SHIFTING by Bethany Wiggins

Dude, it excites me greatly to be talking about SHIFTING today. See, I read an early version of this book. And by "early version," I mean Bethany let me read it before she even queried agents.

One word: Brilliant.

Here's a little bit more about SHIFTING: After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect--it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear--and Maggie is their next target.

First off, you'll fall in love with Maggie Mae. She's interesting, and in a whole new way. I'm always salivating for that one thing that makes a book special. In SHIFTING, that thing is Maggie Mae.

Unless, of course, we're going to talk about Bridger--which we are, because you know how I like secretive, mysterious guys. Bridger is all that, and more.

Second, Navajo legend! Something unique, something different from other novels. I loved the legends in SHIFTING, because it almost felt like magic. (And I think it's been well-established that I adore magic.)

The shifting scenes were done beautifully, the bad guys are oh-my-heck-bad-guys!, and the characters breathe life into the YA paranormal genre in a whole new way.

I loved this book. I hope you will too. SHIFTING comes out on September 27--that's Tuesday, people! TUESDAY.

Don't you just love Tuesdays? That's when all the new books come out, you know?

Check out what the other Bookanistas are up to this week at the Reading Room.

Or on their blogs:

• Christine Fonseca is definitely Falling for Hamlet
• Corrine Jackson delights in a Hex Hall & Demonglass double feature
• Shelli Johannes-Wells contemplates The Future of Us
• Stasia Ward Kehoe shares her passion for Possess
• Shana Silver finds Fateful Fabulous
• Sarah Frances Hardy leads you into the Circle of Secrets

SHIFTING ARC Tour

Dude, I have an ARC that everyone needs to read.

It's SHIFTING by Bethany Wiggins. I was lucky enough to get a copy from her publisher at ALA.

Let me just start off my saying that I love Bethany. She's been a friend of mine for a few years now, and we sold our books at the same time. SHIFTING comes out on September 29, and I'd like to do an ARC tour for her over the next two months.

If you'd like to participate in this tour, I've made a Google form for people to sign up.

First, a little bit about the book, so you can decide if this is even something you'd like to read. (And trust me, it is.)

After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal. Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.

Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.

Isn't that cover gorgeous?? I love how blue-gray it is, with that green snake... Creeptastic.

Second, I'd really like as many people as possible to be able to read SHIFTING, and I'd like the participants to blog about the book after they've read it. So you have to commit to reading really fast, mailing to the next person priority mail ($4.95, free envelope), and then blogging about the book and what you liked about it.

If you can do all of that over the next two months, click here to sign up.

What book are you eagerly anticipating in these last several months of 2011?