Review Detail

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wtpl.org/teens/images/bookcovers/aug09/shiver.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 278px;" src="http://www.wtpl.org/teens/images/bookcovers/aug09/shiver.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. 

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2009)

Language: English

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_s60WCv2jG4Q/S1tnEVo50TI/AAAAAAAAAJE/EbvCnVaSkrA/s1600-h/Chest.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 35px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_s60WCv2jG4Q/S1tnEVo50TI/AAAAAAAAAJE/EbvCnVaSkrA/s200/Chest.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430047099951108402" /></a>

A perfect 5/5

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Pros:</span>

-Transition is flawless

-Passion is felt

-Ending is amazing

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Cons</span>

- Starts of just a little slow

- One character is two-dimensional to me. Her motivation isn't explained

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Writing;</span>

Maggie knows what she is doing. Her writing takes you from this world to the one she has created. Smells, sounds, descriptions are all flawless to give you the sense of belonging, desire and want. With such a well written book and a perfect ending, I do not know how Maggie has found a way to write a second book. But she has and if it is anywhere as well written as this book then it is bound to be Phenomenal.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Characters:</span>

Sam is a wolf, and his is human. His motivation, back story and needs all convey who his is and what he is aiming for. What is it that he truly wants? You will have to read the book to find out. Hehe. (I want to be Sam)

Grace. Her name says it all. She knows what she wants, and she is going to do everything in her power to keep it safe. What is she protecting? What keeps attracting her to the woods? I believe girls will want to be Grace.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Dialogue:</span>

When the characters speak to each other, the dialogue is truly how someone might say it. Even with there is no dialogue there is still dialogue. Unspoken words that say it all. You know that there is a connection between people when they don't have to speak to have a conversation.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">Book Excerpt:</span>

<blockquote>"She kissed me harder, breath huffing into my mouth, and bit my lip. Oh, hell that was amazing. I growled before I could stop myself."</blockquote>

<span style="font-weight:bold;">About the Author</span>

"I'm an avid reader, an award-winning colored pencil artist, and play several musical instruments, including the Celtic harp, the piano, and the bagpipes. I also make great cocktail party conversation." -Straight from her <a href="http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/me.php">site</a>