Shiver+exudes+juvenile+vibe

​ //Shiver// exudes juvenile vibe By Adrienne Co-copy editor and entertainment editor 

Werewolves. Violence. Romance. Maggie Stiefvater intricately weaves all of the aforementioned into her novel, //Shiver.// The book centers on Grace, a junior in high school, and her unorthodox obsession with the wolves that reside in the woods at the edge of her backyard. One wolf in particular stands out to her. His bright, golden eyes, soft fur, and fragile demeanor entice her from the moment she catches her first glimpse of him. The wolves, however, are not ordinary creatures. Most reside inconspicuously as humans within regular society during the summertime. The intense cold of winter causes them to transform into wolves. Grace meets Sam as a human during the fall of her junior year and discovers exactly what secrets lie within the old, twisted trees behind her house. With the discovery of this secret comes the battle for Grace and Sam to maintain their love despite pressing external factors. A great majority of the wolves believe humans exist as creatures not to be trusted; some others feel that Grace has a cure to the werewolf disease. Though Stiefvater presents the reader with a highly desirable and intriguing plot, //Shiver// lacks the spark novels worthy of true praise possess. Her simple wording and, while fascinating, predictable plot are major turn offs. Both ruin the fantastic atmosphere Stiefvater works so intently to create. Simple dialogue and cliché situations cast the novel in a juvenile light despite its being categorized at a young adult level. The novel is not all bad. For instance, Stiefvater composes beautiful lyrics for Sam to sing as a human. In addition, the cover art is absolutely gorgeous. Most substantially, the breathtaking ending induces tears and grasps the heart in the most gentle of ways. The conclusion alone makes the book well worth the reading time it requires. Despite a superior ending, //Shiver// sorely underestimates the intellectual and emotional capacities of its young adult readers. The novel is still worth reading, though perhaps only relatively as a last resort.