Author: JERI SMITH-READY
Genre: YA FANTASY
I received this book at BookExpo America at an author signing
Picture courtesy of Good Reads
Something happened one minute before Aura's birth. It's called the shift, and everyone born after the shift can see ghosts. Aura is forced to confront these ghosts everywhere. They want closure, last words with loved ones, even to give everyday household reminders. But, the dangerous ones are the ghosts that want revenge or retribution. The ghosts that get angry at their fate. The ghosts that won't move on. Those ghosts become shades, dangerous and full of hate.
Aura never thought that she would be in the position of facing someone she loved as a ghost, let alone one that might become a shade. Until her boyfriend Logan, died in a senseless "accident", Aura never thought that she could be the one person to stop a ghost from becoming a shade.
When Aura meets the only person born one minute before the shift, she is confronted with the possibility that this boy may find his way into her heart. Even with Logan still around despite his untimely death, Aura can't stop herself from spending time with Zachary. Though she maintains her love for Logan, Aura may have to make a choice between the two boys.
I had heard many good things about SHADE before I decided to read it. I tend not to read reviews though, beforehand. Usually I also avoid any in-depth description of the novel's plot, so that I can come open-minded into the reading, especially if I am going to consider the book for review.
But, it was almost impossible not to hear the buzz around this book. I also had the chance to attend a few blog chats with Jeri Smith-Ready as guest, as well a book signing during BEA. All this is to say that I was slightly more biased when it came time to cracking open SHADE. My expectations were high. Very high.
Smith-Ready did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed Aura's journey. The problems that she had coping with her boyfriend, her feelings that she had for Zachary, and even her relationship with Logan's bandmates and family, were all everyday issues that teens (especially girls) have to reconcile.
But, then Smith-Ready throws in the paranormal, and does a great job of seamlessly blending the two. I wasn't sure if SHADE would live up to all of its praise, but I should have never doubted the storytelling talents of such a great writer.
4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language
My Rating: 14/15 Must Read
Bonus Cover Points: 3.5/5
*Note: Jeri Smith-Ready is also the author of several adult novels.*
Great review! I loved Shade!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteI just finished this a few days ago. I was a little wary of all the hype it got, but luckily it was earned! Such a good read :)
I also loved Shade!
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to get my hands on this book since it came out!! Sounds great.
ReplyDelete--Courtney Rae--
courtneyyrae@gmail.com
Iloooved this book!! It's one of my top 5 favs. It was so different from anything I have read before and I love that! Glad you enjoyed it too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!! I LOVE this book; it's always nice to hear what other people have to say about it! :)
ReplyDeleteHype is one of the few things I dislike about reading book blogs. It's hard to avoid the mega-hyped books, so I almost always end up disappointed when I finally read it. "The Help" is a good example. I"m reading "The Passage" right now, trying not to get my hopes up too high. "Shade" is another I'm avoiding for the moment, until some of the hype dies, but I'll definitely pick it up at some point. It's not like my TBR pile isn't big enough to occupy me for a while :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome review ! I've been wanting to read this book for forever!
ReplyDelete~Alison
great review, i really want to read this one
ReplyDeleteShade sounds like an interesting read! I love the name Aura!
ReplyDeleteI liked your review. From what Shade sounds like, it reminds me of a cross between Meg Cabot's Mediator series and A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb.
ReplyDeleteIf Smith-Ready's prose is anything like those fine authors, I will definitely have to add Shade to my summer reading list. I'm not generally a "ghost" person, because I have difficulty seeing a working relationship between a living person and a ghost, but the idea of a girl, Aura, struggling between choosing a live boy and a dead boy seems like it could be very drawing to read.
Did you have a boy that you were particularly rooting for? Or did the author present both as worthy enough candidates for Aura's heart?