Vampire Crush

Gr 8 Up—Unlike her popular and beautiful stepsister Caroline, Sophie McGee enjoys being on the sidelines. She is a watcher, not a player, and her greatest dream is to become the editor in chief of the school newspaper at Thomas Jefferson High. Her first assignment is to interview some new students, but as Sophie begins to question them, her investigative senses immediately go on full alert. They are unwilling to talk, extremely evasive, and mysterious, and, most disturbing, they all know one another. Then James, Sophie's former neighbor whom she had a love/hate relationship with, is secretly back and is connected to the new arrivals, too. Danger follows Sophie as she discovers that these students are actually vampires on a quest to find the key to an ancient forgotten prophecy. As things intensify, her life hangs in the balance. Robinson's debut novel is full of action, adventure, and suspense, with some romance as well. Sophie is a great character and has a witty style with which readers can easily identify. The fast-moving plot deals with issues like teen angst, facing your fears, and being true to yourself all rolled up with evil vampires and some serious fight scenes. An entertaining and satisfying read.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY