Guest Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

publisher: Balzer & Bray

release date: April 17th, 2012

hardcover, 352 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:





source: sent from publisher for honest review
reviewer: Amy

description:What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Review:

As the saying goes all small towns have their secrets. But this one takes the cake, or the cupcake! i will say this book Glimmer is a refreshing change of place. it has a new and fresh storyline, on of which i have never read or even heard about.

A small love story in a small town of secrets. Marshall and Elyse are baffled by their loss of memory and that of the people around them. They find themselves throughout the story completely frustrated by the fact that no one has a bad memory. Even in that happy Summer Falls a beautiful idealistic tourist town filled with perfect weather, perfect people, and perfect scenery there has to be one unpleasant thing! Soon they realize that in all of that perfection, true evil lurks and they soon realize the hell that they are trapped in. Surrounded by zombie-like people (emotionless, memory-less souls) its up to them and only them to figure out what is happening to their family and their town. And they soon realize that the small town is filled to the brim with ghosts and secrets of its own.

I will say at times its hard to see the abuse that is happening to Elyse but it make your root for her that much more.

The ending has an unforeseen twist that keeps you engrossed and totally baffled to the end. I love the twist of "happy mindless Zombies" for it bridges a whole new way to explore the wonderful world of zombies.

Although it doesn't hit my favorite topics of witches, vampires, or the mysteries of the dead, it did hit upon a new world of paranormalcy with a refreshing splash.

I give this book of happy zombies 3 fluffy white cupcakes with cotton candy flavored turquoise frosting dusted in edible glitter!

Visit Phoebe Kitanidis at her website: www.phoebekitanidis.com

Purchase Glimmer at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound

Review: Whisper

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

publisher: Balzer & Bray (HarperCollins)

release date: April 27th, 2010

edition: hardcover, 281 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:


description from bn.com:

I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…
Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

Review: This a fun, fast read(literally...I read it in a day and a half). And at times very touching. The main character, Joy, has fallen into a pattern of using her ability to hear these "whispers" to please people---to give her friends around her exactly what they want. She's always considered it a wonderful gift, contrary to what her older sister tries to get her to believe. It gets you thinking, what would it be like to have to hear everyone's thoughts and wishes? Could you handle hearing even the bad things, including the thoughts that pertained to yourself? And what would you do with such a power? I really enjoyed watching how Joy grew as a daughter, a sister, a friend---as a whole person. The story moved along smoothly and built up to great satisfying ending. Definitely pick this one up if you have the chance!