SHIVER

All of my life decisions have been based around my inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you’re a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which I’ve tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists, musicians, and artists (I’ve made my living as one of these since I was 22).

I now live an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with my charmingly straight-laced husband, two small kids, two neurotic dogs, one criminally insane cat, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

I’m an avid reader, an award-winning colored pencil artist, and play several musical instruments, including the Celtic harp, the piano, and the bagpipes. I also make great cocktail party conversation.

“Stiefvater leaves the faeries of Lament and Ballad for a lyrical tale of alienated werewolves and first love . . . her take on werewolves is interesting and original while her characters are refreshingly willing to use their brains to deal with the challenges they face.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“beautiful and moving . . . The mythology surrounding the wolf pack is clever and so well written that it seems perfectly normal for the creatures to exist in today’s world. A must-have that will give Bella and Edward a run for their money.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Shiver has a sense of unfolding mystery, a genuine quest and threats from human and wolves alike.”—Sunday Telegraph

“Stiefvater would like to remind you that werewolves can be just as sexy as those headline-hogging vampires.”—Booklist

Grace calls Sam “her wolf.” Why does she gravitate to Sam as a wolf? 

How are wolves’ eyes different from human eyes, besides the color? What might a person see in a wolf’s eyes to make them think there was a human being behind those eyes? 

Grace’s father left her in a car in the heat and nearly killed her, and this was just a few days after wolves had attacked her and nearly killed her. Throughout Grace’s teenage years, her parents were never home. Why are Grace’s parents so negligent? Do you think their negligence counts as abuse? 

Even though Grace’s parents are negligent, do you think they still love Grace? 

Beck describes Sam’s parents as “silly, vapid parents” and “as clueless as a pair of pigeons.” Was it wrong for Beck to assume he could give Sam a better life? 

How might Sam have been different if he had stayed a human and had been raised by his parents? 

Sam says that some people don’t make good werewolves. What does he mean? Why is Jack Culpeper a threat as a wolf?

Werewolves can symbolize many things. Think of a werewolf’s defining characteristics. What do you think werewolves symbolize? 

There is a lot of talk about obsession in Shiver. Do you think Grace’s love for Sam is obsessive? Do you think their relationship is healthy? 

Why does Shelby dislike Grace? How might Grace be a threat to Shelby? 

When Isabel tells Grace about her idea about infecting Jack, Olivia, and Sam with meningitis, she says “I don’t give a crap if you do it to Sam and Olivia.” Do you think she means that? Do you think Isabel covers up her emotions? 

Would you trust Isabel? Why or why not? 

Why do you think Olivia embraces becoming a wolf while Sam wishes he were human? How would you feel if you were turned into a werewolf? 

Beck says he needed to recruit new werewolves in order to have someone to take care of the pack. Even if the teenagers were willing to become werewolves, do you think it was right for Beck to do it? Would you feel differently if they were adults?

How is a wolf pack like a family?