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The four of them are united--not by ties of friendship, but rage. Gabriel is haunted by the specters of the thugs, still at large, who murdered his brother Ben for a lousy leather jacket. Lydia is stifled by her hypercontrolling father, who holds her entire family in his viselike grip. Alec wants revenge on all the authority figures who screwed him and made him into a loser high school d... More

The four of them are united--not by ties of friendship, but rage. Gabriel is haunted by the specters of the thugs, still at large, who murdered his brother Ben for a lousy leather jacket. Lydia is stifled by her hypercontrolling father, who holds her entire family in his viselike grip. Alec wants revenge on all the authority figures who screwed him and made him into a loser high school drop out. And Hollis wants to get back at "the system" that counted out his genius just because it was encased in a small pudgy body that no one would ever take seriously. Though they don't really like each other, this troubled quartet is nevertheless drawn to the idea of the damage they can do if they pool their strength. But then Gem Hennessey unknowingly enters into the equation. Gabriel and Alec are both in love with her. Lydia is seethingly jealous of her, since she wants Gabe for herself. And Hollis sees the destruction of all his great plans if he doesn't get rid of her--permanently.

Joyce McDonald has written a tense psychological teen thriller that raises hard questions about the depth and breadth of adolescent frustration. While some teens will appreciate McDonald's writing as a tightly plotted tale of misguided fury and love gone wrong, more attentive readers will take in McDonald's message that every action has a consequence and that anger can effect change--but only if it is channeled positively. In both action and meaning, Shadow People is a noteworthy addition to post-Columbine adolescent literature. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert

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