Vampire High

Rating:
Summary: werewolves, coffins, vampires, oh my.
Review: If you like vampire books, this is a very good book. It's about a kid, named Cody Elliot, who moves from California and hates his new town. So, he thinks, if he does badly in school, that his parents might move back to California. He starts to flunk school, and do a lot of things like try and prove Newton was wrong by trying to fly during class. His mom and dad just pull him out of school and put him in a school called Vlad Dracul. The one thing Cody doesn't no, is the school is for vampires. Cody befriends two vampires. Well, I don't want to spoil the book for you, so read the book.

Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming Even If Predictible
Review: It often seems to me that fiction written for young adults is better the the novels written for adults recently. Vampire High is a familiar tale in many ways, of high school angst, young love, and new friendship, with a twist. Others have described the characters as lacking depth, where secondary characters are true but the primary characters are trully engaging. Whatever Cody's faults our young hero is posessed of one thing in abundance Integrity. And it is this integrity that serves him repeatedly... and models what it is to be truly human.... Gadje or Jhenti.
Douglas Rees is definitely an author worth following. I hope he writes sequels to this book.. but if not just write something!

Rating:
Summary: Gad-je! Gad-je! Gad-je!
Review: Vampire High is a rollicking delight from beginning to end. True, the ending is telegraphed waaaaay ahead of time, but in Rees's hands, it is the journey, not the destination that is important. Cody's awareness that having things handed to you on a silver platter is not a satisfying way to live life and his growing maturity as he navigates both adolescence and a vampire high school sends a very clear message to the readers without being didactic, heavy handed or dull. Rees knows his pacing, his humor and his subject well. The teens I have recommended this to came away laughing themselves silly while at the same time realizing that how you live your life and taking responsiblity for yourself is more important than the concerns of our status seeking, easy does it culture. Can't wait to read more by this author.