Reading level: Young Adult
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (June 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545123275
ISBN-13: 978-0545123273
About Shiver
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.
My Review
Well, where do I begin? Let me first start out by saying that I was cautious when I picked up this book. Why? Because I am one of the few people in the entire world that was not thrilled with the “Twilight” series but I did read them all because I kept thinking they would get better. They didn’t..not in my opinion anyway. So, I picked this up with the same hesitation but I ended up really enjoying it.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some similarities. Sam and Grace are similar to Edward and Bella. Was this story entirely believable? Of course not. Was the writing and plot something that made you sit on the edge of your seat? Not in my opinion. But, the writing was good and I did enjoy the characters. I think my favorite was Beck, the lead wolf who bit Sam and helped raise him to become the man he is.
Sam and Grace met years earlier when she was pulled from the swing in her yard by a pack of wolves. After being bitten, one wolf stood his ground and saved her, a wolf with the most brilliant yellow eyes. From that day forward Grace has not feared the wolves but has been entranced by them, especially the yellow eyed wolf. The woods that border her house are home to these wolves every winter, and she can’t wait until she is able to see them every year.
Sam was bitten as a boy and now shares his human body with the wolf, who only comes out in the cold weather of fall and winter. He too feels a connection to the girl he saved, and watches her from the woods as often as he can. He enjoys being a wolf but there are issues with some of his packmates and their aggressive nature. Especially Shelby, the she-wolf who wants nothing more than to be his mate and lead the pack with him when the time comes.
Sam and Grace eventually meet (after an accident in the woods turns Sam human) and their connection is immediate. But, time is running out because a wolf’s lifespan is short and their ability to turn from human to wolf is limited as well. They try to get as much out of their time together, while trying to figure out why Grace was bitten and doesn’t change. Will time run out, or is there a cure that can help these two stay together?
Told from alternating points of view, this story held my interest and made me want to continue reading.
About Maggie Stiefvater
Maggie Stiefvater lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com.
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