Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising by Jason Henderson

I've posted recently about the mounds of vampire fiction hitting the scene lately--not a complaint, mind you, just a fact.  I'm  at least a moderate fan of most of it---but my husband just can't stomach the thought of nice vampires.  We've had ---may I point out---ridiculous discussions on how that wouldn't happen "in real life".  Um, yeah, babe....no kidding.  I'm sure vampires wouldn't be particularly chummy in real life. 
Vampire Rising is a vampire book for boys (although girls will love it too) and I LOVE that we finally have one on the scene. 

Alex Van Helsing is a 14-year-old recently sent to boarding school in Switzerland.  Yeah, he's heard the stories related to his name his whole life, but he knows thats just fiction.  Right?  After a couple of very strange incounters with what could only be described as otherworldly opponents he begins to wonder.  He does, of course, find out that he is indeed a part of the legacy that the world thinks of as only fiction---he is a vampire hunter.

And these vampires aren't nice or vegan or friendly.  The action is kickin' and will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I love the twist thrown in at the end, by the way; and the literary references make this librarian's heart sing. 

This is Jason Henderson's first novel for teens---and I'm happy to give big props to this Texas author for delivering a thrilling ride!  I look forward to the next installment.

You can check out more about Jason at: http://www.alexvanhelsing.com/

Creatures of the Night

Apparently I have been on an otherworldly creature kick as far as my YA reading goes.  Vampire novels are, of course, nothing new, but the sheer amount of them as at least tripled lately.  So, here are my latest forays into the genre.

The Evernight Series by Claudia Gray

And, Sucks to be me : the all-true confessions of Mina Hamilton, teen vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley.

All of them are quite diverting reads.  In each case, interestingly enough, teenage girls must make the decision whether or not to become a "full" vampire, and both of them have parents who already are. 

I must admit that reading these books are great fun, but there is just a little part of me that remains slightly irritated that I didn't write the storyline I came up with a few years back.  See it was gonna take place at a very elite boarding school with a few scholarship townies invited in for dinner.  Sound familiar? 

I guess there's nothing new under the sun...um...or, the moon, as it were.