Secret Vampire

ISBN: 0-671-55133-7 Order from: Amazon.com

Sympathetic characters enliven this simple and predictable juvenile fantasy with serious themes.

Reviewed by David on January 19, 2005

Genre: Fantasy (Juvenile, Vampire, Romance)

Synopsis: Poppy is a cheerful girl, and does not mind if her best friend James doesn't consider her girlfriend material. She is sure that soon, when she is older, James will forget his short-lived flings and settle down with her. Alas, she may not survive that long—as her shocked doctor tells her. But James, who so far hid his true feelings for Poppy, proposes a way for her to survive her terminal decease—although survival may be a relative term.

Full Review: While simple and rather predictable, the book deals sensitively with a very real threat of a decease, and engages the reader's sympathy. Poppy and James's adventures are melodramatic, but their emotions, with their mixture of dread, longing and occasional humor ring true, and will engage the attention of many younger readers.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 4.5;

Pocket Books (Archway), June 1996, Mass-market, 228 pages

ISBN: 0-671-55133-7 Order from: Amazon.com