Review: The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff

Where I got it: Arc from publisher
Rating: 4.5 stars 
Cover Rating: 5 stars (Perfectly amazingly awesome!) 
Genre: Young Adult 
Publication Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Page Count: 343 p.

Mackie is a replacement, switched into the baby's crib of an unsuspecting family. His family knows, it's hard to hide that Mackie can't be around iron or on hallowed ground, especially when his father's the minister.  Lately Mackie feels worse than usual and nearly makes a scene at a school blood drive(blood is filled with iron). He feels like he's dying and when a musician corners him at the club and tells him this, he feels hopeless. He's invited to the Slag heap, a place where others like him hand out together. They lure him in with promises or potions to make him feel better, all he has to do is play in their band. When another child, the sister of a girl named Tate,  goes missing, Mackie doesn't want suspicious eyes following him. When Tate seeks him out he's cold at first, but when he starts to find out the horrible things the town of Gentry has been hiding he knows something must be done.

This was a spectacularly spooky read. Horrifyingly grim in detail, with disgusting monsters lurking about in the shadows. I applaud Brenna Yovanoff of the exquisite debut. The dialog is spot on amazing, it flows so smoothly with genuine voices that speak of feelings beyond the context. I was creeped out and curious throughout this book, wondering where Mackie fits in and why the town of Gentry is okay with the way things are. Each of the characters played their parts nicely, although it's weird taking into consideration that everyone knows what goes on they just ignore it. At times it made it seem unbelievable that some of the characters took this new information in stride, without questioning anything. I loved the little tidbits of folklore that the town created against the creatures in the shadows. This book will have you up late at night hanging horseshoes and cutlery from your ceiling, while you finish reading this book. I think this was definitely a good start for a new author and I am dying to read some more of her work. If you aren't afraid of things that go bump in the night check this out. It was truly a must read debut.

First Line:
"I don't remember any of the true, important parts, but there's this dream I have."

Favorite Line:
"In the daylight, everything looked gray and weak."