Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Book Details
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Paperback, 400 pages
2010, EgmontUSA
ISBN: 1606840835

Synopsis
After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA -- a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died.

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach -- the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after -- seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.

Review
Shadow Hills was so engrossing, I couldn't put it down. I found myself almost frantic, needing to know what was going to happen next. The story is a compelling mystery with an amazing mix of science and magic. I don't think I have ever read a book like this before. I loved every scene, no, every single word of this novel. I can say, without a doubt, Shadow Hills is going to be one of my top picks of 2010, as it has already been added to my short list of favorite books of all time.

After the death of her sister, Phe lost herself. While trying to figure out who she is, she's becoming more than she was before. It's an enjoyable mix of self-discovery and unexpected changes. Phe is very likeable. She's not the girliest of girls, but you get some great girl talk moments while she's hanging out with Adriana, the princess-ey rich girl, and Toy, the techie.

Readers will easily find an appealing male character among the boys of Shadow Hills. You've got Graham, the friendly sensitive guy, Zach, the mysterious and kind of edgy guy, Trent, the good-looking but obviously bad boy and Brody, the laid-back stoner.

Phe's dreams play a large part in Shadow Hills. I consciously avoid books that have multiple dream scenes because dreams are, by nature, hard to follow and randomly nonsensical. Phe's dreams are the complete opposite. I couldn't see where they were leading but they made sense and the ties to the story were obvious.

Is this the beginning of a series? Oh please, let it be so. The story is complete, the mystery is solved and everything is resolved, but I do not want to leave the characters. Anastasia Hopcus has written a mind-blowing debut novel that I loved beyond my wildest dreams. If Shadow Hills is any indication, she is going to be a major literary rock star. Boarding school has never been as mysterious, thrilling or suspenseful as it is in Shadow Hills.

Rating

Links
Anastasia Hopcus'
Website
Twitter
Facebook