Book Review : Shine by Lauren Myracle

 Shine by Lauren Myracle

Hardcover, 350 pages

Published May 1st 2011 by Amulet Books
Available on The Book Depository:
Hardcover $15.52 / Paperback 7.95

Synopsis

When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice. 

Review

When I started reading this book, I had no idea how much it would grow on me. Shine is a book that deals with broken friendships, mistrusts, sexuality, violence and drugs - but negative vibes aside, this book is very gripping and fast-paced, and you will find yourself quickly transported to the small town of Black Creek, a place where evil lurks.

Cat is a strong character, although she may not know this hidden ability of hers at first. Rage and fury stoke her inner fire, but she later realizes that she has power and control over herself, and that makes her invincible and fearless. Cat is portrayed as a quiet, introverted sixteen-year-old girl, but from the playbacks of her childhood, we glimpse a different side of her - free-spirited, wild and happy. But one day, something terrible happened. And nothing was ever the same again.

Cat's investigation was very engaging - she tried out different methods to find out the perpetrator who beat Patrick up with a baseball bat, tied him to a gas pump, stuffed a fuel nozzle down his throat, and left him to die without a shred of guilt. Every step she took brought her closer to the answer, but at the same time, things were getting more sinister, and her own life may be at stake. However, she was determined to seek justice for Patrick - she felt that she owed him that much after abandoning him years ago.

Shine presents you with a surprise at every turning of the novel and keeps you guessing. Be warned that this is an emotionally intense book; you may get sucked into the novel without your own knowing. I enjoyed this book tremendously, and I'm so glad that I read it.

Rating:  

Warning: This book contains sexuality, profanity, violence and drug abuse. Parental guidance recommended for teens under the age of eighteen.

About The Author 

 

Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.

Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One) .