Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Stiefvater, Maggie Linger, 368 p. Scholastic, July 2010.  $17.99.  Language: PG (27 swears, no “f”); Violence: PG (death); Sexual Content: PG-13 (off-page, implied sex, references to nudity).  Sam is no longer changing into a wolf, but that doesn’t seem to end his problems.  Grace is becoming sicker; the new werewolves recruited by Beck are starting to change and they don’t really seem to be anyone whom Sam can trust.  What was Beck thinking.  Just as Sam is getting old enough to lead the werewolves, just as spring is arriving so that the wolves will return to human form – everything seems about to fall apart.  My favorite character is Isabel in this second part of the series – she is well drawn, feisty and her bite is razor sharp.  But, now that we know about the werewolfi-ness, Stiefvater ahs more time to draw more intricate characters and further entangle the plot.  You will thoroughly enjoy the read – you will hate having reached the end – and you will agonize over having to wait for the third installment!  Bon Apetit!  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher