Synopses & Reviews
Everything about Jessie Gillmansens life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, shes about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accenthes a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessies small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie cant avoid
Shannon Delany has written stories since she was a child, beginning writing in earnest when her grandmother fell unexpectedly ill. In 2008 her greatly abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world through Textnovel.com. Previously a teacher and now a farmer raising heritage livestock, Shannon lives and writes in Upstate New York.
Everything about Jessie Gillmansens life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, shes about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accenthes a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessies small town.
"A unique tale with a bright heroine and dark secrets."New York Times Bestselling YA author Maria V. Snyder
"You'll devour 13 to Life in greedy, eager gulps. Pitch-perfect and deliciously paced, this book dishes up your next fiction addiction. Shannon is a rising star!"Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of Grimspace and Doubleblind
"A fun, gothic romance of suspense, secrets and the dangerous truth behind the new kid in town."Lucienne Diver, author of Vamped and Revamped
"Jessie and Pietrs bond is sweet and real, with more than a touch of delicious danger."Jeri Smith-Ready, Award-Winning author of Shade and Bad to the Bone
"Jessica Gillmansen's junior year is already difficult because she recently lost her mother in a tragic car accident, and now she has to deal with the hot new guy at school, Pietr Rusakova, who just won't leave her alone. Things get more complicated as she deals with the aftermath of the crash, discovers she and Pietr share an odd connection, and continues her investigation of local news stories about werewolves and the Russian Mafia."Cindy Welch, Booklist
"Delany's debut launches a paranormal series with a thoughtful but flawed exploration of emotionally wounded teens. Sixteen-year-old Jessica spends her days mourning her mother, mooning over football star Derek, and tiptoeing around her accident-altered best friend, Sarah. She doesn't want complications like Pietr Rusakova in her life, but doesn't have a choice when she is assigned to guide the newcomer around school. Soon Pietr and Jessica are setting off romantic sparks, but she pushes him awaySarah has her eye on him. When Jessica learns Pietr's biggest secretthat he and his siblings are werewolvesshe becomes involved in a complicated web that includes the Russian mafia, the CIA, and ticking time-bomb Sarah . . . Delany effectively probes what makes a monster, how being too selfless can be damaging to the soul, and whether it's possible to rewrite a person's personality. Readers . . . will likely be caught up in the story's potential to explode."Publishers Weekly
Review
"A unique tale with a bright heroine and dark secrets.”
- New York Times Bestselling YA author Maria V. Snyder
"You'll devour 13 to Life in greedy, eager gulps. Pitch-perfect and deliciously paced, this book dishes up your next fiction addiction. Shannon is a rising star!"
--Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of Grimspace and Doubleblind
"A fun, gothic romance of suspense, secrets and the dangerous truth behind the new kid in town."
-Lucienne Diver, author of Vamped and Revamped
Jessie and Pietrs bond is sweet and real, with more than a touch of delicious danger.”
–Jeri Smith-Ready, Award-Winning author of Shade and Bad to the Bone
Review
A unique tale with a bright heroine and dark secrets.-Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of the Glass Series and the Study Series
You'll devour 13 to Life in greedy, eager gulps. Pitch-perfect and deliciously paced, this book dishes up your next fiction addiction. Shannon is a rising star!
-Ann Aguirre, National Bestselling Author of RAZORLAND
Jessie and Pietr's bond is sweet and real, with more than a touch of delicious danger.
-Jeri Smith-Ready, author of SHADE
A fun, gothic romance of suspense, secrets, and the dangerous truth behind the new kid in town.
-Lucienne Diver, author of VAMPED
Delany's first novel has a lot going on—teen girls will eat up the Twilight flavor.
(Grades 7-10) -Cindy Welch, Booklist
...great werewolf mythology, mixed in with Russian heritage, add an intense connection between two main characters, some action, unexpected twists and an ending that leaves you dying for the sequel, and you've got 13 to Life.
-Mundie Moms review
Jess is a great protagonist in that she is very real. She thinks like a teenager, and she has the motivation of a teenager, even when she contradicts herself. Delany's 13 TO LIFE quickly stands on its own merits and draws the reader into the tale.
-Vicky Gilpin, Fresh Fiction review
The storyline is wonderful. I thought I had everything figured out when I first started reading, but there are so many shocking moments you aren't expecting. That makes a great book. The ending leaves you wanting a lot more. More Jessie. More Junction. Definitely more Pietr! If you are a wolf fan. Or a paranormal fan. Or a young love fan. You should pick up 13 to Life by Shannon Delany!
-Courtney Rae, Young Adult Book Central
This is one fast paced novel that kept me reading long into the night. The beginning was very hooky. I couldn't put the book down!
-Kim Bacciella, Young Adult Book Central
The paranormal genre is one of my favorites and 13 To Life was a book that fell into this category for me and has now been added to a list of series' that I'll be following in the future. Shannon Delany has a fresh voice for a YA debut author and I had fun while reading her work. She turned the science and mythology angles to her advantage when creating her world of werewolves.
-The Bookshelf Sophisticate, Young Adult Book Central
Secret matroyshka dolls, and hot werewolves riding ATVs reveal Delany's talent for creativity.
-Ann Crewdson, VOYA
Delany effectively probes what makes a monster, how being too selfless can be damaging to the soul, and whether it's possible to rewrite a person's personality.
(Ages 13-up) -Publishers Weekly, July 2010
Synopsis
Jessica's life seemed difficult enough since the sudden loss of her mother, but meeting Pietr Rusakova turns her world upside down again. The newest member of Junction High, Pietr is a first generation Russian-American, a fact that by itself makes him different enough to get lots of attention in the small town. But Pietr is far more than good looks and an interesting accent, Pietr has secrets to hide-secrets including dramatic changes he's undergoing that will surely end his life early. Secrets dating back to the Cold War get the better of Jessica's curiosity, leading her into an exciting and dangerous world where her understanding of reality and what makes a man or a monster will be challenged.
Synopsis
Everything about Jessie Gillmansens life changed when her mother died. Now even her hometown of Junction is changing. Mysterious dark things are happening. All Jessie wants is to avoid more change. But showing a hot new guy around Junction High, shes about to discover a whole new type of change. Pietr Rusakova is more than good looks and a fascinating accent—hes a guy with a dangerous secret. And his very existence is sure to bring big trouble to Jessies small town. It seems change is the one thing Jessie cant avoid…
About the Author
Since she was a child Shannon Delany has written stories, beginning writing in earnest when her grandmother fell unexpectedly ill. In 2008 her greatly abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world through Textnovel.com. Previously a teacher and now a farmer raising heritage livestock, Shannon lives and writes in Upstate New York and enjoys traveling to talk to people about most anything.