Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Fourteen-year-old Iris isn’t really looking forward to summer in Ondine, Louisiana. She lives in a small and boring town with virtually no entertainment—unless she makes it up herself. That’s what she and her best friend Collette have been doing for all their lives, making up spells and playing make-believe. But when the friends cast a spell to summon the spirits of the dead and it actually works—well, for Iris at least—they know nothing will ever be the same. A ghost is haunting Iris, and little by little, the friends get drawn into the mystery surrounding the disappearance years ago of a boy named Elijah because Iris is convinced that’s who the ghost is. Iris won’t be the first to wonder what really happened to Elijah, but she just might be the first to actually find out.

Shadowed Summer is a fun and unpredictable mystery with a paranormal twist. The plot is very enjoyable to read because of the supernaturalism involving the ghost, connections back into the recent history of Ondine, and the inclusion of Iris’ friends and family which made solving Elijah’s disappearance so much more personal for Iris. Friendship disputes and jealousy were well interspaced within the main plotline to make the story more interesting and Iris’ character more realistic. Even if some of the little details in Shadowed Summer don’t completely add up in the end or remain obscure, this novel is still one of the better mysteries I’ve read in a while that also explores the strength of friendship and intolerance in small town America.

Readers of most ages will enjoy Shadowed Summer, especially fans of Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, and Wake by Lisa McMann.

Rating: 4.25

review copies from author Saundra Mitchell and publisher Random House