Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater

Book 65/50

I borrowed Shiver (the first book in a YA fantasy trilogy) from my cousin Alexi; it came highly recommended. It’s another supernatural YA story, and you may be sick of me reviewing this genre of books, but again, this one is different.

How? It’s poetic. That’s the best word I can use to describe Maggie Stiefvater’s writing.  The novel is about a girl named Grace who grows up watching wolves frolicking in her backyard. At a young age she was attacked by wolves but she wasn’t killed, thanks to one of the wolves who saved her. Grace grows attached to this wolf; but she can’t explain to anyone the connection she has with him. Little does she know that her hero wolf is a werewolf; his name is Sam. In the winter he’s a wolf, but in the summer he is a ‘normal’ teenager who works at a book store and watches Grace from afar.  When Grace is in her last year of high school, another wolf attack seemingly kills a local boy. This causes the police to head into the forest to shoot the wolves and they shoot Sam, causing him to turn into his human form. He appears as his injured, human self before Grace’s very eyes, and it’s the start of something beautiful.

This love story is so sweet, and Sam’s character is surprisingly conservative and shy. It’s refreshing for a male protagonist in this style of novel to stray from the typical male characteristics we are spoon-fed so often. And while I thought the book dragged a little (there were some chapters that could have been cut without impacting the story), I recommend this read for those who love a poetic love story with a supernatural twist.