Bestselling author and poet
Bestselling author and poet
From Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins - order now at IndieBound, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon, or wherever books are sold!
High school senior Anders Thorson is gifted. His band, Last Things, is legendary in their northern Minnesota hometown. With guitar skills that would amaze even if he weren't only eighteen, Anders is the focus of head-turning admiration. And Thea Malcolm, a newcomer to the insular town, is one of his admirers. Thea seems to turn up everywhere Anders goes: gigs, guitar lessons, even the woods near Anders's home.
When strange things start happening to Anders - including the disappearance of his cat, his sort-of girlfriend, and, somehow, his musical talent - blame immediately falls on Thea. But is she trying to hurt him? Or save him from something far worse?
Finalist for the 2020 Minnesota Book Awards
Selected for the preliminary ballot of the Bram Stoker Awards
"Last Things is at once poetic and urgent, evocative and authentic, everything I love in a book."
- Victoria Schwab
Author of #1 New York Times bestseller This Savage Song
"It's always a breath of fresh air to read something outside the lines, to read something that is atmospheric and intriguing. That's this book, perfectly described. Last Things is what I've been waiting for. "
- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
"Jacqueline West spins a spooky, suspenseful fairy tale about the lure of the music business and a small town about to be swallowed by dark forces."
- Minneapolis Star Tribune
"I devoured this book in a day. Last Things is the kind of taut, atmospheric thriller that gets your heart racing and sets your imagination on fire. Sensational."
- Claire Legrand
New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn
"Hand this worthy addition to any YA collection to fans of mystery, music, and horror."
- School Library Journal
"A suspenseful tale wrought from power chords, creeping darkness, and disquieting twists."
- Kirkus
"West uses evocative language, including song lyrics, to enhance the ominous atmosphere in this updated Faustian thriller; her pitch-perfect depiction of music conjures pulse-pounding concerts and Anders’ passion for metal. A dark and lovely saga. "
- Booklist
"Last Things is more than an homage to a legendary tale. It’s an expert reinvention that stands wholly on its own. And yes, you’ll want to leave the lights on."
☆☆☆☆☆ "The blend of atmosphere, the music vibe, the subtle supernatural approach and a host of engaging characters made this one of the best YA supernatural thrillers I have read in a while."
The house is as much a character as are Olive, Morton, and her family, and a wicked sense of humor tempers the book's creepiness. A suspenseful plot and insight into childhood loneliness - handily amplified by Bernatene's moody and dramtically lit b&w illustrations - will have readers anxiously awaiting the next book.
- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Middle-grade writing as it should be."
"Beautifully written, deliciously scary..."
West creates a delightful concoction of quirky humor blended with a rumbling ominous undertone...
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
Ms. West's deliberate choice of words and lyrical phrasing reveal her background as a poet. Her understated storytelling style, fast pacing and realistic heroine Olive are sure to please reluctant and experienced readers alike.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 5, 2010
THE SHADOWS is creative, exciting, hilarious, spooky, mysterious, adventurous, and heaps of fun, all wrapped between two covers.
The fast moving plot aided by talking cats and excellent black and white drawings will grab the attention of even the most reluctant middle school reader. Laced with just the right amount of spookies and mystery, watching Olive put all the pieces together and overcome her fears is a delight.
A fantastic story full of magic and mysteries that starts when a young girl climbs into an old painting.
"I found The Shadows mesmerizing, partly due to the story itself; partly due to Jacqueline West’s remarkable writing."
Jacqueline West builds an eerie and mysterious world. A steady stream of details ensures that readers will continue turning the pages as they try to solve the mystery of Olive's house along with her. - Junior Library Guild, Summer Selection [West] has a knack for description and excellent prose. There’s a sense of the weird and creepy throughout the book, like in roald dahl’s best stories... I couldn’t wait to see what it said next. This is an absolutely lovely read for the connoisseur of fantasy for the young... West's writing carries things along just swimmingly, with enough description to make things come alive in vivid detail without hindering the build-up of tension. I enjoyed it tremendously, and recommend it highly, and eagerly anticipate the next book. West's writing is something special...She has woven the tension of a good mystery with magical touches that make this book sparkle. This is a book to be raced through and then read again... - Kids Lit Golly, this is a good read even if you’re seven times as old as you’re supposed to be. [Olive is] an intrepid adventurer, the more charming for her determination to overcome her fears. West brings this launch title to a roundly satisfying close but leaves room for plenty more excursions to Elsewhere. - Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness With illustrations from Poly Bernatene enhancing the strong haunted house mystery, Jacqueline West provides an exhilarating middle school age tale.
© Jacqueline West
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