In the Shadows by Kiersten White – ADVISABLE

White, Kiersten  In the Shadows 384 pgs. Scholastic Press, 2014. $15.99 

Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: PG13. PART GRAPHIC NOVEL

Set in the early 1900’s, Thomas and his sick brother Charles are sent to live at a boarding house. Luckily there are some wonderful sisters who live there, the serious Cora and the wild Minnie help to keep the brothers entertained.  There is creepy local witch, swims at the beach, and piano music. Mysterious forces are converging on the house, Arthur is a family friend is trying to hold things at bay. Between short sections of this story are a wordless graphic novel story. In this story we see a scarred man perusing some very evil and scary looking people throughout the span of the entire 1900’s, the true plot not revealed until the two stories come together.

I think teen readers would enjoy this thriller, which is an interesting mix of graphic novel and written story.  But keep in mind this was a super dark and creepy book. The graphic novel portions are downright  chilling, the artwork in angry reds, blacks, dark blues, and oranges. The characters are evil and there are dark images of a boy chained in a cage. The story of the teenagers is also spine chilling and its hard to watch as they put themselves in dangerous situations.

HS –ADVISABLE 

Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.