Monday, June 14, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater





From the author's website:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.


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I picked up this book when Ms. Stiefvater came to New Orleans for a book signing. I hadn't read Shiver yet, but planned to, "eventually". Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book?!?

When Grace was a small child, she was dragged off her backyard swing by wolves and almost killed. One wolf stopped the pack from killing her, and since then Grace has felt a special bond with "her wolf". She looks forward to seeing her wolf every winter, when the pack comes to the woods behind her house.

Sam has watched Grace ever since he kept the rest of his pack from killing her 6 years ago. He watches her from afar, thinking about her, wishing their lives weren't worlds apart.

After a wolf attack on a fellow student, the town decides to kill the wolves. As she arrives home after trying to stop the hunters, she spies a wolf on her porch - he'd been shot. Then, suddenly, not a wolf, a boy - Sam.

The love story between Sam and Grace is epic. You wouldn't think a story between teenagers could be, but the obstacles between them seem insurmountable. As they fight the end - Sam's eventual final change into wolf, they know that the time they have together is stolen from fate. Grace is very practical and pragmatic, Sam is a dreamer. He views his experiences as song lyrics, finding the beauty in everything. Together they fit together like pieces of a puzzle, each giving the other what they need to be complete. As they work through trying to experience a whole relationship in a matter of weeks, they are also trying to find a "rogue" wolf, a former classmate who was thought to be dead. The wolves in Ms. Stiefvater's world change according to the temperature. They're human in the warm months and wolf when it's cold. Her use of temperature at each chapter heading sets the urgency of the scenes.

The one thing I didn't care for was that there didn't seem to be any positive parenting influences. With the exception of Sam's pack leader, Beck, who had a few issues of his own, the parents of the teens were self-absorbed, absent, and/or clueless.

This book is like a painting; a work of art - the beauty is in the words. Can I use the word "beautiful" to describe Ms. Stiefvater's writing? (It's my blog, I vote yes.) When I think about this book I picture a painting in my head - stark white with splotches of color - bits of red dotted randomly around the canvas representing Grace's mother, light brown for her father. Sam is huge swaths of earthy green cutting across the canvas, and Grace is ice blue, like sunshine on snow. Add some black for Sam's pack and warm yellow for Grace's friends, and the painting is complete.

This book drew me in from the first few pages and I didn't want to put it down. I bawled like a baby during pages 341-344, and then again at the end for completely different reasons. As soon as I finish this review I'm going to read it again.

I give Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 5/5 stars - a definite keeper! I cannot wait to read the next book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series - Linger, which comes out July 20.




I know I've posted the Linger trailer before, but it really is a cool trailer:



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Thanks to Scholastic, I have one copy of Shiver to give away! Want to win it? Leave a comment below telling me whether or not a book has ever made you cry.

This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.) Contest ends at midnight central time on Monday, June 28.

51 comments:

  1. I'd love to win a copy of "Shiver", and I want to collect the entire series!

    From Lorraine Heath's "Surrender to the Devil":

    Sterling Mabry, the eighth Duke of Greystone, feels that he cannot marry his lady love, Frannie Darling, due to his failing eyesight. After many misadventures and intrigues, Sterling realizes Frannie will love him no matter what, and they marry. This is from the epilogue:

    "My most precious memory is of Sterling, with tears glistening in his beautiful blue eyes, as he held our firstborn son within moments of his arrival. Although it was not fashionable for the husband to be so near while his wife gave birth, Sterling insisted. He didn't want to miss out on witnessing any part of life while he still had the ability to view its glory.

    Sterling would also see our second son and our only daughter come in to the world. He danced with her on the evening she had her coming out and on the day she wed the Duke of Lovingdon. While his vision had narrowed considerably by the time our first grandchild made his appearance, Sterling was still able to behold his scrunched-up face and laugh with abandon.

    When Sterling's eyesight did finally fail him completely, we were up in years, content to sit in our garden and reflect on what a wondrous and exciting life we'd led. He did not see my hair fade into silver. For him it was always a vibrant red. I watched him age gracefully and with dignity. He leaned on me much more than he did his walking stick, which was how it should be, because when I needed him most, he was always there for me. Each day I thought I could love him no more than I already did--and the following morning I was always proven wrong, for I awoke loving him just a little bit more."

    I loved the book, but the epilogue tore me up! I cried the first time I read it, and I cry every time I think about it. It's one of the most beautiful examples of true love that I have ever read.

    US Resident, Follower, Subscriber

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  2. Oh yeah books have made me cry. On a daily basis! LOL Its not hard to do for me. I cry at almost everything!

    Thanks for the contest! Happy Blogiversay!

    Amy J
    djsfoxylady@gmail.com

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  3. Oh my goodness, yes! I can't even count the number of times a book has made me cry. It's usually a rather nice catharsis, and a testament to the skills of the author.

    Looks like a fantastic book. Thanks for the giveaway! :>]

    ~Lindy

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  4. No need to enter me in this contest, but I'll mention it Friday!

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  5. Please enter me to win, it sounds like a great book.
    Yes, I have cried while reading before. Normally when that happens I like to go back and re-read those books.

    thank you!

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  6. The parents in this book was sure...yeah not around much. But the book was really great,even if those sucky parents.

    As for crying, I cried a lot while reading The Time Travellers Wife. it does take a lot for me to cry while reading, but that one broke me down to pieces.

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  7. Nocholas Sparks books usually always make me cry! Looking forward to this series, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com

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  8. Great review! I love the painting allusion! I remember crying for book 3 in the Night Huntress series by J. Frost...sometimes I just can't help it when I get to into a book ;)

    Please enter me in the contest!

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  9. I love Shiver! It was one of my first young adult books I read when I started reviewing.

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  10. I cried in the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen. Nicholas Sparks usually gets me tear-jerked at least once. It depends on how connected I feel with the characters! I have read the beginning of this book and it is very well written. Interesting plot.

    Please enter me!
    -Jackie

    jackie_love35@msn.com

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  11. Of course!!!

    Sad endings will do that to me = ]

    In fact, Shiver made me cry.

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  12. Great Review! Yeah I was so annoyed with the parents in this book as well but other than that I loved the story. I've been known to cry over books lol hubs has had to hand me tissues several times! Congrats on your blogversary!

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  13. Books often make me cry. It's one reason I adore reading so much. I think of it as a hallmark of fabulous writing.

    Great review! I keep meaning to get this eventually.

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  14. I have cryed so hard after a book before that i was crying like somebody i love had died.Kind of why i stop reading SF thay do not always have happy endings.Now I read romance may make my cry some time but thay always have a happy ending.

    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

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  15. Many books have made me cry. I can't think of one in partic...Oh yeah..."Tuesdays with Morrie" was a regular weeper for me.

    kzupancic[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  16. "Why, oh why, did I wait so long to read this book?!?"

    I KNOW! I had the same reaction after I read it.

    'Epic' is spot-on. These two are heart-stoppingly sweet and so Romeo/Juliet that it kills me! I cannot wait for 'Linger'!

    Great review.

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  17. Only one book...Where the Red Fern Grows. I admit it!! What! Oh...and I don't want a copy of the book. Wouldn't be right if I won:>

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  18. Yes I have read several books that have made me cry!! Can't think of the titles right now!! Please enter me for this one.

    I follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  19. I have definitely read books that have made me cry. I am a big wuss lol
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  20. yes i have definitely cried lots of time when reading a book

    mariannguyen16(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  21. I’d love to enter. Shiver is one of my favorites, but I don’t own a copy. Yes, books have made me cry. Most recent was The Summer of Skinny Dipping. I cry just thinking about that one.

    Love your review. It’s such an amazing book. I’ve heard others mention that they didn’t like how the parents were portrayed in Shiver. Having grown up without positive parenting influences I’ll admit it didn’t bother me much ;)

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  22. I don't think a book has ever really made me break down in tears and cry. Although in Rachel Vincent's Pride I did get watery eyes.

    That's the only one at the top of my head for the moment. There are times like that, watery eyes, which call it crying if you want. But other than that a book has never really made me burst into full out tears. Just a few watery ones!

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  23. a book has ever made you cry.

    oh, yes, though it's hard to do - guess i'm just not as easily affected...kisten's death in kim harrison's for a few demons more had me bawling like a baby, but before that, it'd been a long time...

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  24. Oh, yes I have read many books that have brought a tear to my eye.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  25. Yes, I am a cryer! I hate when I can't see the words through the tears. All I want to do is keep reading and I have to put the book down to clear my head and go back to it.
    I am a follower.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

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  26. Happy Blogaversary!

    I am definitely a crier!

    GFC follower

    kissinoak at verizon dot net

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  27. I'm a big cryer, it doesn't take much to get me going. The one that I always remember though is when I read Little Women for the first time. I was maybe 12 or 13 and I cried so hard at Beth's death that I could hardly see the page. Just thinking about it now is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

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  28. I've cried lots of times! I remember crying so much when I've read A Walk to Remember and Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. They're two wonderful books!:D
    Thanks! I'm really looking forward to reading Shiver:)

    sylvia_uy4(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. No none has but I've come close to crying. Most recently with The Kite Runner. I closed it and walked away from it though. I had to take a break otherwise I'd cry. I HATE crying! I don't do it often, not just because I hate it but also because my tear ducts are soooo strange.

    lcintocable[a]gmail[d]com

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  30. Yes!! I've read a few books that have really made me cry. One was Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler. It was so sad! I cried when I read Dear John too :)

    totalbookaholic[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  31. Occasionally books make me cry, especially when someone has been deliberatley hurt.

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  32. Books make me cry all the time. I'm just a generally teary person, I guess. It frustrates me because crying makes it hard to read so I'll try to go back and reread the book but I just end up crying harder. I can't win the battle of the tear ducts.

    I keep hearing good things about Shiver, I really want to read it. My books to read list is getting really long... Good thing it's summer!

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  33. I think a lot of books have made me cry before. I remember when I was reading "Of Mice and Men" IN CLASS I started bawling at the very end. Haha it was kind of embarrassing, but a few others were teary-eyed too.
    Also, "If I Stay" made me cry bucketloads to the point where I had to stop for a bit and had to come back to it the next day.

    I'd love to win a copy of "shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater!

    cc932005[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  34. Loved the book trailer. Have not see it before. A few books have touched me where it made me cry. I hate the ones where it comes strong. Can hardly read the book. LOL.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

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  35. I cried during Harry Potter. Since I've been reading that series as a child, I had a strong attachment to many of the characters, and absolutely bawled my eyes out when a certain prankster was killed.
    xicecreamsjx@aol.com

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  36. I don't think any books have made me cry yet, but one will someday!
    rockypuppy@gmail.com

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  37. I cry if it ends happily ever after, or very sadly. So- if it was an emotional book I'm bound to cry.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  38. Books make me cry all the time! The last book that made me cry was Kim Harrion's Hollows book where Kistin dies.

    Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  39. Tons of books have made me cry. It happens all of the time... and yet I keep coming back for more. LOVE THEM.

    Thanks!
    Elisabeth


    ebethsaves[@]yahoo[dot]com

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  40. I cried for about a 15 minutes when I read the end of Bridge to Terabithia. Sooo sad. :'(

    basheemadory@yahoo.com

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  41. Heck yes! Books make me cry all the time :-) One of the most memorable is Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas where is love interest dies at the end - I bawled!

    Sarah

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  42. I've had books make me cry. It's been a while though. For me the most touching books are about teen girls going through tough struggles. Sometimes it hits me on a sympathetic level, sometimes more empathetic.

    Thanks for having such a great giveaway. I've heard great things about Shiver.

    reenajacobs@reenajacobs.com

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  43. Bridge to Terabithia and Despereaux both made me cry! I love books with characters that you have to root for! Thanks for the great giveaway!
    Zoe0825@verizon.net

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  44. yes a lot of books make me cry. like most of the dark-hunter series. in this series the characters have to face there painful pasts so they can find love and be loved again. it makes me teary every time i read one of these books.

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  45. Yes. The first book to make me cry was The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  46. No book has made me cry yet. :-D Thanks for the contest.

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  47. Yes, there have been several books that have made me cry! I was just reading one yesterday that did. It doesn't happen often--it has to be a terribly good book where I get caught up with the characters.

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

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  48. Yes I have cried while reading a book before. Like the comment before it has to be a really good book and when I get caught up with the characters.

    This contest is amazing and you are amazing for hosting it. I have been wanting this book for awhile now.

    Email:ashleycsy_09@yahoo.com

    I am now a follower of yours will you please return the favor?

    Check out my blog and giveaway: Live for this World by Sonya Chung!
    http://ashleybook.blogspot.com/

    **Please sign up for my giveaway: low entries=easier chance of winning**

    Happy reading!
    Ashley C.

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  49. As far as I can remember, I have never read a book that made me cry. I'm sure Shiver will though! Thanks for the giveaway! I currently have a giveaway also at www.jwestboks.blogspot.com

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  50. This contest is now closed - thank everyone for entering!

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  51. I don't cry in novels, there has definetly hasn't been a book that has made me cry, but if I could've cried in a novel, that novel would be: Push By: Sapphire

    -Lorenzo

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