Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Shadowed Summer

Saundra Mitchell

Delacorte Press

Released February 10, 2009

Summary: "Nothing ever happened in Ondine." That's what fourteen year old Iris believes, until the summer she is haunted by the ghost of Elijah Landry, a teenaged boy who mysteriously disappeared before Iris was born. As Elijah's ghost begins appearing more frequently, becoming angrier and angrier, Iris realizes it's up to her to solve the mystery of his death.

Review: Shadowed Summer was an enjoyable read. I was intrigued from beginning to end, constantly questioning and predicting what would happen next. The continuous twists and turns kept me in suspense.

Usually I comment about characters. And while Shadowed Summer has strong characters and an authentic voice, what captured me most was the setting and flow of the plot.

Saundra Mitchell painted a vivid illustration of Ondine. I could almost feel sweat running down my brow, while Iris described the miserable heat. Each scene depicted in the novel, played out like a movie with the sounds and feel of the summer.

I was most impressed by the ending. Not only was I not prepared for what was to come, it was so neatly wrapped, there were no unanswered questions.

Shadowed Summer is a captivating debut novel by Saundra Mitchell. She has the ability to keep readers on the edge on the edge of their seat, causing them to expect the unexpected! Because of this strong skill, I can't wait to see what Saundra has in store for us next.

Score: 8-You've gotta read this one!