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Shimmer
When the box is opened, everything starts to change. On a freezing night in Winter, Colorado, there's a party going on—and it will change the town forever. Justin, the party's host, doesn't know that the box in his dad's study contains a shimmering dust that has the power to transform all it touches. Emma, the cute new girl, doesn't know she will spend the next twenty-four hours running for her life through a freezing blizzard. Russ, a local snowboarder, doesn't know that the person he loves most is about to betray him. And Tess, the queen of the school, only knows she wants to see what's in that box. Nobody knows what's coming—yet. But as the party gets under way, the residents of Winter will find themselves face-to-face with forces darker than any December storm.
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 22, 2013
I am in a state of mixed feelings about this book. Liked it, didn't love it. It had a cool idea, teens trapped in a snowstorm after a mysterious box is opened at a party. People start going nuts, now the main characters have to run for their lives with the box, or be eaten by angry zombie-people (except, not actually undead).
So, pros and cons. I'll start with the pros:
1. Very "feminist," if you will. Though it was a woman who opened the box, like in the Pandora's Box myth, it was also a woman who kept a clear head through most of the story and ended up doing vital things to help save the day. The women in this book were just as important as the men without GURL POWAH being shoved in your face (not that that's always a bad thing either, but still).
2. Speaking of feminism, hooray for female friendship. Betina was my favorite character in the book, she was so awesome. She had the greatest lines too. The friendship she and Emma had was cool because it was treated with the same amount of importance as male friendships or romantic relationships.
3. The characters were decent (not amazing, but still good). I loved Betina and Russ, and even grew to like Emma more and more as the book went on. Another nice thing was that the character I didn't like as much? The author didn't shove it in your face that s/he was a dick, it just became subtly apparent that s/he may not have been the outstanding person you thought s/he was. So instead of predicting that the character would turn out not-so-great from the way they were presented, I just got a slight nagging feeling that I didn't really care for the character, and then my feelings were validated. MWA HA HA.
4. The last third of the book was really exciting and interesting. It's when the characters started showing the most growth and awesome and scary stuff started happening. (Technically, it had been scary the whole way through, but I didn't really feel it until the scene with Emma and her mom and then it was just like WHAM.)
So, those are the pros. Very equal in terms of gender, well-presented characters, and an exciting finish. Now for the cons:
1. Tess. For all the good characters in this book, some of which ended up doing unexpected things, Tess was just kind of...a bitch. She was the Alpha Bitch to end all Alpha Bitches, down to her lips even being described as "just flesh--like kissing the dead." So when she turns evil, it's not really a shock, and she never gets development beyond that. I mean, maybe with the plot it was kind of impossible, so this wasn't a huge issue, just kind of like...really? That's the best you could come up with for her?
2. The first two-thirds of the book were not that exciting for me. I mean, not boring by any means, but they just didn't have the punch that the last third did. It was just "meh." Characters were running for their lives with no idea what was going to happen to them or their families, but until the end it just didn't feel that scary to me. I didn't have the compulsion to keep reading.
3. It was good, but not wildly or amazingly original. It was definitely a decent book, by no means a terrible book, but it didn't have me jumping up and down with how cool it was. It didn't feel unfinished, but it could have been...more.
So in conclusion, was it good? Yes. Do I think you should read it if it comes into your library? Yes. But do I think you should go out right now and buy a copy so you too can sing its praises? Not really. A very solid three-out-of-five stars.
So, pros and cons. I'll start with the pros:
1. Very "feminist," if you will. Though it was a woman who opened the box, like in the Pandora's Box myth, it was also a woman who kept a clear head through most of the story and ended up doing vital things to help save the day. The women in this book were just as important as the men without GURL POWAH being shoved in your face (not that that's always a bad thing either, but still).
2. Speaking of feminism, hooray for female friendship. Betina was my favorite character in the book, she was so awesome. She had the greatest lines too. The friendship she and Emma had was cool because it was treated with the same amount of importance as male friendships or romantic relationships.
3. The characters were decent (not amazing, but still good). I loved Betina and Russ, and even grew to like Emma more and more as the book went on. Another nice thing was that the character I didn't like as much? The author didn't shove it in your face that s/he was a dick, it just became subtly apparent that s/he may not have been the outstanding person you thought s/he was. So instead of predicting that the character would turn out not-so-great from the way they were presented, I just got a slight nagging feeling that I didn't really care for the character, and then my feelings were validated. MWA HA HA.
4. The last third of the book was really exciting and interesting. It's when the characters started showing the most growth and awesome and scary stuff started happening. (Technically, it had been scary the whole way through, but I didn't really feel it until the scene with Emma and her mom and then it was just like WHAM.)
So, those are the pros. Very equal in terms of gender, well-presented characters, and an exciting finish. Now for the cons:
1. Tess. For all the good characters in this book, some of which ended up doing unexpected things, Tess was just kind of...a bitch. She was the Alpha Bitch to end all Alpha Bitches, down to her lips even being described as "just flesh--like kissing the dead." So when she turns evil, it's not really a shock, and she never gets development beyond that. I mean, maybe with the plot it was kind of impossible, so this wasn't a huge issue, just kind of like...really? That's the best you could come up with for her?
2. The first two-thirds of the book were not that exciting for me. I mean, not boring by any means, but they just didn't have the punch that the last third did. It was just "meh." Characters were running for their lives with no idea what was going to happen to them or their families, but until the end it just didn't feel that scary to me. I didn't have the compulsion to keep reading.
3. It was good, but not wildly or amazingly original. It was definitely a decent book, by no means a terrible book, but it didn't have me jumping up and down with how cool it was. It didn't feel unfinished, but it could have been...more.
So in conclusion, was it good? Yes. Do I think you should read it if it comes into your library? Yes. But do I think you should go out right now and buy a copy so you too can sing its praises? Not really. A very solid three-out-of-five stars.
December 12, 2012
After reading the blurb, I'd assumed that
-Tess was actually an evil mastermind who wanted to go to the party for the purpose of opening the unspeakable box
- Emma was going to run around in the snow throughout the whole book and be a semi - minor character where she helps the main(s) with her wicked runningness
-Russ will be a hero somehow, someway
-Justin will make out with Emma
Out of all these assumptions only one was right and i'm glad how the book turned out!
You've got the adorable, grounded Emma whose mother's new job makes her a target for the people not to be friends with. Tess is an all out popular bitch from the start. Don't forget Russ whose a passive fellow & Justin the rich boy who doesn't quite fit in and decides to throw a party. Everyone is invited.
Because Justin doesn't want to get his freak on with Tess (cause though she was really hot, her lips felt like a dead person) so he rejected her and she got so mad she just HAD TO OPEN THE (forbidden) box and poof ! Whole town goes bananas and not the good potassium kind. It's Apocalypse Now, baby but without the funny hats.
Note: if you're a fan of angry - horde - zombie - like - killers (except the infected aren't typical zombies and are more like infected with 7 deadly sins then this a book you'd enjoy. Think: the Crazies movie but less gruesome)
The book touches on points that should be addressed in a lit class. I.e people's actions and needs and wants vs what they have to do.
*There's more but this is my train of thought* It has a fascinating twist to the classic tale of Pandora's box. That version, we've got Pandora the first woman Zeus created and let into the human realm and she unleash all the evil in the world (yes, a woman who creates havoc in her wake. the story's kinda misogynistic when i think about it) but in the case of this book:
All those terrible things already exist within us and the creatures are gagging in centuries of human needs and urges. I.e obesity level rises (gluttony). The never ending sex crazed hormones kissing professors and whatnots (lust). The need to always want to have the latest gizmo (pride: to show off to another in a haha i have it you don't now watch me dance neener neener). The daddy bigbucks who wants all your money or he'll shoot you for it (greed). The snowplowerman (is this the right term?) who wants to sleep and couldn't care less (sloth). The angry dad who thinks his son is a dead weight cause the son was an accident (wrath)
So, imagine the silvery specks, the 'creatures' from the box is a pill enhancer and the second you make contact with it, that ugly side of you shines bright like the sun.
There was a part in the book towards the end where it shows how the response of various people from different backgrounds and how they make their choices when they face challenges. I find this interesting because the author didn't blatantly type out 'THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO THINK' but rather show it to me with actions and i finally understand that (and how to apply it in writing untitle)
Have I mention how this book deserves to be made into a movie?
Yep.
-Tess was actually an evil mastermind who wanted to go to the party for the purpose of opening the unspeakable box
- Emma was going to run around in the snow throughout the whole book and be a semi - minor character where she helps the main(s) with her wicked runningness
-Russ will be a hero somehow, someway
-Justin will make out with Emma
Out of all these assumptions only one was right and i'm glad how the book turned out!
You've got the adorable, grounded Emma whose mother's new job makes her a target for the people not to be friends with. Tess is an all out popular bitch from the start. Don't forget Russ whose a passive fellow & Justin the rich boy who doesn't quite fit in and decides to throw a party. Everyone is invited.
Because Justin doesn't want to get his freak on with Tess (cause though she was really hot, her lips felt like a dead person) so he rejected her and she got so mad she just HAD TO OPEN THE (forbidden) box and poof ! Whole town goes bananas and not the good potassium kind. It's Apocalypse Now, baby but without the funny hats.
Note: if you're a fan of angry - horde - zombie - like - killers (except the infected aren't typical zombies and are more like infected with 7 deadly sins then this a book you'd enjoy. Think: the Crazies movie but less gruesome)
The book touches on points that should be addressed in a lit class. I.e people's actions and needs and wants vs what they have to do.
*There's more but this is my train of thought* It has a fascinating twist to the classic tale of Pandora's box. That version, we've got Pandora the first woman Zeus created and let into the human realm and she unleash all the evil in the world (yes, a woman who creates havoc in her wake. the story's kinda misogynistic when i think about it) but in the case of this book:
All those terrible things already exist within us and the creatures are gagging in centuries of human needs and urges. I.e obesity level rises (gluttony). The never ending sex crazed hormones kissing professors and whatnots (lust). The need to always want to have the latest gizmo (pride: to show off to another in a haha i have it you don't now watch me dance neener neener). The daddy bigbucks who wants all your money or he'll shoot you for it (greed). The snowplowerman (is this the right term?) who wants to sleep and couldn't care less (sloth). The angry dad who thinks his son is a dead weight cause the son was an accident (wrath)
So, imagine the silvery specks, the 'creatures' from the box is a pill enhancer and the second you make contact with it, that ugly side of you shines bright like the sun.
There was a part in the book towards the end where it shows how the response of various people from different backgrounds and how they make their choices when they face challenges. I find this interesting because the author didn't blatantly type out 'THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO THINK' but rather show it to me with actions and i finally understand that (and how to apply it in writing untitle)
Have I mention how this book deserves to be made into a movie?
Yep.
April 3, 2009
"Shimmer" is about a teenage girl who is about sixteen years old named Emma, and two boys her age named Justin and Russ. It switches viewpoint from character to character throughout the story, which each one having different thoughts and perspective. One day Justin decides to throw a wild party late at night, and during that time a mysterious box that his dad's workers had found deep in a mountain cave is opened. The story follows the events that follow.
This book is deeply disturbing at some points, and just plain strange at others. Before the reference was even made, it screamed "Pandora's Box". While the horror part of the book was strongly written, some of the other elements were lacking. For instance, I felt that the author had some trouble developing the characters and deciding what to do with each of them. This is because towards the end of the book he wrote out characters that seemed super important at the beggining, and made some support characters develop almost randomly into main charcaters. The story also felt awkwardly rushed, and there was no point the book that just clicked and made me go," Ooooh". However, if you are a horror fan then this is the book for you.
This book is deeply disturbing at some points, and just plain strange at others. Before the reference was even made, it screamed "Pandora's Box". While the horror part of the book was strongly written, some of the other elements were lacking. For instance, I felt that the author had some trouble developing the characters and deciding what to do with each of them. This is because towards the end of the book he wrote out characters that seemed super important at the beggining, and made some support characters develop almost randomly into main charcaters. The story also felt awkwardly rushed, and there was no point the book that just clicked and made me go," Ooooh". However, if you are a horror fan then this is the book for you.
January 23, 2009
A fast-paced and creepy horror/thriller. When a mysterious box is accidentally opened at a party, the people in the small town of Winter, Colorado begin to act strange. The strangeness quickly becomes hysteria and a group of teens end up running from what they will soon find out is an ancient evil that has consumed everything in it's path. Nobody is safe, and to make things worse, there is a blizzard on the way and there is no way to get outside help to the town. It will make you shiver!!
*also recommended: Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
*also recommended: Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
April 8, 2009
ages 12+
A so-so thriller about what happens when a mysterious box is discovered and opened by a group of small town Colorado teens. So-so in its characterization and execution, yet still a page turner in plot as the townspeople are zombified and the heroes have to run for their lives.
A so-so thriller about what happens when a mysterious box is discovered and opened by a group of small town Colorado teens. So-so in its characterization and execution, yet still a page turner in plot as the townspeople are zombified and the heroes have to run for their lives.
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May 21, 2021I own it - ask if you'd like to borrow it!
March 9, 2019
I'm writing a review hours after I've read this book and all I have are vague memories. This shows that Shimmer is not a memorable read.
Shimmer is a reread. I didn't reread Shimmer because I enjoyed it. I reread Shimmer because I wanted to weed out all the books on my shelves that I didn't want to keep. I reread Shimmer because I couldn't remember what the hell it was about, who the characters were and what happened to them. I felt like I was reading a new book instead of rereading an old one.
My dislike stems from the fact that this book is a horror and a thriller, two genres that don't sit well with me. This book feels more like a thriller than a horror, which is good for me and my nightmare-less sleep, but it's bad for people who are looking for an actual scare. I'm an easy person to scare and this book didn't scare me AT ALL! In fact, Shimmer is all about people running away from other people who want to harm them and if that isn't thriller, I don't know what is. (disclaimer: my knowledge of horror and thriller is almost nonexistent)
This book didn't manage to scare me because I felt distant from the story and the characters. My favourite character in Shimmer is Betina and I wish she had a much larger role. I also like Emma who has the most logical and practical solutions to every challenge that's thrown her way. My least favourite character is Russ and unfortunately, he is one of the main characters in Shimmer.
There is a brief romance and it's one of the minor side plots. Thank goodness it didn't overpower the whole novel because I hated it! There is an attraction between Justin and Emma and Emma and Russ. There is a relationship that develops between one of these pairs and it's so insta-lovey that it makes me want to punch something (preferably my soft, fluffy pillow).
I love the whole idea of the myth surrounding Pandora's Box. I'm a huge Greek mythology fan and the whole concept and idea makes me happy and excited. Unfortunately, this excitement is marred by the whole zombie-people aspect and a lack of in-depth information about the box. Shimmer has potential to become a deep novel about the human psyche when it comes to sins and survival, but none of these concepts are thoroughly tackled. Everything ends up seeming quite shallow.
I felt distant while reading Shimmer and I couldn't wait to stop reading this novel. Horror is a genre that I avoid, especially when it ends with an almost-happily-ever-after copout. This book fails to make me feel shimmery. Shimmer serves as a warning that horror and I are a terrible combination.
Shimmer is a reread. I didn't reread Shimmer because I enjoyed it. I reread Shimmer because I wanted to weed out all the books on my shelves that I didn't want to keep. I reread Shimmer because I couldn't remember what the hell it was about, who the characters were and what happened to them. I felt like I was reading a new book instead of rereading an old one.
My dislike stems from the fact that this book is a horror and a thriller, two genres that don't sit well with me. This book feels more like a thriller than a horror, which is good for me and my nightmare-less sleep, but it's bad for people who are looking for an actual scare. I'm an easy person to scare and this book didn't scare me AT ALL! In fact, Shimmer is all about people running away from other people who want to harm them and if that isn't thriller, I don't know what is. (disclaimer: my knowledge of horror and thriller is almost nonexistent)
This book didn't manage to scare me because I felt distant from the story and the characters. My favourite character in Shimmer is Betina and I wish she had a much larger role. I also like Emma who has the most logical and practical solutions to every challenge that's thrown her way. My least favourite character is Russ and unfortunately, he is one of the main characters in Shimmer.
There is a brief romance and it's one of the minor side plots. Thank goodness it didn't overpower the whole novel because I hated it! There is an attraction between Justin and Emma and Emma and Russ. There is a relationship that develops between one of these pairs and it's so insta-lovey that it makes me want to punch something (preferably my soft, fluffy pillow).
I love the whole idea of the myth surrounding Pandora's Box. I'm a huge Greek mythology fan and the whole concept and idea makes me happy and excited. Unfortunately, this excitement is marred by the whole zombie-people aspect and a lack of in-depth information about the box. Shimmer has potential to become a deep novel about the human psyche when it comes to sins and survival, but none of these concepts are thoroughly tackled. Everything ends up seeming quite shallow.
I felt distant while reading Shimmer and I couldn't wait to stop reading this novel. Horror is a genre that I avoid, especially when it ends with an almost-happily-ever-after copout. This book fails to make me feel shimmery. Shimmer serves as a warning that horror and I are a terrible combination.
May 6, 2009
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Take one part mythology, one part Michael Crichton's PREY, and one part Stephen King's DESPERATION - and you'll come up with something that resembles SHIMMER, a toned-down horror story for the young adult crowd.
Winter, Colorado is a quiet town that will soon be drawing a huge tourist ski crowd with the opening of Hawthorn Resort. Emma and her mom have moved to Winter for her mom to become the head chef at the new resort. Justin's family has moved there because his father is one of the largest investors in the new place. Betina, Russ, and Kit are life-long residents. Soon, the five of them will come together after a party goes horribly wrong.
Justin's parents have gone out of town, and his father has forbidden him to throw a party. Justin knows that no one will check in on him on a school night, and what better way to make friends in this new town? With a little bit of beer, the cool crowd is mingling with the jocks and the not so cool people. But when the coolest of the cool, Tess, brings out a mysterious box from Justin's father's study, the party loses control.
Tess opens the bizarre box and a weird shimmery cloud flies out. Emma and the others aren't sure what they saw, but before they can figure it out, the cloud is gone. Tess, never a nice person to begin with, begins a strange transformation.
Apparently, what was in the box has entered Tess and has a will of its own. If you've read any of the stories mentioned in the first paragraph, you can start to piece together what happens after the box is opened. Tess starts to infect other people in the town, and Winter becomes a place bent on destruction. It's up to Emma, Justin, Betina, Russ, and Kit to save the town and ultimately themselves.
Now, I read mixed reviews for SHIMMER, but I really enjoyed this one. The chapters were short and the action was fast-paced. There was some gore and violence in the story, but nothing overly graphic that would limit younger readers from maybe giving it a whirl. Aimed at the young adult, the story doesn't have the enhanced plot development and characterization as a book by Crichton or King would have, but for this story it isn't needed. It would probably detract from what the author is trying to convey.
Just be sure you don't pick this up on night when a blizzard is due to hit!
Take one part mythology, one part Michael Crichton's PREY, and one part Stephen King's DESPERATION - and you'll come up with something that resembles SHIMMER, a toned-down horror story for the young adult crowd.
Winter, Colorado is a quiet town that will soon be drawing a huge tourist ski crowd with the opening of Hawthorn Resort. Emma and her mom have moved to Winter for her mom to become the head chef at the new resort. Justin's family has moved there because his father is one of the largest investors in the new place. Betina, Russ, and Kit are life-long residents. Soon, the five of them will come together after a party goes horribly wrong.
Justin's parents have gone out of town, and his father has forbidden him to throw a party. Justin knows that no one will check in on him on a school night, and what better way to make friends in this new town? With a little bit of beer, the cool crowd is mingling with the jocks and the not so cool people. But when the coolest of the cool, Tess, brings out a mysterious box from Justin's father's study, the party loses control.
Tess opens the bizarre box and a weird shimmery cloud flies out. Emma and the others aren't sure what they saw, but before they can figure it out, the cloud is gone. Tess, never a nice person to begin with, begins a strange transformation.
Apparently, what was in the box has entered Tess and has a will of its own. If you've read any of the stories mentioned in the first paragraph, you can start to piece together what happens after the box is opened. Tess starts to infect other people in the town, and Winter becomes a place bent on destruction. It's up to Emma, Justin, Betina, Russ, and Kit to save the town and ultimately themselves.
Now, I read mixed reviews for SHIMMER, but I really enjoyed this one. The chapters were short and the action was fast-paced. There was some gore and violence in the story, but nothing overly graphic that would limit younger readers from maybe giving it a whirl. Aimed at the young adult, the story doesn't have the enhanced plot development and characterization as a book by Crichton or King would have, but for this story it isn't needed. It would probably detract from what the author is trying to convey.
Just be sure you don't pick this up on night when a blizzard is due to hit!
August 4, 2013
Review cross-posted to Darkly Delicate Book Reviews
I’m not even going to lie – I picked up this book because of the title. And I’m very glad I did.
Shimmer uses the myth of Pandora’s box as the driving force in this modern YA Horror. A mysterious box is found by blasting crew in the mountains surrounding Winter, Colorado and, once opened, unleashes the 7 Deadly Sins onto the unsuspecting townsfolk. The story follows five teens as they try to survive the night in a town gone crazy.
This book is action packed and reads smoothly – it’s a serious page turner. I visualized the plot unfolding like a Stephen King movie in my head. I didn’t even care that the end was a little hand-wavy and didn’t finish strong. With this book it’s more about the ride than the destination.
The gore level was moderate. There’s enough blood and ick factor to really sell the horror feel, but it’s not graphic enough to squeak out the seriously squeamish.
There’s a bit of romance here as well, but very little. I would rate it a 3 on a a scale from 1 -5: mentioned several times, but not really a central theme in the story.
Overall, the writing is engrossing and the book is a quick and easy read with high entertainment value. It’s the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon. Mild gore and a smattering of romance make Shimmer a great book for horror lovers of both genders and all ages.
I’m not even going to lie – I picked up this book because of the title. And I’m very glad I did.
Shimmer uses the myth of Pandora’s box as the driving force in this modern YA Horror. A mysterious box is found by blasting crew in the mountains surrounding Winter, Colorado and, once opened, unleashes the 7 Deadly Sins onto the unsuspecting townsfolk. The story follows five teens as they try to survive the night in a town gone crazy.
This book is action packed and reads smoothly – it’s a serious page turner. I visualized the plot unfolding like a Stephen King movie in my head. I didn’t even care that the end was a little hand-wavy and didn’t finish strong. With this book it’s more about the ride than the destination.
The gore level was moderate. There’s enough blood and ick factor to really sell the horror feel, but it’s not graphic enough to squeak out the seriously squeamish.
There’s a bit of romance here as well, but very little. I would rate it a 3 on a a scale from 1 -5: mentioned several times, but not really a central theme in the story.
Overall, the writing is engrossing and the book is a quick and easy read with high entertainment value. It’s the perfect book to get lost in for an afternoon. Mild gore and a smattering of romance make Shimmer a great book for horror lovers of both genders and all ages.
March 4, 2014
Overall, I was satisfied with Shimmer by Dallas Reed. Although there was suspense in several parts of the book, I felt that the author left something out of the book. The author could’ve included more emotions, and I’m still wondering where the box came from because there was no explanation. This book was horrifying in some sections and since I enjoy reading this type of genre, I enjoyed the book. There isn’t a deeper meaning to the book, but the suspense kept me from ditching the book. It was almost like watching a horror movie except that the book was more realistic than most films out there. The book wasn’t good, but it definitely wasn’t bad. It was somewhere in the middle. If the author would’ve created more interesting characters, it would’ve made the book more enjoyable. Some of the characters didn’t really have much emotion to them, but overall it was a decent book.
January 25, 2010
I read this book a few months before its release as a favor to my english teacher. This book is shocking and well educating - most people know the story of Pandora's Box but most don't know how the problem was solved. I was one of those people and was excited to learn that after opening the box the first time and releasing all the evils of the world, in order to destroy them, the box would need to be opened a second time! So simple yet no one ever thinks of it. I loved this book, it captured the drama of teenage years while pulling the reader into a reality where people become like zombies and there is no where to run. I'd suggest this to anyone looking for some well spent hours reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 29, 2018Shimmer is a retelling of the Greek myth of Pandora's box. Reed builds upon the myth in creating a cast of characters diverse in their motivations, background, and voices. The divisions are prominent: the school cliques, stratified social classes, animosity between original inhabitants and newcomers.
Read whether we recommend buying or borrowing this book in the full review at the Reading Tub. You can add your review, too
Read whether we recommend buying or borrowing this book in the full review at the Reading Tub. You can add your review, too
July 29, 2009
YA--middle/high school Pretty good high school social stuff "horror" novel with myth connections to Pandora's Box. Protagonist Emma goes to a party and stumbles on the horror--a wierd box that Justin's developer father's workers found in a cage. The box, opened by the villainous "popular" girl, lets out the shimmer of the title--with disastrous consequences that Emma must face and overcome. Positive and harmless, with social conflict and group interactions that give groups something to talk about, along with definitions of love and courage.
March 19, 2012
Shimmer was a decent read but you can tell its mainly geared towards teens. Very simple, very easy to read. The story was interesting. A teen opens pandora's box and all hell breaks loose. I think he could have elaborated more on what the heck the thing was but he explained it enough to not tick me too much. if you are looking for a light read about a bunch of mischievous teens I think this will suit you.
June 28, 2011
Definitely a light read and geared toward teens. That said, I rather enjoyed it. I actually liked the characters and didn't find it too scary. I've noticed other people have remarked on the language. I would say it is probably not good, but it didn't stand out in my mind - and some books certainly do! All in all, a nice book - would give 3-1/2 stars if possible.
November 21, 2013
I really liked this book not as much as other books like it. But it was kind of hard for me to find because my local librarian told me that it had done soooooo poorly selling that they stopped printing them! I had to order it from 6 counties over!!! But over all it was a good book and I would recommend it to anyone if they can find it
March 25, 2011
Dallas Reed
i love this book it is a thriller but i don't recommend for younger kids it has a lot of inappropriate language. It is a good book for right before bed.
i love this book it is a thriller but i don't recommend for younger kids it has a lot of inappropriate language. It is a good book for right before bed.
August 15, 2011
This book read like the beginning of a really bad horror movie, the kind you watch at 3 a.m. because there isn't anything else on. I gave it almost 40 pages (much more than normal) because I thought it would get better. I was wrong and gave up on it. Others might like it...it just wasn't for me.
August 19, 2016
I rented this from the library on a whim. I'm glad I did. This was an interesting retelling of the Pandora's Box myth and had my attention through the whole book. I'm going to look into other books by this author.
November 14, 2008
OMG freaky!!
March 8, 2009
I can see this being made into a teen PG-13 "horror" flick. It was a quick read and kept my attention because it was quite suspenseful, tho not greatly written.
March 20, 2009
This is a really good fast read!
July 1, 2009
I went through my crazy phase of Stephen King, Dean Koontz etc. and it was very refreshing to read a good young adult horror novel since Devouring by Simon Holt didn't really scare me much!
January 27, 2010
I'm sure this book might have had a lot of promise. I just couldn't get past page 20 because of all the swearing.
April 12, 2010
I only skimmed this book. Too much "teens in peril" for me. Would have liked it at 15.
August 10, 2023
Scary.
October 19, 2011
It was really good but I'm not that into paranormal thrillers! It was quite suspensefull!
January 25, 2014
Loved this book
Couldn't put it down
Couldn't put it down
February 21, 2015
More like 4.5 stars! Really interesting story!
July 7, 2009
Good book. Worth reading.
Kinda scary but not terrifying.
Kinda scary but not terrifying.
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