Vampire Kisses - Ellen Schreiber

Summary: In her small town, dubbed Dullsville, sixteen-year-old Raven — a vampire-crazed goth-girl — is an outcast. But not for long...

The intriguing and rumored-to-be haunted mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood vacant and boarded-up for years. That is, until its mysteriously strange new occupants move in. Who are these creepy people — especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town prattle actually ring true? Are they vampires? Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.

Ellen Schreiber's spooky and stirring romance tells the story of two outsiders who fall in love in a town where conformity reigns, and ends with a shocking surprise. (Summary and image from Powells.com)

My Review: I stumbled across this book because of my students. They were raving about Vampire kisses after needing another fix from reading Twilight. I found a cheap copy through Scholastic book clubs and bought one for my classroom. I try to preview the books I buy and read this in a few short days.

Despite being 'another vampire novel' this book took me by surprise with it's humor and rejection of high school's need for conformity. I enjoyed how from the very start you're captivated by Raven's strange, dark take on life. She bucks the system from the moment she's exposed to life outside her parents' hippy home.

The book is about Raven's love of the new boy (vampire) in town, but my favorite parts revolve around Raven's rivalry with the town's rich and mean boy, Trevor Mitchell. She is ruthless and hilarious. She pulls the pranks all girls have wanted to play on the biggest jerk in her school. And even though she's an outcast from the social scene, everyone loves seeing her best Trevor. That's about where my positive review ends.

The writing isn't very good. Many phrases and nicknames of the characters are cliche. And the ending leaves the reader hanging for what's really going to happen to Raven and her new love interest--the rumored vampire. It's cut short for a good novel. I wouldn't recommend this to an adult. But, my students love it.

Rating: 3 stars--for adults I'd give it 2 stars.

In a phrase: Another take, albeit dark and witty, on vampire love.