Down with the Shine

Think twice before you make a wish in this imaginative, twisted, and witty novel from the author of Another Little Piece.When Lennie brings a few jars of her uncles’ moonshine to Michaela Gordon’s house party, she has everyone who drinks it make a wish. It’s tradition. So is the toast her uncles taught her: “May all your wishes come true, or at least just this one.”The thing is, those words aren’t just a tradition. The next morning, every wish—no matter how crazy—comes true. And most of them turn out bad. But once granted, a wish can’t be unmade . . .

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Lennie, daughter of the notorious Leonard Cash, aka The Bad Daddy Bandit, is a fierce character in her own right. When the most popular girl at school, Michaela, holds her annual Labor Day party, not only does Lennie show up uninvited but she brings four mason jars full of her uncles' infamous bathtub moonshine. And with the shine, she also brings the family tradition of making a wish on the first drink. What Lennie doesn't know is that she has inherited the family gift of granting wishes. As the evening wears on, the wishes become increasingly outlandish, resulting in terrifying chaos. Quinn, author of Another Little Piece (HarperCollins, 2013), has written another darkly intelligent novel for readers who prefer flawed heroines and ambiguous endings that aren't tied up in a pretty little "they all lived happily ever after" bow. Graphic descriptions of violence and savagery are not for the faint of heart but will be thoroughly enjoyed by those who like a dark and twisty tale. VERDICT A smartly written and engaging addition for YA collections.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Mindy McGinnis, author of Not a Drop to Drink

“Vividly imagined and hard to put down. You’ll think twice about what you wish for.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Sharp, funny, and amiable, Lennie’s narration feels a lot like a modern-day Scout’s. Contemporary fiction with a touch of magic and a hint of horror, Quinn’s latest defies traditional labels and offers readers a different sort of fictitious escape.”

ALA Booklist

“Successfully blends thriller and fantasy elements for a high-stakes, careful-what-you-wish-for story. A unique, often clever take on family legacies and high school desires with wide appeal.”

School Library Journal

“A darkly intelligent novel for readers who prefer flawed heroines and ambiguous endings that aren’t tied up in a pretty little ‘they all lived happily ever after’ bow.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksPRAISE FOR KATE KARYUS QUINN:

“Quinn’s previous titles have involved dark, labyrinthine plots, but here she moves into black humor, doing so with revelry and aplomb.”

Publishers Weekly

“Quinn is a gifted writer. Understanding the rules of Gardnerville is like deciphering an intricate puzzle or being locked in a dream.”

Kirkus Reviews

“A distinctive, supernatural read.”

ALA Booklist

“Quinn’s newest mystery is a complicated thriller with lots of twists, turns, and a large dose of fantasy.”

School Library Journal

“Fans of Nova Ren Suma’s Imaginary Girls (Dutton, 2011) will enjoy this dark and magical surrealism.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Quinn blends eloquent prose and startling imagery to create a truly creepy small town. Will find an audience among fans of Brenna Yovanoff (The Replacement) and Dia Reeves (Bleeding Violet).”

yet one who’s not beyond redemption.”

“A gripping ride. Quinn skillfully occupies the mind of a young woman who turns out to be a monster

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Stunning in its raw emotion. A taut, terrifying supernatural thriller.”

From the Back Cover

Make a wish . . .Lennie always thought her uncles’ “important family legacy” was good old-fashioned bootlegging. Then she takes some of her uncles’ moonshine to Michaela Gordon’s annual house party, and finds out just how wrong she was.At the party, Lennie has everyone make a wish before drinking the shine—it’s tradition. She toasts to wishes for bat wings, for balls of steel, for the party to go on forever. Lennie even makes a wish of her own: to bring back her best friend, Dylan, who was murdered six months ago.The next morning gives Lennie a whole new understanding of the phrase be careful what you wish for—or in her case, be careful what wishes you grant. Because all those wishes Lennie raised a jar of shine to last night? They came true. Most of them came out bad. And once granted, a wish can’t be unmade. . . .May all your wishes come true, or at least just this one.Praise for Kate Karyus Quinn“A distinctive, supernatural read.”—Kirkus Reviews on (Don’t You) Forget About Me“Quinn is a gifted writer. Understanding the rules of Gardnerville is like deciphering an intricate puzzle or being locked in a dream.”—Publishers Weekly on (Don’t You) Forget About Me“A gripping ride. Quinn skillfully occupies the mind of a young woman who turns out to be a monster—yet one who’s not beyond redemption.”—The Horn Book on Another Little Piece

About the Author

Kate Karyus Quinn is an avid reader and a menthol ChapStick addict. She has lived in California and Tennessee but recently made the move back to her hometown of Buffalo, New York, with her husband and two children in tow. She promised them wonderful people, amazing food, and weather that would . . . build character. She is also the author of Another Little Piece and (Don’t You) Forget About Me. You can visit Kate online at www.katekaryusquinn.com.

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