Review: Shadowed Summer

Jul •  10 •  2011

Title: Shadowed Summer
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary/Thriller
Author: Saundra Mitchell
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Book: Bought



“Iris is ready for another hot, routine summer in her small Louisiana town, hanging around the Red Stripe grocery with her best friend, Collette, and traipsing through the cemetery telling each other spooky stories and pretending to cast spells. Except this summer, Iris doesn’t have to make up a story. This summer, one falls right in her lap.

Years ago, before Iris was born, a local boy named Elijah Landry disappeared. All that remained of him were whispers and hushed gossip in the church pews. Until this summer. A ghost begins to haunt Iris, and she’s certain it’s the ghost of Elijah. What really happened to him? And why, of all people, has he chosen Iris to come back to?”

Even though this was small book, it was jammed packed with goodness. I really enjoyed the plot line of this book and following along with the characters to solve the mystery of Elijah disappearance. 


The plot line for one was good. The pacing of the plot, even better. I like that as you read the book the mystery isn’t given to you right away. It makes you keep reading and you unravel the mystery of what happen to Elijah and why Iris is involved.


Iris is a great characters. She has a great sense of adventure and just really dives into solving this unsolved mystery. She search for clues, ask questions, even I was getting excited at the questions she was asking. I too fell into step with Iris on her journey to find Elijah.


As always, with small towns nothing it what you expect. I really like the twist of the book and the ending. In a short book, Ms. Mitchell did a great job on tying up all the loose ends. Nothing left you hanging and even the ending was bitter sweet.


I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!




8 Comments

  1. BJ
    Jul 10, 2011

    Sounds like a good one! I love a good, twisty plot.

  2. Jenny
    Jul 10, 2011

    I haven’t heard of this one before! I really enjoyed The Vespertine though so I know I like her writing style:) I do love a good twist at the end too, so this sounds like a winner!

  3. Oh nice! I think I should wishlist this one. Plus, no cliffies! Whee! Thanks for putting this one on my radar!

  4. Small Review
    Jul 10, 2011

    The way you describe the ending makes me motivated to go back and finish this one. I DNF-ed it a while ago, but it was just a case of “wrong book, wrong time” I want to pick it up again sometime.

  5. ComaCalm
    Jul 10, 2011

    Finally, a review of this! Thank you! Definitely going to try and get this, I loved The Vespertine. 😀

  6. Fab review!! I love your bitten books for ratings.

  7. YA Bibliophile
    Jul 11, 2011

    Love this book! Saundra is so great! Did you hear that she just got a deal for two more books?!?! SO EXCITED!

  8. Deb Marshall
    Jul 11, 2011

    This is a must read! Thanks for sharing–and whoo HOO on a two book deal for her, Heidi!