by Claire Legrand
Flap Copy Description:
Olivia Stellatella is having a rough year. Her mother left, her neglectful father - the maestro of a failing orchestra - has moved her and her grandmother into the dark, broken-down music hall to save money, and her only friend is Igor, an ornery stray cat.
Just when she thinks life couldn't get any weirder, she meets four ghosts who haunt the hall. They need Olivia's help - if the hall is torn down, they'll be stuck as ghosts forever, never able to move on.
Olivia has to do the impossible for her shadowy new friends: Save the concert hall. But helping the dead has powerful consequences for the living...and soon it's not just the concert hall that needs saving.
My Thoughts:
I read and reviewed Ms. Legrand's debut middle grade novel The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls and loved it. So it is no surprise to me that The Year of Shadows is just as cool and creepy! I really love the character development, especially the protagonist - Olivia. Ms. Legrand has boldly created a twelve-year-old female who is outspoken, angry, quirky, and even a bit rebellious. But guess what? You'll love her! The reason I say that is because of the wonderful writing in this story; we not only see the pain of the protagonist, we feel it. And, as in any good character arc, we also cheer for the heroine when she turns the corner. I would highly recommend The Year of Shadows to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.
To learn more about the talented author, Claire Legrand,
click here: http://claire-legrand.com/
