Shimmer

January 12, 2009
Reed, pseudonym of Thomas Pendleton (Mason
; coauthor of the Wicked Dead series), turns out a horror novel that borrows heavily from genre conventions—and adds a cultural allusion that is obvious to everyone but the characters. High school student Justin Moore throws a party in his fancy house in Winter, Colo., while his parents are away. Although he's hidden the breakables, along with an ancient box found by a construction crew working for his dad, the box is discovered, and übercruel Tess Ward opens it. A shimmering cloud emerges, almost instantly transforming Tess into a figure of pure evil and gradually changing the others into a maniacal mob. Of course, a blizzard then isolates Winter from the outside world, making its residents easy prey, and Tess's mob wreaks devastation before anyone realizes that the fateful box is identical to Pandora's. Reed tells more than shows, and even the gore isn't very gory (“His left cheek was swollen so bad, it looked like he had a lemon shoved in his mouth”). Don't look here for Pendleton-style chills. Ages 14–up.

March 1, 2009
Gr 10 Up-A zombie story with a mythological twist, Shimmer is a quick and compelling read. As far as the residents of Winter, CO, know, all they have to worry about is weathering the major blizzard that is on its way. What they don't realize is that an ancient evil is about to be unleashed on their town. Justin, a spoiled rich kid, throws a big party while his parents are out of town, and the school's queen bee, Tess, stumbles upon a strange box. Despite Justin's demand that she leave it alone, she opens it. A strange silver cloud emerges, and the townspeople begin to go mad with lust, hatred, greed, gluttony, and sloth. Five students are unaffected by the insanity, and they resolve to protect the box that Tess (who is now frighteningly altered) seems determined to possess. But where can they hide in a town that seems destined to self-destruct? And how can they contain the evil that has been released into the world? Initially, some of the teen dialogue seems forced, but it smoothes out as the novel progresses. Also, one of the characters makes a choice that doesn't fit with the way the author has constructed him, but otherwise the characters are well-drawn and believable, specifically Emma, the heroine. Violence, crude language, and references to drug use require that this book be given to an older age group; however, the writing is at a lower level, making this an ideal choice for reluctant or struggling readers.Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

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