Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Age Group: Young Adult
Category:  Paranormal Romance
Release date: August 1st, 2009
Pages: 390 (Paperback)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: RAK

the cold.
Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why.

the heat.
Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver.
For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

First, I wanted to say how much I love books that contain different perspectives.  I've reviewed a few of them on the blog already.  I just can't get enough!  It didn't switch between characters every other chapter, just when it needed to, which I enjoyed.

The story is about Grace, a teenage girl that doesn't give up on anything she believes in with all her heart.  Her backyard is surrounded by woods, and ever since she was a child, there was one wolf that protected her.  When she looked into his eyes, she felt safe and she felt the need to keep him safe, too.  When she comes face to face with a boy that has the same uncommon yellow eyes, she realizes that there's much more to the disappearances around town than people seem to think.

Sam is completely heartwarming.  The way he cares- and has cared for Grace for years- just makes you shiver with anticipation.  I found myself cheering them on, just because they seem like the perfect couple.  Learning about his life and the people that turned him caught my interest the most (besides the romance, of course).  I felt like it had been so long since I've read a book solely based around werewolves.

The way they changed into the wolves was interesting, especially when reading the book around this time of year.  I live in Wisconsin, so I know how cold it can get in the winter.  I could only imagine how easily someone would change when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.  Shiver also has its heartbreaking moments, such as when Grace would listen to the wolves howls outside of her bedroom late at night, wishing she could just be with them.  Since I'm in a long distance relationship, it also made me sad when Sam turned, because I could relate to Grace so much at that moment.

The ending couldn't have been anymore perfect.  I don't pick up paranormal romance books as often, but I know that this is a series I want to continue reading.