In the Shadows

by Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo

ISBN: 9780545561440

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 29th 2014
Number of Pages: 384

Source: Local Library
Goodreads Summary: From the remarkable imagination of acclaimed artist Jim Di Bartolo and the exquisite pen of bestselling author Kiersten White comes a spellbinding story of love, mystery, and dark conspiracy, told in an alternating narrative of words and pictures. 

Cora and Minnie are sisters living in a small, stifling town where strange and mysterious things occur. Their mother runs the local boarding house. Their father is gone. The woman up the hill may or may not be a witch.

Thomas and Charles are brothers who’ve been exiled to the boarding house so Thomas can tame his ways and Charles can fight an illness that is killing him with increasing speed. Their family history is one of sorrow and guilt. They think they can escape from it . . . but they can’t.

My Rating:  

This book gets props for being an uniquely told story. We have a text story with graphics intermixed that tell a story as well. It was a little confusing to me, but by the end of the story, all of it comes together and VIOLA = makes sense! I did go back after figuring it out and "re-read" the graphics. 

The characters are positively creepy and the story is shrouded in secrets. We do get the point of view of all of the characters and I liked "hearing" from all of them. 

Two brothers (Thomas & Charles), two sisters (Cora & Minnie) and the broody Arthur (who may or may not be related to Cora & Minnie) make up our little group. Lots of "I like him but he likes her" and "I like her but it's my duty to protect her instead." So there is romance in addition to the adventure and mystery.

This story doesn't focus on the "supernatural" aspects until the end, it is more of a story where things that can't be explained happen and danger lurks around every corner - the kids aren't even safe in their boarding house! 

"'I'm sorry,' Cora whispered. 'Please don't hurt me.'
'You don't need me for that, do you?' The witch's grin widened to reveal teeth that looked impossibly old and yellowed in her unlined face. 'People are very good at hurting themselves. I never have to do a thing.'" - In the Shadows, 34-35

I recommend this book for all fantasy lovers and any fans of Kiersten White! If you like comic books, this book filled with them will also appeal to you. This is a VERY QUICK READ (took me around an hour and a half!) and the ending makes up for the mysterious plot line!! 

"I do love it when they try to wrap their little minds around it all. The moment they realize what they are up against, and their hopes come crashing down. You can see a bit of their soul shriveling then and there." - In the Shadows, 297