Shiver: A book review

What if the wolves in your backyard weren't just wolves? What if they were human too?

In Shiver by Maggie Stifvater, this is the world that Grace must face. In her town of Mercy Falls, Grace has grown up with the wolves in her backyard. They've been a silent and tame presence in her world, minus that time where they dragged her into the woods and attacked her. Luckily, one yellow-eyed wolf saved her, if only she could remember how exactly. As Grace grows up, the yellow-eyed wolf – her wolf – watches Grace from her backyard, and Grace watches him. Grace can't seem to keep the wolf out of her mind, looking forward to winter each year, the only time he's around.

Then a classmate disappears, apparently attacked by the wolves, and her world gets turned upside down. There's something decidedly abnormal going on in Boundary Woods, just behind her house, and Grace barely knows the half of it. Then Sam, a boy with her wolf's eyes, shows up. Grace knows he's her wolf, and she's not about to let him go without a fight.

Sam has spent his winters as a wolf, watching Grace. He has spent his summers human, dreading turning back into a wolf, and yet, looking forward to seeing Grace and being closer to her. Grace has been the one thing to get him through the harsh realities of his life as a wolf and a human. He wants desperately to be with Grace, to be human, and, when he finally gets the chance, Sam fears time is too short for them and will soon run out. In Sam and Grace's world, things are spiraling out of control and that might tear them apart -forever.

Maggie Stiefvater has manged to create characters that youths of today can relate to, heavily addicted to coffee and unsure of their futures. Her dual perspective, captures a romance that will twist your heartstrings. If you've had a first love, you'll recognize their thoughts. Sam and Grace's love builds realistically, even if it starts unrealistically. Definitely a romance, the world and characters build around the story of these two lovers trying to find a place in their world. Details, like Sam's lyrics, help support the story as it moves along. If a romance based in a fantasy world is your cup of tea, don't miss this book. It will leave you shivering in anticipation for the next book, Linger, due out July 20, 2010.