Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

[bj neary]

This new book, in what I hope is a series, was fantastic! Chapters are alternated by Grace, a human child who is dragged from her swing into the woods by a pack of wolves. And Sam, a wolf who was human and bitten, and goes between human and wolf form. Sam is one of the wolves present when Grace is attacked. But something happens when he smells her and looks into her eyes;she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen and he couldn't let their mauling continue and he stops it. So begins the haunting attraction between the two for a period of six years. Grace waiting and watching the woods to catch a glimpse of "her wolf" and Sam alternating between human form and wolf aching to know Grace from afar. Grace's parents are into their own world and when forces collide to bring Grace and Sam together, her parents are blissfully unaware Sam is being protected and hidden by Grace in her room. The author's way of keeping these two hearts beating as one, kept me turning the pages. There is suspense but her description of Sam and Grace's romance, longing, and their total enjoyment of each other made me shiver. I also liked the characters of Grace and Sam, they were deep, honest and abiding in their commitment to each other. Bring on the sequel, I can't wait.