Olive is not crazy – although there was that incident last year and that spell in the psych ward, but now she’s taking her meds and staying away from the toxic ‘in’ crowd. But when new girl Miranda turns up, Olive knows that there is something very dangerous about her, even if everyone else doesn’t. But who will believe her, when everyone probably thinks she’s crazy anyway? That is, everyone except her best friend, Ami, whom her mother disapproves of for some strange reason. But all is not what it seems in this page-turning thriller and there are twists and turns that you just cannot predict.

Pitched as a cross between Liar and Single White Female, Shift is a wonderfully absorbing and impressive first outing into YA writing for the children’s author also known as Meredith Badger. She takes you along for a rollercoaster of a ride and tosses you off at the end, still a little unsure of what just happened. Best of all: even though there is a hint of the supernatural in the tale, there’s nary a vampire or werewolf in sight.

Angela Crocombe is from Readings St Kilda.

Shift

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