"Not only a page turner, but a 'stay-up-all-night-to-finish' book!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift."
Why I read this: The cover was definitely a "draw in" for me, plus the synopsis, and the author is amazingly approachable and funny — the recipe of a great read!
Plot: Set in "post-Shift", where anyone born after the Shift can see and communicate with the dead, "Shade" is a fantastically riveting read that intrigues readers from the beginning. The idea alone that the young are so separated from the older generation because of this "dis/ability" is alluring enough when you take into consideration how anyone under the age of 17 today assumes they are so disconnected from my generation or older. The plot was unlike anything I had ever read and I couldn't get enough of it.
Characters: I really connected with Aura's character; I can definitely see why she wants to get rid of her "ability" and I love how persistent she is to find the truth. This novel is so heart-breakingly honest, especially during the trial. My emotions throughout the novel ranged from "Oh my gosh are they really... " and "Oh he didn't... " (at the beginning), to mortification and embarrassment (towards the end), and finally settled at "I need the next book!" (the last page). These characters were so real to me that I felt like I had went on this journey right along with Aura, Logan, and Zach.
Speaking of Zach, he definitely gets my vote (can you say "sweetheart"!). His whole story line was definitely intriguing, page turning, and completely surprising.
Cover: This cover is SO eye-catching and alluring, before even meeting the author or reading the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book due to the beautiful cover.
Random Thoughts: I'm just going to say... I need the next book.
Final Thoughts: I am so upset that I let this book sit on my bookshelf for seven months. It was so fantastic! Not only a page turner, but a "stay up all night to finish" book! I definitely recommend this novel to readers of all ages who are looking for an exciting read. I love this book so much it'll be my first classroom book talk for the New Year! Definitely read this novel.
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 98/100 A
To the FTC, with love: Received at BEA 2010