Review: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready

Pub. Date: May 04, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult

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.

This novel takes us into the ghostly territory of the deceased. Imagine a present day world where every 16yr old and under can communicate with the dead. Now throw in a different variation of ghosts called Shades (dark, bitter, and harmful to post Shifters) into the mix. Now you’ve got dilemmas! I relished discovering the how’s and why’s of the dearly departed’s existence. It was always interesting to see what type of ghost Aura would encounter and how she would interact with them.

As if Aura didn’t have enough problems to deal with, she has to come to grips with the rising stardom of her rock star boyfriend Logan. I don’t think Aura ever imagined in her worse nightmares that Logan would be taken away from her on their special night. I teared up at least two times while reading this book. Jeri captured the emotional tidal waves that come with losing a loved one. While trying to cope with Logan’s death, Aura’s determined to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Shift along with the help of Scottish exchange student Zachary. Zachary = Swoon! Zachary was there for Aura in every way that she needed and I couldn’t help but fall for him just as Aura did.

SHADE is a terrific start to a great series. I can’t wait to see what SHIFT has in store for Aura next! Readers looking for a unique and haunting world where the woes of the dead take haunting to a whole new level should definitely pick this novel up.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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