Shadow, by Jenny Moss (review)

375 pp
Tween
Scholastic, 2010 (just released!)

Shadow's job is to watch over the queen and keep her safe. Not a servant, precisely, certainly not a noblewoman, and not even parents or a real name to call her own, Shadow keeps to herself and makes sure not to form emotional ties with anyone. But the kingdom is in trouble, and when the queen is killed, she is suspected. Not sure whether to believe her protests or not, Sir Kenway brings her away from the castle to help him in his quest to save the land. This isn't an urban fantasy, and it isn't a sweet, tidy fairytale, either--both Shadow and Kenway are imperfect people with issues to work through, and over the course of the book, they change and grow quite a bit. I'd recommend this to people who like strong heroines, fantasy in the vein of Shannon Hale (although the tone is somewhat different, it's more that kind of world than others), and also people who enjoyed Winnie's War (which, although a completely different genre, has some similarities in challenges the main characters both face). I remain thoroughly impressed by Jenny's many talents--she's a fabulous writer, a former NASA engineer, and all-around wise, kind person. Talk about using the left, right, and center of your brain! Bravo, and congratulations on your book release, Jenny!