They call it the Academy.A secluded, cliff-top mansion overlooking the rugged Pacific coast.A school for children gifted - or cursed - with extraor...
read full description
reviews
Sep 20, 2009
Karen
rated it: 
This is the first audio book I've listened to. I thought I would have problems with my mind wandering, but the story was so intriguing that I found myself completely absorbed with what was happening.
In short, the story is about a school for genius children. It confronts the many problems these children experience on a daily basis, in normal life such as isolation, teasing, boredom, lack of friendship and suicide tendencies. Then it moves into life at the new school and shows the f More...
In short, the story is about a school for genius children. It confronts the many problems these children experience on a daily basis, in normal life such as isolation, teasing, boredom, lack of friendship and suicide tendencies. Then it moves into life at the new school and shows the f More...
Apr 25, 2011
Dustin Crazy little brown owl
rated it: 
April 2011 Group Read in the John Saul LitGroup. I read this as a teenager and was excited to revisit the story :-)
I really liked this book - it still lives up to my brilliant memories :-) There is a scene early in the book when Josh is first arriving at the academy and sees this pristine fish tank. I love how this is a glimpse of things to come. I had to return my copy of the book to the library or I'd post the passage. I'm giving the book 5 stars. I did notice that there seemed to More...
I really liked this book - it still lives up to my brilliant memories :-) There is a scene early in the book when Josh is first arriving at the academy and sees this pristine fish tank. I love how this is a glimpse of things to come. I had to return my copy of the book to the library or I'd post the passage. I'm giving the book 5 stars. I did notice that there seemed to More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 03, 2011
Sara
rated it: 
This is a CREEPY story!!! I found the concept interesting (very scientific and a detailed journey into the possibility of Artificial Intelligence). Not too excited that the targets, ummm....main characters in the story were gifted children, but it did give the book a nice plot to work with. A good deal of suspense and creepiness, if you like that sort of thing...this book is for you!
Jun 12, 2011
Ike
rated it: 
This book has single-handedly made me a Saul anti-fan.
I love suspense and horror stories. But something about this story just rubbed the wrong way. It may just be the trouble getting into an out of date technology-driven suspense. I also remember really disliking the prose, specifically the sentence fragment repetition used throughout.
I love suspense and horror stories. But something about this story just rubbed the wrong way. It may just be the trouble getting into an out of date technology-driven suspense. I also remember really disliking the prose, specifically the sentence fragment repetition used throughout.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 03, 2011
Lee
rated it:
I'm finished with Shadows: Reading through Saul's books that I have yet to read i decided this time on Shadows. The one thing i majorally like about John Saul's books is that no one idea is the same and he always has a fresh new story to tell. Shadows is definatly one of the more original storylines i have read. I enjoyed this alot and hope he may write a sequel to this certain story some time in the near future.
Nov 04, 2008
Renny
rated it:
It all starts with Josh McCallum a gifted child that has more than quite a few problems over the course of his life. The Academy, a clifftop mansion school for gifted children, is where the action starts to take place when the students begin to die mysterious deaths, and Josh McCallum, a brilliant but lonely boy, knows that someone or something evil is to blame.
-This is part of the prologue of the book that shows high importance to the story of the book.
"Shadows tha More...
-This is part of the prologue of the book that shows high importance to the story of the book.
"Shadows tha More...
Sep 05, 2011
Allison
rated it:
I thought this was a very good book. It was complicated, but I was able to follow.
And the concept behind it was so original, I can't help but be impressed with John Saul.
I do recommend this book if you're looking for something a little different.
It's not my favorite, but its a really good read.
And the concept behind it was so original, I can't help but be impressed with John Saul.
I do recommend this book if you're looking for something a little different.
It's not my favorite, but its a really good read.
Dec 24, 2010
Anthony
rated it:
The book that brought me back to reading! Shadows is a good book where each character is molded with indivisuality. The story was both thrilling and detailed which kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to people who enjoy horror with a little sci-fi twist.
May 21, 2009
Dave
rated it:
A quick and easy read and interesting. Not my favorite book, but I also don't regret reading it. Supposed to be a horror, but more Sci-Fi than horror. I don't know, if you're bored and need to something to read pick this one up, but don't go out of your way to read it.
Sep 09, 2008
Courtney
rated it:
Shadows is one of the best novels by John Saul. The horror behind this story slowly creeps up on you and will keep you guessing until the very end. Just when you think you have the children, and the adults alike, figured out, you're wrong. This is definitly a story for anyone who wants a good horror story without all the blood and gore that usually goes along with the genre. There is one aspect of the story that isn't answered in the end which I found odd that it wasn't addressed even though the
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 18, 2009
Karen
rated it:
So so until the last fourth of the book where it really kept my attention. There were a few loose ends that weren't tied and I thought the final ending was a little silly but all in all a pretty good read.
Apr 14, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
This was a really short but interesting novel. It didn't quite end the way that I thought it would but that is not a bad thing. John Saul had me wondering and speculating until the end. An excellent story.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 11, 2012
Julius
rated it:
The ending is a hit or miss. For me, what began as a satisfying read got ruined by the last few dozen pages. I felt that it was just attached to close most of the plot holes.
Apr 02, 2010
Haylie
rated it:
In the beginning it took me a little while to get into this book but once I did I was completely hooked on it.
Aug 29, 2011
April
rated it:
As a child who went to a special school for gifted children, this scared the ever living hell out of me.
Jan 13, 2012
Nikolas
rated it:
This novel had a very interesting plot and came together nicely at the end.
Aug 16, 2011
Angela
rated it:
I read this as a teen and don't remember it exactly, but I do know that I really liked it!
Jun 07, 2011
Kerri
rated it:
Loved it--just the right amount of creepiness, mystery, and suspense. : )
Feb 06, 2008
Nicole
rated it: 
When I was 12 I decided to read all of the books my dad was reading so we could talk about them. This was the first book I tried that with... and the last. It scared the bejesus out of me and sent me running back to Nancy Drew! I had nightmares for weeks! I plan on reading it again in the near future to see what new perspective I might have now on a book whose lingering words tormented me for years! I think the memories of the experience and how I felt at the time were and are far worse than
More...
Nov 16, 2008
Crystal
rated it:
Like most of John Saul's books, this is a fast read - I managed to do it in under 4 hours. Unfortunately, it seems as though that's about all the time it took to actually write the book as well. With very little character development and a plot that goes from "point A" to "point B" with a single twist visible a mile away, this one's better than most, but not as good as it could be.
Nov 20, 2011
Fasya
rated it:
creepy and disturbing....the dark mind of intelligent who crave for fame and recognition...the dark world of science.....imagine been confined inside darkness with no escape...another brilliant piece of work by Paul Saul...do not repeat my mistake on reading SHADOW at midnight..you will be having nightmare,for sure......urghh
Sep 22, 2011
Weetzie
rated it:
This book was very creepy and one of the books i read i a day or 2.
the point of this book is about a boy who feels alone in the world and ends up in this smart school for kids with a big brain. in the story you will expect many surprises. if it were up to me i would give this book 11 out of 10!!!
the point of this book is about a boy who feels alone in the world and ends up in this smart school for kids with a big brain. in the story you will expect many surprises. if it were up to me i would give this book 11 out of 10!!!
Nov 20, 2007
Tina
rated it:
I really, really enjoyed this book. Even though the book gave the key players away almost immediately it did a wonderful job of setting up and keeping the tension and suspense throughout the book. You were always kept wondering what exactly was going on.
Aug 07, 2009
Fabiola
rated it:
One of my favorite books of all time. It is very creative. John Saul is the type of author that provides you with scary, but takes it to an extra level - he takes it up a notch.
You'll either love it or hate it.
Obviously, I loved this one.
You'll either love it or hate it.
Obviously, I loved this one.
Aug 20, 2008
Kate
rated it:
If this is the book I'm thinking of, the title completely does nothing to describe this plot. Genius kids being taken into a fake genius school which is really a secret operation trying to remove their brains.
Feb 27, 2008
Amy
rated it:
This was probably my favorite John Saul book when i went through my John Saul phase. It is about kids at a school for the gifted. It is twisted and weird...more twisted and weird than ghost-story -type scary.
