Published: June 01, 2011
Words: 60,771 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458065346

Short description

After the Cataclysm nearly destroyed the earth, it took months for things to get back to a semblance of normal--for everyone but awkward, unattractive Tainie Strauss, that is. Tainie accidently encountered a catalyst that gave her incredible shapeshifting abilities, and for the first time in her miserable life, she can be anyone she wants to be.

Extended description

Like many refugees who fled their homes during the Cataclysm, Tainie Strauss is starting over. No friends, no money, new school--a tough combination for any sixteen-year-old, much less an awkward, unattractive girl whose mother believes in fairies. Tainie is pragmatic about her life until she starts imagining she can read people’s minds. The day her face temporarily changes shape seemingly of its own volition, she can only conclude she’s gone crazy. But her mother has a different theory: during a ceremony to stop the Cataclysm, Tainie was exposed to a secret catalyst that can turn an ordinary descendant of the Folk into a shapeshifter.

For the first time in her miserable life, Tainie can be someone else--anyone else. Soon her beautiful alter-ego Tory is attracting the attention of one of the best-looking boys in school. But Tainie barely has time to enjoy her newfound ability before covert agents bent on obtaining the knowledge of how to create an army of shapeshifters threaten.. (Read more) Like many refugees who fled their homes during the Cataclysm, Tainie Strauss is starting over. No friends, no money, new school--a tough combination for any sixteen-year-old, much less an awkward, unattractive girl whose mother believes in fairies. Tainie is pragmatic about her life until she starts imagining she can read people’s minds. The day her face temporarily changes shape seemingly of its own volition, she can only conclude she’s gone crazy. But her mother has a different theory: during a ceremony to stop the Cataclysm, Tainie was exposed to a secret catalyst that can turn an ordinary descendant of the Folk into a shapeshifter.

For the first time in her miserable life, Tainie can be someone else--anyone else. Soon her beautiful alter-ego Tory is attracting the attention of one of the best-looking boys in school. But Tainie barely has time to enjoy her newfound ability before covert agents bent on obtaining the knowledge of how to create an army of shapeshifters threaten her whole world.
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Tags

fiction, romance, scifi, fantasy, young adult, science fiction, sf, the gossamer sphere

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Reviews

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Review by: Elizabeth Miller on March 19, 2013 :
Good follow up to Gossamer Sphere. Story starts after the Cataclysm with 17 year old Tatania being forced to move with her mother across country to live aith her grandmother. Starting a new school is never easy and then to find out you're a shapeshifter and you are being stalked by an underground group that wants to study you. I found this story just as good as the first and look forward to reading further stories by this auther. Good Job. A very nice way to spend an afternoon in the sun.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: TalkSupe Blogspot on Dec. 29, 2011 :
Fae and shapeshifters are an interesting combination. An awkward ugly girl who can change her looks is a gift from the gods. But when put together, Anyone wasn't as fluid as I hoped it would be. Titania didn't have any redeeming qualities to balance her selfishness. Sure being an outcast breeds resentment but when given the chance to make a change, she goes after the guy. Penny's murder doesn't even have anything to do with much and the big finale at the end was just circumstancial.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Meg Staggs on Nov. 10, 2011 :
This book is actually a sequel to the book "Gossamer Sphere" by the same author. I discovered this because, even though this book is a complete stand-alone story in itself, there were many references to previous happenings, which were intriguing, to say the least. Therefore, after finishing "Anyone", I purchased and read "Gossamer Sphere". I am telling you this now so you may have the option to read them in order for better continuity flow.

Now...one with the story. Titania is an unattractive 15-year old girl living with her mother an LPN nurse. The earth has just been through a major cataclysm involving earthquakes, increased volcanic activity, tsunamis, and a reversal of the magnetic poles. Many of the citizens in the western and southeastern United States have had to relocate to different places because of such massive damage; Titania and her mother flee from the Pacific Northwest to live with a family member in Pennsylvania. This is were much of the action takes place. She discovers, after a stressful first day in a new high school, that she is either losing her mind, or she can shape-shift!

In sharing with her mother some of the new stressors in her life, she discovers that her absent father had actually been a member of the Fae, and was a full-blooded shape-shifter himself. Her mother had been wondering if Titania would ever develop any gifts relating to her father's heritage. We soon find out that something had happened to her on a short, quick trip to England they had made while moving from Washington to Pennsylvania (what a side trip!). This incident is determined to be the catalyst that awoke Titania's unusual abilities. We also find out, through more mention of things that happened before this book's beginning, that she and her mother actually played a part in saving the world!

I recommend this book to anyone who likes science, fiction and fantasy; they are all in this book! But I recommend you read "Gossamer Sphere" first.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: jordan chapman on Nov. 08, 2011 :
Recieved as a Librarything book, it was fantastic! I loved the plot and Tainie was a good character to get to know. I was so amazed with Melissa Conway and can't wait to find out if there is a sequel!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: kutia on Oct. 30, 2011 :
Titania has the name of a fairy queen and the face of a Neanderthal. After the Cataclysm that devastated large portions of the world she and her mom are now living with a distant relative. Titania isn't looking forward to starting over in a new school, especially since she is starting to worry that she is going crazy. She keeps having the impression that she is hearing people's thoughts; not to mention she could swear she saw her face change when she looked in a mirror.


Usually I avoid like the plague any book that mentions "the fae." This book started out differently though. I was very intrigued by the Cataclysm and really wish there had been more on that topic. This book does really well for about the first 3/4. Then it gets a little convoluted with the descendants of "the folk" and people who are anti-Folk and something about a crown that caused the Cataclysm. Or possibly the crown stopped the Cataclysm. Or something. I must admit, I got a little lost.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: njmom3 on Oct. 26, 2011 :
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/anyone.html

Anyone is a young adult book - a coming of age story set in a futuristic world. It is part of the Gossamer Sphere series. Titania is a high school junior with concerns about her appearance, her lack of friends, her move to a new school, her label as "loser" in school, and her family situation. Typical concerns for a teen but set in the context of people with superhuman powers and those who seek to destroy them.

The book carries forward both the story themes effectively. Titania goes from being friendless to find her place and friends who care about her. This is incorporated into her discovery about her background and her powers and again finding a place where she fits in and belongs.

The book is fast moving story. Titania, or Tainie, is a compelling character. Her experiences are something most people will relate to at some level. So, her triumph feels good. The power she discovers - the ability to be anyone - is also one people dream about. The ability to define ourselves and possibly to reinvent ourselves is one many people call on throughout their lives. If you could be anyone, who would you choose to be?

*** I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Member Giveaway program. ***
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Donna Lawrence on Oct. 23, 2011 :
I love the idea behind this book, Shapeshifters! Who would you change into if you could become anyone? This book is incredible!! I started reading it Sunday morning and didn't stop until I was finished. It is easy to relate to the main character Tainie. Everyone has some level of self esteem issues. Melissa Conway takes an unbelievable scenario and makes it believable. I'm not certain she could have achieved this with a less likeable main character. If you like YA fantasy, READ THIS BOOK! I haven't read anything by Melissa Conway before but I look forward to reading her other books.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Emily Tuley on Oct. 21, 2011 :
Let me start by saying Melissa Conway I adore her work from the first time I read some of her work I have jumped at any chance I have gotten to read more. That however, does not make my review for this book in anyway bias to her. With that having been said I shall move on.

In this book one of two that deal with the Gossamer Sphere I found myself pulled into the wonderful world Melissa has created of Titania Strauss a young teen girl that has survived the cataclysm and found herself unchanged in the world that had changed so drastically around her. Little known to her that her world was about to become completely turned upside down. Forever knowing herself to be to ugly to imperfect she struggles with her life nothing but, either ignored or ridiculed for how she looks and what her life is. Wishing only to be normal and beautiful like most teen girls she's moves forward through life as best she can.

On the crazy move from Washington state towards her grandmothers on the east coast. She finds herself on a plane with her mother in London instead. Then trapped upon a boat at sea. So sick she prays for death it's a memory she wished she had forgotten. Later it's the whole reason her world changes finding out she's a Fae is one thing. Finding out that she's a Shapeshifter is another and as her world spirals out of control she later finds out that only she and a few others like herself can save her world and keep things from being turned upside down once again. It's a wild and rather rambunctious ride that I tell anyone to enjoy especially our young Adults
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Kathryn Merkel on Oct. 21, 2011 :
Titania Strauss’s mother took her on a quick trip to England, in the middle of relocating from Eastern Washington State to Pennsylvania, & Tainie hasn’t been the same since. Exposed to an alien biometal during a ceremony to stop the Cataclysm, she has become something more than human & has no idea until one day while wishing she looked more normal, her face briefly changes shape. Now she is being hunted for her special abilities by a group of covert agents who think she knows where the Gossamer Crown is. Can an unattractive teenage girl, with few friends & the ability to be anyone at all stop the crown from falling into the wrong hands & get her life back?

Anyone is a fantastic read & I’m anxiously waiting to see where Melissa Conway takes us in the next chapter of the Gossamer Sphere.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Emily Charpentier on Oct. 20, 2011 :
If you’re looking for something to tide you over while waiting for the next House of Night, look no further. Melissa Conway has created a compelling world of abnormal teenagers that promises to rival that other series in my (and hopefully your) affections.
Titania Strauss has survived the Cataclysm, a series of disastrous weather anomalies, and has abandoned her home in Washington State for a new town and new school in Pennsylvania. Oddly, she and her mother made a quick stop in London, England first and took a boat ride. Something happened to “Tainie” on that boat right which endowed her with some interesting abilities. As usual, all sorts of baddies are after the source of those abilities, and Tainie is now in danger.
I really liked that Tainie is not drop-dead gorgeous. Many YA heroines start out that way, with boys falling at their feet and very little to overcome in terms of either looks or personality flaws. Tainie is a more genuine, dynamic and relatable character because of this. Her friends are also misfits, but smart and brave as well. Many moments in this book made me laugh out loud and many also made me empathize with the characters. I am really looking forward to the development of this series. It seems this author has written the first book in three different series, two of which are related to the Cataclysm. Hopefully she can deliver sequels to all of them, because fans will be clamoring. I started reading one of the others almost immediately after finishing this.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Lesley Nase on Oct. 17, 2011 : (no rating)
Life is more than what you see before you.
Anyone can survive earthquakes, fires, hurricanes and tornados known as the Cataclysm. Anyone, can pack up a life, especially if it wasn’t working for you, fit it into a car and drive to a new city, a new beginning in a new school with new classmates. Anyone, particularly a teenage, can survive years of their mother’s fascination with magical mystical beings known as the folk, you know the fairy folk, the Fae. But for Tatiana she soon discovers that she is not just anyone.
Melissa Conway artfully writes how Earth changes for some, can mean lifelong changes for others. Tatiana has never been one of the popular kids, never had close friends, her physical feature and looks make her too different. When she unexpectedly shapeshifts her features she is surprised and intrigued. That’s when her mother tells her she is the daughter of a long line of shapeshifters known as fairies. Mystical wonder is soon taken over by a fight of survival for not only Tatiana and her mother but also her new love and new best friend. Anyone will leave you wanting more.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: alhsjej on Oct. 15, 2011 :
I loved this! I even emailed Melissa Conway to ask if she was writing book two! Took me 1 day to read could not put it down!
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Robin on Oct. 07, 2011 :
Immerse yourself in a world where there a shapeshifters and a young girl,Tainie discovers she is from a 2000 year old line of shapeshifters. Tainie woould rather be anyone but herself. She is not pretty,her feet are too big and she just does not fit in.One day her life story changes and with her friends,Gina and Fred, she is thrown into a journey that helps her learn to be herself which is Anyone.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: MrsFlicker on Oct. 04, 2011 :
Who would you be if you could be ANYONE? What would you do? How would you use your talent? Or, more importantly, would you be able to avoid abusing that talent? Melissa Conway explores these very questions in her novel ANYONE. On second thought, Conway does more than explore the idea; she develops it with an amazing amount of skill. ANYONE is a novel that is, simply put, impossible to put down once one has started to read it. ANYONE dragged me into a universe in which I became so engrossed that I was able to forget the universe in which I am currently living. That, in itself, is next to impossible to do and is the main reason why I recommend it to anyone and everyone. If you are interested in reading a book that will transport you to a place that is NOT in the “here and now”, this is the book for you.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: Molly Gunason on July 17, 2011 : (no rating)
OK I finished Anyone what a lovely way to spend a Sunday. On my deck with a GREAT book now onto the second one.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

Review by: Molly Gunason on July 17, 2011 : (no rating)
Only to chapter 4 and can not read fast enough.. a truly good read.well written. I feel like I am right there. Anxious for more.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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