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Phase Shift
Sixteen-year-old Oliver Mitchell was always a loner, content to spend his time taking care of his younger sister and hard-working mother. When his sister is the first in a string of impossible disappearances, he reluctantly teams up with his secret crush, Lizzy—and her boyfriend—to solve this mystery and bring their loved ones home. As more people are taken from their small Minnesota town, they realize these kidnappings are the first wave of an invasion of telepathic alien creatures. As they keep investigating, Oliver comes to realize that the kidnappings aren't completely random—and he's the aliens' next target.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
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October 19, 2025
What Terra P. Waters has here is an engaging, exciting, ingenious story that melds hard science with wild imagination. I was gripped from the very first page and I am shocked that no one else feels the only appropriate response is to shout about it from the rooftops. I need all my friends to read it ASAP; I am more than ready for book two!
Oliver Mitchell is put in an impossible situation when his hard-of-hearing sister, Camilla, suddenly disappears from school one afternoon. The police try to explain it away as teenage tomfoolery but Oliver and his mother Kathryn, are convinced something more sinister is at fault. When more people start to disappear, Oliver finds unexpected help in the form of his crush, Lizzy.
The story is told partially from Cam’s point of view, so we see where she has disappeared to, and partially from Oliver’s point of view focusing on trying to find Cam. The story is also interspersed with letters, phone calls and other correspondence from scientists who are responsible for Emma, a girl who disappeared with Cam.
Cam was a strong character to use to tell this story which balanced beautifully with Emma’s vulnerability. Cam’s practical knowledge of the world played off Em’s naïvety and quiet confidence well. Both girls were easy to like and I really found myself rooting for them right from the beginning.
Kathryn was a rock. Her unwavering support for Cam, despite the shaky way that Oliver saw her care, made her someone you want in your corner. Kathryn’s unshakeable belief that Cam was somewhere dangerous made her unpopular with the town folk but as the reader all I could see was fear for her daughter.
Oliver was one of the more complicated characters – torn between love for his sister and worry for his mother, knowing her (their) history of panic attacks. He was concerned about Seth and Parker’s involvement, and understandably so, but the slow-building trust as the story unravelled was very rewarding. Oliver took a while to warm up to the other characters and accept their help which meant that when he did, it was a treat.
Lizzy was an absolute force to be reckoned with, as was her best friend Donna who shone in every page she appeared on. Nothing was ever too far as long as it was a step towards getting everyone home safe.
Seth came across as rather two-dimensional, by way of his stereotypical ‘jock’ persona, but we got to see glimpses of the man he was underneath and I for one am looking forward to seeing all the main characters open up as their lives become entwined more.
Parker was a fabulous addition to the case. It was so refreshing to see an older nonbinary person being themself and being accepted by those around them – especially when I haven’t sought the book out as featuring nonbinary rep, but just stumbling on it naturally.
Cam’s friends were less fleshed out than the others and on occasion I found myself confusing them for each other, bar Cam’s best friend Josh who was clearly the mastermind behind finding Cam and definitely takes after his sister Lizzy in the stubbornness department.
Dr Bowman was a fascinating character who oscillated between caring parental figure and cruel scientist pushing too far. His correspondence added an extra layer to the mystery which was well done.
I’m not usually interested in science-based stories as I find most of it goes straight over my head, but Waters makes it very accessible. It’s all explained enough that I could follow the science but still wibbly-wobbly enough that it felt kind of magical. It would probably especially appeal to those who enjoyed Stranger Things or The Goonies because although the story is set in the modern day there is a big emphasis on the kids and the older teens working together against adults which I don’t remember seeing in anything I’ve read or watched recently (when asked, my father suggested The Famous Five which really didn’t help with a modern suggestion. The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence maybe?). Despite being YA/NA there is a very multi-generational consideration with Cam and her friends being at the fore and I really enjoyed that.
I would really encourage people to take a chance on Terra P. Waters as she delivers a fantastic adventure with many layers all operating at once. I had been putting off reading Phase Shift after getting it for Christmas last year as I was afraid it wouldn’t be as good as I’d expected, but I needn’t have worried – it easily ties for my favourite book of the year!
Oliver Mitchell is put in an impossible situation when his hard-of-hearing sister, Camilla, suddenly disappears from school one afternoon. The police try to explain it away as teenage tomfoolery but Oliver and his mother Kathryn, are convinced something more sinister is at fault. When more people start to disappear, Oliver finds unexpected help in the form of his crush, Lizzy.
The story is told partially from Cam’s point of view, so we see where she has disappeared to, and partially from Oliver’s point of view focusing on trying to find Cam. The story is also interspersed with letters, phone calls and other correspondence from scientists who are responsible for Emma, a girl who disappeared with Cam.
Cam was a strong character to use to tell this story which balanced beautifully with Emma’s vulnerability. Cam’s practical knowledge of the world played off Em’s naïvety and quiet confidence well. Both girls were easy to like and I really found myself rooting for them right from the beginning.
Kathryn was a rock. Her unwavering support for Cam, despite the shaky way that Oliver saw her care, made her someone you want in your corner. Kathryn’s unshakeable belief that Cam was somewhere dangerous made her unpopular with the town folk but as the reader all I could see was fear for her daughter.
Oliver was one of the more complicated characters – torn between love for his sister and worry for his mother, knowing her (their) history of panic attacks. He was concerned about Seth and Parker’s involvement, and understandably so, but the slow-building trust as the story unravelled was very rewarding. Oliver took a while to warm up to the other characters and accept their help which meant that when he did, it was a treat.
Lizzy was an absolute force to be reckoned with, as was her best friend Donna who shone in every page she appeared on. Nothing was ever too far as long as it was a step towards getting everyone home safe.
Seth came across as rather two-dimensional, by way of his stereotypical ‘jock’ persona, but we got to see glimpses of the man he was underneath and I for one am looking forward to seeing all the main characters open up as their lives become entwined more.
Parker was a fabulous addition to the case. It was so refreshing to see an older nonbinary person being themself and being accepted by those around them – especially when I haven’t sought the book out as featuring nonbinary rep, but just stumbling on it naturally.
Cam’s friends were less fleshed out than the others and on occasion I found myself confusing them for each other, bar Cam’s best friend Josh who was clearly the mastermind behind finding Cam and definitely takes after his sister Lizzy in the stubbornness department.
Dr Bowman was a fascinating character who oscillated between caring parental figure and cruel scientist pushing too far. His correspondence added an extra layer to the mystery which was well done.
I’m not usually interested in science-based stories as I find most of it goes straight over my head, but Waters makes it very accessible. It’s all explained enough that I could follow the science but still wibbly-wobbly enough that it felt kind of magical. It would probably especially appeal to those who enjoyed Stranger Things or The Goonies because although the story is set in the modern day there is a big emphasis on the kids and the older teens working together against adults which I don’t remember seeing in anything I’ve read or watched recently (when asked, my father suggested The Famous Five which really didn’t help with a modern suggestion. The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence maybe?). Despite being YA/NA there is a very multi-generational consideration with Cam and her friends being at the fore and I really enjoyed that.
I would really encourage people to take a chance on Terra P. Waters as she delivers a fantastic adventure with many layers all operating at once. I had been putting off reading Phase Shift after getting it for Christmas last year as I was afraid it wouldn’t be as good as I’d expected, but I needn’t have worried – it easily ties for my favourite book of the year!
Displaying 1 of 1 review