The Crow: Hellbound
), geeky teen Chester "Chet" Hubert must rescue flame-haired daydreamer Flannery Lake from the Otherworld, when all he really wanted was a date. Flannery's grandmother, Nedra Fell, screws up a Wiccan ritual in an attempt to cheat Death, who decides Flannery will make a welcome substitute. After Flannery is hit by a school bus, she falls into a coma and her soul is lured to the Otherworld by a deceitful "techno-pagan" who promises her love but plans on feeding her to a demonic dragon. Luckily, Nedra convinces the smitten Chet to rescue Flannery in a colorful adventure reminiscent of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth and as magical as the best work of Charles de Lint, Jane Yolen and Holly Black. (Sept.)