Review: A Different Kind of YA Shifter Novel.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2012
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to J. Bridger.)Caleb thinks that the most he has to worry about is tuition, and leaving his dad on his own when he gets an early admissions letter to Duke University to study engineering. That's until he wakes up naked in the basement one morning.No knowing what's going on, he thinks he must have started sleep-walking, but nothing prepares him for the morning he wakes up to find that he isn't himself at all - in fact he has paws and fur, and can understand everything his pet dog is saying!Unfortunately for Caleb, he's turned into a cocker spaniel, one of the least magical and ferocious things he can think of to turn into.Hiding it from his dad isn't an option, and the second time it happens he has to confess. Luckily his dad is happy to help him, although his dreams of Duke are over - how could he possibly hide this from a roommate?More surprises are in store when it seems that Caleb isn't the only member of his family who's able to do this, and he suddenly finds himself in a `pack' situation in LA where his mother's estranged family live.This was an interesting little book with a fairly unique idea that I hadn't really heard of before. I loved that Caleb shifted into something less than spectacular, although he did unfortunately have to put up with some more standard `pack' rules once he got to LA.I thought that the number of shifters Caleb's family claimed to exist was a pretty sizeable number, and was a little unsure as to how such a large number of shifters could remain under the radar, but they seemed to manage fairly well.I felt really sorry for Caleb at times. He hadn't exactly had a normal upbringing due to his mother's absence, and it seemed really unfair that not only was he unable to take his place at Duke, but he was also unable to tell the girl that he loved exactly what was going on either.Overall; a different kind of YA shifter novel!6.5 out of 10.