This novel takes the horror of childhood fears and fantasy and blends it into a family drama and murder mystery set in 1960's small town Long Island. We view it all through the eyes of a 6th grade middle brother.
Well written and compelling.

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This book was an interesting mix of fantasy and mystery. While at time I wished I knew the narrator's name, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I especially liked the way the brothers tried to make sense of the disappearances and how they went to their sister for help.

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The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford is a wonderful read. The author does a wonderful job with characterization. I felt as if I was in the narrator's head. Story development is excellent, well thought out and the book flowed so smoothly that it was over before I knew it. This is a historical mystery told from the view of a child. The emotions, imagination, and views of all the children are so good. I really liked the book and hope to read more by this author.

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This was a slightly spooky suspense novel set in some small town someplace, where the main protagonists are a trio of young teens, and in that sense it reminded me a lot of Stephen King. But this novel was different than anything Ive ever read before.

There was a plot there, but it was hard to notice most of the time. Instead, Ford made each chapter its own little vignette, full of well-crafted description, and yet not all description. There is magic here, a magic in the commonplace and mystery of the world, and Ford brings that out each time, even if it doesnt advance his narrative much at all.

Its hard for novels with little plot to grab my attention. This one managed to keep it quite well, even if it did read utterly different than any novel Ive ever read.

4 of 5 stars.

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