The Gathering

Gr 7 Up—Adopted as an infant, the only clues Maya holds to her Native identity are an unusually strong affinity with animals—particularly cougars—and a birthmark in the shape of a cat's paw. Just days after her 16th birthday, Maya discovers that she is a Skin-Walker, an ancient being who can shift into animal shapes. Skin-Walkers supposedly became extinct centuries ago, but were recently resurrected by scientists in a secret genetic experiment. Now the teens whose Skin-Walker gene was activated are reverting back to animal nature. Could this experiment be the reason for the secrecy surrounding Salmon Creek? And is there a connection between the experiment and a string of mysterious local deaths? What other secrets are buried beneath the façade of this tranquil Canadian community? Maya must quickly decide who she can trust because time is running out. The first volume (HarperCollins, 2011) in Kelley Armstrong's gripping trilogy will hook listeners, and the cliffhanger ending will leave them eagerly awaiting the next installment. The introduction of Skin-Walkers into the paranormal fiction genre is a welcome reprieve from the recent proliferation of vampire and werewolf stories. Narrator Jennifer Ikeda expertly embodies Maya, perfectly capturing the teen's outspoken, curious nature and wry humor. However, she is less convincing in voicing male characters. Overlong pauses between tracks are slightly distracting,. Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver trilogy will especially like this one.—Alissa LeMerise, Oxford Public Library, MI