Review: Creative and Exciting YA Fantasy Filled with Magic and Action
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2014
“Shape Shifters of the Suburbs: The Boy from the Temple of Heaven” is the first in a series of tween/YA novels about Breccan, a young man who can change into any animal he wants, from a mouse to a dolphin to a wolf.His adopted mother, Mary, longed for a child and didn’t give up—and eventually China allowed her to adopt Breccan as a small child, saying that he had been abandoned because he was possessed by sorcery. As Breccan grows, he is forced to keep himself apart from others in case they find out about his gift—but by the time he reaches seventh grade he does have a few close friends, including Jackson, Serenity, and Sabel. Neither Serenity nor Sabel are entirely normal teens either, though, and soon the group forms a bond that will have to stand strong against a Wendigo and the nefarious Black Heart and Dagger Association. Along the way, Breccan learns more both about accepting himself and channeling his power; he’s not alone as a shape shifter in the world, which opens up a lot of possibilities for future adventures.I read a lot of YA, and I enjoyed “Shape Shifters” a lot—if I had read this book as a tween/YA, it would have been one of my favorites! (And as an adult I still thought it was great.) Breccan’s back story is creative and mysterious enough to propel you into the sequel; he’s also an excellent hero for the book. He’s smart and a good kid—his only angst is having a crush on Serenity when he knows Sabel likes him too, and I especially liked how close he was to his mother and how they had a respectful, nurturing bond with each other. Younger readers will also like the gentle romance between Serenity and Breccan, and be drawn to Sabel’s sassy, strong personality. Lucinda also makes an appropriately realistic villain, her jealousy and hate twisted into something dark and murderous. There’s also plenty of action in the plot, including Breccan exploring his powers, discovering other shifters, and even fighting for his life.In sum, “Shape Shifters of the Suburbs” is creative and engrossing, with an exciting plot that’s filled with action and likeable characters. Though the cover is a little off-putting and looks more like a werewolf horror story, that’s definitely not what lies between the covers! I would recommend it to readers who enjoy YA fantasy, especially urban fantasy series.