The Shadow Girl

Gr 8 Up—Lily Winston has never truly been alone. Her "shadow girl," Iris, is always with her, whispering in her mind, keeping her company. On her 17th birthday, Iris saves Lily's life, but is unable to save her father from dying in a tragic accident. In the wake of his death, Lily's mother retreats into her grief and as her daughter tries to cope, she learns that her parents have been keeping secrets from her. As Lily begins delving into her parents' past, she confides in both her best friend, Wyatt, and the intriguing new guy in town, Ty, with her deepest secret. It turns out that Ty has secrets of his own, having come to Silver Lake to search specifically for Lily's father. Lily must decide who she can trust as she comes to learn her own true identity. Archer builds suspense beautifully, revealing small secrets one by one, building Lily's discoveries into one culminating life-altering event. Intermingled within the mystery of Lily's identity are her conflicting feelings for Wyatt and Ty, as well as her guilt and grief over her father's death. As the story concludes and Lily determines where she will go from here, the only detraction is one confrontation that seemed to be looming, but never actually comes to fruition. Aside from that, Lily's story is one that will draw in most readers with its well-done blend of suspense, mystery, and romance.—Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA