The ELLIOT TWINS enjoy mischief, and while they are indeed twins, there is nothing similar about them. JUDAH is tough and fearless. JENNIFER is timid and afraid of everything! When the twins lose their parents in the most "unexplainably odd accident the town has ever seen," the Twins must count on each other and Auntie Bella to get by.
Casting Shadows opens on the twins' twelfth birthday, but Jennifer only wants a pity party. While she waits for a pot of water on the stove to boil, her mind wanders back to better days. Before she knows what's happening, a voice rises from the water and whisks her away to the dark land of Trilleah. When she discovers that Judah and Auntie Bella have been there before, she is furious and demands answers. It is here--in Trillleah-- where she and the others must navigate carefully. To succeed in the land and get out again with their souls still intact, the twins must learn to listen to the voices of the Shailmas, especially when it makes no sense whatsoever.
Even though the twins have known from the time of their parent's death that there were odd and unexplainable circumstances surrounding the accident, they never gave it a second thought. That is, not until arriving in Trilleah that they learn that the accident was not an accident at all but a well-planned scheme to destroy the twins before they could destroy Trilleah! It is here where Judah and Jennifer learn the truth of the accident. While their Daddy's soul went straight to heaven, Mamma was not so fortunate and lost her soul to the Trows. Those evil Trows stole her soul and locked it away in the Malleanna Forest with countless other Waiting Ones. Through all sorts of terrible tragedies and confusing conundrums, the travelers become trapped by SHRAILZHAR, King of the Trilleah.
The dreadful King is well aware of those who have invaded his land to break the curse of the Waiting Ones--the curse made from blood and fire. There is nothing he will not do to stop them. Casting Shadows has been called "A perfect blend of JK Rowlings and CS Lewis." With paranormal activity and allegorical fantasy but without magic and sorcery, it is a must-read for every young reader.
