Shade Me - by Jennifer Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

Nikki Kill sees the world differently because of a phenomenon called synesthesia that makes her senses overlap. One night, a mysterious call lights up her phone bright orange, the color of emergencies.

Book Synopsis

The first book in acclaimed author Jennifer Brown's thrilling suspense series, Shade Me is the story of a girl born with rare synesthesia who becomes unwittingly entangled in the mystery of an attack on a classmate and involved with a boy who may be a suspect. Perfect for fans of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars, Shade Me is a thriller you won't want to put down.

Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray, thanks to a rare phenomenon called synesthesia that makes her senses overlap.

That's why Nikki decides to answer the phone the night a mysterious call lights it up bright orange--the color of emergencies. It's the hospital and they need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack. Nikki IDs the victim as Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from her school who she hardly knows. As Nikki tries to discover why her number was the only one in Peyton's phone, she finds herself swept up in the mystery behind Peyton's attack--and she finds herself drawn toward Peyton's handsome, rebellious older brother, Dru...who may be the primary suspect.

Review Quotes

"SHADE ME is a wild ride, illuminating the gritty side of Los Angeles and the beautiful people who populate it. Fans of Veronica Mars will fall in love with Nikki Kill." -- Michelle Gagnon, author of the Don't Turn Around trilogy

"This dark tale hits all the hallmarks of a traditional hardboiled mystery, full of dirty secrets and potential betrayals. Brown (Torn Away) skillfully uses Nikki's condition to put a fresh spin on time-honored noir conventions." -- Publishers Weekly

"Nikki is a complex character with potential for growth, and her gritty determination to find the truth, while it almost undoes her, is what makes her compelling." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)