VVMBookBlog

It’s the first day of her senior year in high school and Jessica’s world changes with the appearance of Lucius Vladescu, an exchange student from Romania.  She quickly finds out that she had been promised in a marriage pact to Lucius, son of one of the rival vampire families, by her doomed-to-death parents back in Romania when she was a baby.  Her adoptive parents, present at the time of the pact, took on responsibility for her care while never telling her about the pact or her connection to vampires…until now!

Jessica just wants to enjoy her senior year as a normal girl but soon falls under the spell of the very attractive Lucius.  She does her best to help Lucius keep his “condition” a secret but rumors start to fly when Lucius begins to show an interest in Faith Crosse, a shallow airhead cheerleader in Jessica’s opinion!  As action heats up toward a conclusion, Jessica works to convince Lucius he isn’t the evil person he’s been raised to be by his evil uncle.  But what kind of a future is Jessica heading for–college student or vampire princess?  Fun book, lots of humor!

Violet is 11 and looking forward to going into 7th grade with her next door girlfriend, Lottie, and her friend-who-is-a-boy, Eddie.  Then Violet’s world gets shaken up when Melissa’s family moves to the neighbor from the big city of Detroit.  When Violet sees that Lottie and Melissa are becoming friends, too, Violet gets threatened and comes up with some sneaky and not-so-sneaky ways to remind Lottie about their friendship and show Melissa she isn’t welcome there.  A thunderstorm produces a bolt of lightning that strikes Lottie’s house, bringing changes to all their worlds.  How will Violet handle this event?

Violet is full of heart and all the qualities that make people human.  Knowing how hard it can be for three girls to be “best friends,” I enjoyed reading to see how the author tells the story of these four friends.  Great book for girls who enjoy reading about girls!

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

Shift is a good name for this novel for three reasons: 1) It involves two teenagers who bike across the United States. 2) It shifts from bike trip (present) to college (future). 3) One of the characters could be considered “Shifty.” When Chris and Win graduate from college they decide to take bike (pedal) across the United States. Along this bike trip, Win leaves Chris. Chris continues on his own and returns in time for his first day of college. Suddenly the FBI is talking to Chris about Win’s location. Win has not been in contact with anyone, and his family is worried. Shift is a mystery in the sense that the reader must read and figure out what happened to Win and how Chris is involved. It is also a story of friendship, family, and most importantly adventure. The book also follows the teenagers bike adventure across the United States.

This book comes with a couple starred reviews and is probably for more mature readers willing to get involved in the lives of three high school friends.  T.C. loves baseball and his mother died when he was 6.  At that time he became friends with Augie who helped him over his mother’s death, and they officially became “brothers” for all time.  T.C. is also in love with Ale (Alejandra) Perez, daughter of a Mexican diplomat and an aspiring stage actress.  Augie is also in the beginning stages of figuring out that he might be gay, even though everyone else has figured it out.

We get to know these people as a result of a junior year English assignment where they look back on their 9th grade year using email messages, diary entries, and letters to favorite celebrities, Jacqueline Kennedy, and T.C.’s deceased mother to record the year’s events.  Through T.C. we also get to know a 6-year-old deaf foster child who is obsessed with Mary Poppins and hoping she will come and take care of him, too, someday.  Every chapter is written by a different character and each one gives us more to like in these characters.  Lots to feel good about in this book!

Every Move by Peter McPhee

Emily is a high school girl living a fairly average life of going to school and working with her best friend at the coffee shop. When the neighborhood geek, Michael, becomes interested in her, she thinks it’s sweet and doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. Michael, on the other hand, wants to be more than “just friends.” What will happen when Emily starts dating another boy? How will Michael feel about her new relationship?

Every Move is probably best for mature audiences. The book is somewhat creepy and full of suspense. It does show the reality of being careful on the computer. Supposedly the book is “inspired by true events.”