Shadowcry by Jenna Burtenshaw - ESSENTIAL

Burtenshaw, Jenna, Shadowcry. Greenwillow Books, 2011. Pgs. 320.

Language: G, Violence:PG, Sexual Content: G

The Night of Souls, a night where the veil of death is thinnest and impossible magical things become possible, Kate Winters is in great danger. After raising a blackbird from the dead, Kate Winters finds herself burned out of her house and on the run from Silas, a powerful sorcerer, and Da’ru, an evil emperess, who seek  her family’s heirloom magic book “Wintercraft.” In the wrong hands, this book could spell death for many. With her uncle captured and sold into slavery, she’s forced to seek the help of Edgar, a boy with a mysterious, troubled past, to help her escape evil’s clutches. To save her family and kingdom, she’ll need to master her powers and discover her family’s secret past. Will she succeed? Can she save her kingdom?

A fun mystery adventure for fantasy fans. All characters, good and evil, are mysterious, likable, and well-developed. The plot is intense, complex, and fairly fast-paced. The author also does a great job of using foreshadowing and red herrings to keep the reader’s interest. Readers who like action, adventure, magic, paranormal, and a little bit of mystery will enjoy reading this book.

MS, HS. ESSENTIAL.

Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.