Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Hamilton, Laurell K. Guilty Pleasures.
Berkley Trade. 2002.
ISBN 978-425197547
$15.00. Paperback. 368 pages.

Readers Annotation
Anita Blake, animator and vampire executioner is called upon by the Master of the City to uncover the person murdering vampires.

Plot Summary
Anita Blake works for Animators, Inc. and raises zombies out of graves for a living. She is also a state sanctioned vampire executioner. The local Master of the City, Nikolaos wants to hire Anita to investigate who is murdering the most powerful vampires in St. Louis. Anita refuses and is later coerced into working for the vampires. Jean-Claude, a vampire who works for Nikolaos, and manager of the all male strip club Guilty Pleasures works with Anita. When Anita is nearly killed during her first meeting with Nikolaos, a very old vampire in the body of a young girl, Jean-Claude saves her by sharing some of his life force. This gives Anita the first vampire mark. Nikolaos introduces another animator to Anita. His name is Zachary. Anita knows that something is just not right with Zachary, but she can’t fathom what it is. Meanwhile, Edward another vampire executioner shows up at Anita’s apartment. He has been hired to execute the current Master of the City. Anita meets a number of supernatural beings including the king of the wererats.  Ultimately, Anita discovers that Zachary is a zombie who is only alive through gris-gris magic. Anita, along with Edward, kills Nikolaos, and Zachary who is responsible for the murders. In doing so Jean-Claude becomes the new Master of the City of St. Louis. Anita is on her way to becoming his human servant.

Critical Evaluation
In this debut novel, author Laurell K. Hamilton introduced a set of fabulous characters. Anita, is charismatic and at the start of her career. Hamilton embued her character with a snarky sense of humor, and an unknown power that continues to grow with the series. Jean-Claude, is smart, sexy and 300 years old. It becomes clear in later novels that although he is a Master Vampire, he is no master to Anita. Edward, the sociopathic killer is scary good at his job. Anita learns how to kill efficiently and effectively from him. The storyline is original. In Anita’s world, supernatural beings are out, and living with the humans. The novel is smart, funny, sexy, and a good read. I would recommend this novel to older young adults (17 an up) who have read YA vampire series and want more vampire-themed books. I would not however, recommend the novels from #4 on, because they include graphic sex. This novel does not include scenes of graphic sex, but is has a great deal of violence. It is not for the squeamish. Young adults who read this novel should not expect the romance of Twilight or its sequels.

Information about the author
Laurell K. Hamilton has been writing since she was a child. She had difficulty selling this novel because no one knew what genre it should fall into. She is consistently on the New York Times Bestseller list. There are currently 16 books in the series. You can find out more about her at http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/index.php.

Genre
Paranormal thriller, horror, fantasy.

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Violence.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Pleasures-Anita-Vampire-Hunter/dp/0425197549/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260155655&sr=1-2
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss Anita’s ability to raise the dead.
2. Talk about her work with the police in uncovering supernatural crimes.

Reading Level/Age
Adult crossover.

Why I included this title
This is the first book in one of my favorite vampire series.

Twilight directed by Catherine Hardwicke

Hardwicke, Catherine (Director). Twilight.
Summit Entertainment. 2008.
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Novel by: Stephanie Meyer
Run time: 122 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Watchers Annotation
Bella Swan, newly arrived in Forks, meets the handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen. Edward is a vampire, and he is driven to protect Bella from a trio of roving vampires.

Cast
Kristen Steward, Bella Swan
Sarah Clark, Renee
Billy Burke, Charlie Swan
Robert Pattinson, Edward Cullen
For a full cast list go to IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/

Plot Summary
Bella Swan has low expectations when she arrives in Forks, Washington. Introverted, Bella is surprised when so many boys are interested in her. It is Edward Cullen who attracts Bella’s attention. Beautiful and mysterious, Edward attempts to push Bella away, but he too is attracted. Bella known for her clumsiness is constantly at risk for injury. When she is nearly crushed by a truck it is Edward who saves her. Bella insists on discovering how Edward was able to reach her in time, but Edward refuses to tell her the truth. Bella and her school friends make a trip to the beach at the Indian reservation for a surfing excursion, it is Jacob Black a young Quileute Indian that tells her the myths of the cold ones. As she researches to local lore, Bella realizes the truth about the boy she loves – he, and his family are vampires. She approaches Edward with her new knowledge and he does everything he can to frighten her off. Bella is not deterred. Edward admits that his family is different from other vampire, they drink only animal blood, and he can read all minds, but not Bella’s. Their growing attraction escalates and they begin to date. During a vampire baseball game with the Cullen’s three rogue vampires appear. One of the vampires, James, smells Bella’s scent and attempts to attack. The Cullen’s whisk Bella away before James can harm her. James, a hunter, will not give up his hunt for Bella. He lures her away from Edward and proceeds to torture her while videotaping. His bite passes vampire venom into Bella. Edward and his family rescue Bella but she has been poisoned. Edward’s foster father, Carlisle saves Bella from becoming a vampire. Still healing from the attack by James, Bella now returned to Forks is going on a date with Edward to the prom. Jacob Black appears and warns Bella about Edward, but it is too late. Bella and Edward are in love and committed to each other, even though Edward refuses to make Bella immortal.

Critical Evaluation
The novel, by Stephanie Meyers is deeply romantic in an old fashioned way. It is similar in style to those written by the Bronte sisters, like Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. The film, because of its reduced time does not achieve the same level of intensity as the novel. Kristen Stewart, as Bella tells her friend Angela that she is a strong and independent woman, that she should ask her love interest to take her to the prom. All those traits Bella seems to have in the beginning of the movie disintegrate when she meets Edward. She wants only to be with him, nothing more. When Edward warns her that he is a monster, Bella ignores the warning. Kristin Stewart as Bella walks through her lines. She is distant and emotionless. When Bella proclaims that she is irrevocably in love with Edward, she shows no visible signs of interest. There is no giddy smile, no joy in Stewart. Robert Pattinson is more believable as Edward. His determination to avoid Bella despite his attraction to his own “personal brand of heroin” is heartfelt. The two make a pretty pair as a couple, but there is no chemistry between the actors. The special effects for this film are lacking, especially those featuring Edward running. The director should have made more effort to include better special effects since the novel is held in such high regard by young women.

Information about the film
You can find out more about the film at IMDb, the Internet Movie Database at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/fullcredits - cast

Genre
Drama, fantasy, horror, thriller

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Sensual moments, violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the film and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Common Sense Media at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/search/twilight, or IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/externalreviews.
· Try to get reviews of the film from teens that have seen it.

Why I included this title 
The book and film are currently very popular with young women.

New Moon directed by Chris Weitz

Weitz, Chris (Director). New Moon.
Summit Entertainment. 2009.
Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg
Novel by Stephanie Meyer
Run time: 130 minutes
Rating: PG-13

Film Annotation
In the second installment of the Twilight saga film adaptations, Bella celebrates her 18th birthday with Edward and his family. When the Edward and Cullen’s leave Forks soon after, Bella is bereft. Only her friendship with Jacob Black seems to restore her happiness.

Cast
Kristin Stewart, Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson, Edward Cullen
Taylor Lautner,  Jacob Black
Billy Burke,  Charlie Swan
For full credits go to IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/fullcredits#cast
 
Plot Summary
In this movie, based on the novel by Stephanie Meyers, Bella is left desperately depressed in the wake of the departure of the Cullen’s from Forks, Washington. For several months Bella stares out the window, ignoring the world around her. Desperate, her father recommends that she return to her mother rather than remain where the memories of her lost love haunt her. Bella does not want to leave, so she forces herself to reestablish contact with her friends. She discovers accidentally that she will have visions of Edward when she is in danger. From this moment she pursues dangerous situations so she might see him. She brings to motorcycles to her friend Jacob Black. Together they rebuild the bikes. While Bella has been sulking, Jacob has been growing – muscles mostly. He is now a buff teenager who still harbors a crush on Bella.  However, Jacob begins to withdraw from Bella too. He has his own supernatural issues to deal with. One afternoon Bella climbs to the meadow she and Edward had once visited. Unfortunately she meets the vampire Laurent. Just as he is about the dispatch her, five very large wolves come out of the woods and attack Laurent. Jacob comes to Bella and begs her to remember a story he once told her. That night she dreams about werewolves. With her new knowledge she pursues Jacob and discovers that the five wolves she saw, were all members of the Quileute tribe, and Jacob is one of them. Putting herself in harms way becomes Bella’s pastime. After she cliff dives and nearly drowns, Alice Cullen arrives. Convinced that Bella has perished, Edward decides to provoke the Volturi into ending his existence. Bella and Alice arrive in time to save Edward, but not without consequences. Bella is to become a vampire because she knows too much. When they return home safely, Edward and Jacob face off in a battle for Bella but she stops them both. Edward tells Bella that he will only transform her if she agrees to marry him.

Critical Evaluation
Like most movies based on books, New Moon has both good and bad moments. The storyline follows the basic plotline of the book, but leaves out most of the detail. Jacob Black, was supposed to have grown very large with the beginning of his transformation. The actor, Taylor Lautner became muscular yet not as big as described in the book. The original casting of Kristin Stewart as Bella, and Robert Pattinson as Edward remains a mystery. There are moments of dreadful acting between the two. During the scene where Edward tells Bella he is leaving, Stewart can only manage to bat her eyes and barely move her lips while talking. Pattinson seems to mumble most of his lines in the movie, and there is little chemistry between the actors. The chemistry between Lautner and Stewart is subtler, and for a few moments it seems that ice queen Stewart may succumb to Lautner’s charm and washboard abs. The best moments of the film are all centered on the werewolves. The computer generated images (CGI) special effects are absolutely phenomenal. The transformation from young men to wolves is instantaneous and seamless. It is utterly believable. The newest villains in this film, the Volturi, are suitably creepy. We can only hope that the acting for the next two movies improves, and comes up to the standards created by the CGI technology.

Information about the film
You can find out more about the film at IMDb, the Internet Movie Database at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/fullcredits - cast

Genre
Drama, fantasy, horror, thriller

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
None. This film is not currently in DVD release.

Challenge defense ideas
There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this film. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could watch the film and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have seen the film.

Why I included this title
The books and earlier film are very popular with young adults.

Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia. Shattered Mirror.
Laurel-Leaf. 2002.
ISBN: 9780440229407.
$6.99. Paperback. 227 pages.

Readers Annotation
Teenaged Sarah Tigress Vida is a witch and vampire hunter who finds herself attracted to Christopher until she discovers that he is the twin brother of Nikolas, the vampire she hunts.

Plot
Sarah Tigress Vida looks like a normal teenage girl. However, she comes from a long line of witch vampire hunters. Christopher Ravena is a vampire that has foresworn drinking human blood. When the two meet they are drawn together by mutual attraction. Sarah has sworn to kill the vampire Nikolas, but is shocked to discover that he is the brother of Christopher and Nissa her two new friends. Human and vampire struggle to come to terms with their mutual attraction until Sarah’s mother and sister discover their tentative romance. Banned from contact with her vampire friends, Sarah pursues information about local vampire parties. Injured during her first contact with Nikolas she becomes more determined to destroy him. Sarah is continually thwarted in her plans. She knows that she is headed for disaster, but she cannot seem to stop her determined effort to make a name for herself by destroying the vampire Nikolas. Breaking every rule of her calling, Sarah is dismissed from service and sent away from her family. In a last desperate attempt to save herself, she makes a final attempt on Nikolas. Instead, Christopher and Nikolas turn her into a vampire. Sarah now has eternity to choose between a vampire life with her new love Kristopher, or to end her undead life.

Critical Evaluation
For this novel Atwater-Rhodes borrows again from author Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake Vampire Hunter” novels. Although Atwater-Rhodes has borrowed from Hamilton’s novels, she has also created something new by making her character a witch from a long line of ancestral witch vampire hunters. For this novel too, Atwater-Rhodes, pays homage to Hamilton’s blurry lines of good and evil. Both Sarah (and Anita) start off believing in the ultimate evil of all vampires, and like Anita, Sarah is attracted to a vampire, and comes to care for him and his sister. It is most interesting that Atwater-Rhodes would choose to also explore the nature of good and evil in this novel because it is a recurring theme in the Hamilton books. While Anita maintains her humanity while dealing with the monsters, Atwater-Rhodes transforms Sarah into a vampire, thereby making her a mortal enemy to her family. What will Sarah and her family do now that she has turned into a vampire? It is a question that is never answered in this book. This book is part of the “Den of Shadows” series.

Information about the author
Born in 1984, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes began her writing career at age 13. She currently attends college and plans on becoming a teacher. You can find out more about her here.
You can find out more about the “Den of Shadows” books here http://www.nyeusigrube.com/.  The site is maintained by Atwater-Rhodes.

Genre
Paranormal. Witches and Vampires.

Curriculum ties
None

Challenge Issues
Paranormal. Occult.

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Shattered-Mirror-Shadows-Amelia-Atwater-Rhodes/dp/0440229405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258231456&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1. Discuss the reasons Sarah wants to take on Nikolas.
2. Talk about Sarah and Christopher’s mutual attraction.
3. Discuss Sarah’s transformation from human witch to vampire.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
This title is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd Edition (2003), as an example of a “Paranormal: Vampire” book.

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

Klause, Annette Curtis. The Silver Kiss.
Bantam Doubleday Dell. 1999.
ISBN: 0440323460.
$5.99. Paperback. 198 pages.

Readers Annotation
Zoë’s new friend Simon is handsome and mysterious. Could he be responsible for the death’s in Zoë’s hometown?

Plot
High school student Zoë is facing a series of crisis. Her mother is slowly dying of cancer, and her father is always at the hospital. Then her best friend, Lorraine is planning to move away. Under pressure at both home and school, she recklessly wanders the dark streets of her town where a murderer is loose. Also walking the dark streets is the vampire Simon. Simon has his own agenda, but when he sees Zoë he is drawn to her. Written in alternating chapters the stories of both Zoë and Simon are told as they intersect in the hunt for the serial killer. Zoë tells Simon about her mother’s terminal illness. She asks Simon to help save her, but he explains that he cannot for her pain would make her insane. Simon tells Zoë the story of his older brother Christopher, and how he was taken from his family and changed into a boy vampire. While Simon has learned to control his urge for human blood, Christopher has not. Zoë comes to understand that it is Christopher (disguised as a young boy) who has been killing people and leaving their bloodless bodies to be found. Simon, with Zoë’s help plots to destroy his brother before he kills more innocent people. Zoë helps Simon in his quest, and in doing so discovers a hidden source of strength within. Simon’s decision to meet the sun saddens Zoë, but also gives her a new resolve to conquer her family tragedy.

Critical Evaluation
Listed in Teen Genreflecting as “the quintessential teen vampire novel,” The Silver Kiss is certainly a novel worth reading. Yet, the novel pales in comparison to more recent novels in the genre because of a lack of sympathetic building for the characters. Zoe’s well-meaning father removes her from all aspects of her mother’s terminal illness. Instead of feeling sympathy for her character, readers are subjected to Zoë’s otherness. Although she is not a monster like Simon and his brother, she is also not like most other teens. It is difficult to feel sympathy for the loss her character is undergoing. Zoë is separated from parents and friends when she finds Simon. His perspective on death is just what Zoë needs in order to put her life in order. Both characters face similar dilemmas on life and death. Simon’s decision to put an end to his brother Christopher is difficult. After destroying his murderous brother (with Zoë’s help), Simon’s decision to die is surprising. As Simon awaits the rising sun with Zoë, he is transfigured from monster to saved human being, because he goes willingly into the light.

Information about the author
Annette Curtis Klause (1953- ) is a librarian who writes novels. She does not currently have a website, but you can find out more about her at: http://www.ravenstonepress.com/klause.html. She also has a blog to which she posts infrequently. The author also notes this website for more biographical information: http://www.childrensbookguild.org/klause.htm

Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Vampire

Curriculum ties
None.

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Kiss-Annette-Curtis-Klause/dp/0375857826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257737164&sr=8-1
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Zoe is kept away from her dying mother, and her best friend moves away.
2.  Talk about how she feels alone until she meets Simon. 
3.  Discuss how she decides to help Simon destroy Christopher.

Reading Level/Age
Young adult. Ages 15 and up.

Why I included this title
This title is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd Edition (2003), as an example of a “Paranormal: Vampire” book for young adults.

In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Atwater-Rhodes, Amelia.  
In the Forests of the Night.
Dell-Laurel Leaf. 1999.
ISBN: 0440228166
$5.99. Paperback. 147 pages.

Readers Annotation
Risika has been dead for hundreds of years, but that is not stopping her from challenging the vampire who killed her brother so long ago.

Plot
Risika, a shape-changing vampire, has lived for hundreds of years. Although she lives and hunts alone, Risika is consumed with hatred for Aubrey, another vampire, who she blames for her twin brother’s death. Risika, once called Rachel, weaves the story of the past and present like a spell. Made a vampire in 1701 during the time of the witch-hunts, Risika now lives (and hunts) in Concord, Massachusetts. As her anger is reignited she trespasses on Aubrey’s turf in New York. Hunting in New York, she purposely kills Aubrey’s servant in hopes of drawing him out. Although she has challenged Aubrey in the past, Risika has not been successful in her battles. When Aubrey kills her beloved tiger friend at the zoo, Risika is enraged. Knowing that strong emotions can aid in her quest to defeat Aubrey, Risika pursues him to the vampire town of New Mayhem. In a final showdown of strength Risika discovers that she does not need to destroy Aubrey in revenge. She uncovers that her inner vampire strength can defeat the being that has taunted her for years. Finally, Risika recovers the brother she thought had died because of Aubrey. Now, one of the strongest vampires in New Mayhem, she begins to find peace in her status as an undead vampire.

Critical Evaluation
This novel is an amazing work of fiction. Written when she was only 13-years-old, Atwater-Rhodes has created a gritty novel from an insider’s perspective. Her character Risika, a loner vampire, is unforgettable. It is difficult to identify Atwater-Rhodes work with any other authors in the same genre.  However, she has stated that she is a fan Laurell K. Hamilton, who wrote the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels.  The earlier novels of Hamilton are unromantic and action packed.  This novel has some of those attributes.  This book is closer in style to Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton), because it is less sentimental in its treatment of the monsters than the more current Twilight (Meyers). While Edward and Bella are claiming eternal love, Risika is busy attempting revenge on the vampire that destroyed her family so long ago. With this character Atwater-Rhodes has added to vampire mythology by allowing her vampire to be a shape shifter. Overall, she has created a startling addition to the canon of recent vampire novels.

Information about the author
Born in 1984, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes currently attends college and plans on becoming a teacher. You can find out more about her here.

Genre
Paranormal, Vampire

Curriculum ties
None. However, this novel should be read by anyone who loves vampire novels.

Challenge Issues
Violence

Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the book and its contents.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on barnesandnobel.com http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-the-Forests-of-the-Night/Amelia-Atwater-Rhodes/e/9780613285377/?itm=3&USRI=in+the+forests+of+the+night
· Try to get reviews of the book from teens that have read it.

Booktalking Ideas
1.  Discuss how Rachel (Risika) became a vampire in 1701.
2.  Talk about how Risika blames her immortal enemy Aubrey for the death of her beloved brother.
3.  Mention that Risika is also a shape-changer, and how she chooses to assume the shape of her beloved tiger.

Reading Level/Age
Young Adult, ages 14 and up.

Why I included this title
This book is included in Teen Genreflecting, 2nd edition (Herald, 2003), as an example of “Paranormal: Vampire Books.”

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

McKinley, Robin. Sunshine.
Berkley Books, 2003.
ISBN: 978-0-425-22401-4
407 pages

Reader's Annotation
Going to the lake alone was dumb, but there hadn’t been any trouble there in years. Until that day when Sunshine was abducted by vampires. 
 
Plot Summary
Sunshine (Rae) Seddon spends her time baking killer desserts until that day by the lake. Abducted by vampires she never expects to survive. Joining forces with a fellow captive, a vampire named Constantine (Con), Sunshine must use her dormant magical powers to help them both escape. First repelled by Cons, Sunshine finds herself increasingly drawn to him. When Sunshine kills a member of the vampire family that captured them with her bare hands, she becomes a target of authorities. Caught between the local cops (SOF) and the vampires, Sunshine must use all her powers to discover the location of the vampires in order to defeat them. If not, the vampires will continue to hunt for Sunshine and Con, and ultimately take over their city.
 
Critical Evaluation
Author Robin McKinley specializes in the fantasy genre, and many of her novels reflect her fairy tale sensibilities. McKinley’s favorite themes (a strong young female protagonist in a beauty and the beast situation) are predominant her novels. Her settings are usually far away and technologically deprived. For this novel, written in 2003, the author has created a post-apocalyptic world for Sunshine, which different from any other novel she has written. The apocalypse in McKinley’s world includes a world war between vampires (and other supernatural creatures) and humans. Told in the first person by “Sunshine” Rae Seddons, the story centers on her work in the family coffee shop as a baker. It is only after Sunshine is abducted that the world beyond the coffee shop begins to come into focus. Sunshine has an original voice with a unique viewpoint and dialect. While her voice is worth reading it is also sometimes very slow going. The reader is thrust into this exciting world with no background knowledge for the terminology or history. This contributes to becoming lost at times. While Sunshine’s language is often difficult to interpret, her vampire companion, Constantine is the opposite. Although very old, Constantine feels contemporary to the reader. Sunshine is snarky, comedic and insightful about her life, and her inherent magic. Constantine is her polar opposite. Together they are magnetic. Although the story is original it has not had the success of later books like Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight, in part due to the difficulty with the jargon, and the lack of background information. This book could be recommended to an older young adult reader who has read the Twilight series, or the Vampire Academy novels, and is ready for an outstanding stand alone vampire-themed novel. 
 
Author Information
Born on November 16, 1952, Jennifer Carolyn Robin Turrell McKinley spent much of her early life traveling the world as a Navy brat.  She currently resides in England.  McKinley won the Newbury Medal for The Hero and the Crown. You can follow her at: http://robinmckinleysblog.com or www.robinmckinley.com.
 
Genre(s)
Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal

Curriculum Ties
English/Reading: This book could be used as a tie in with other vampire fantasy novels like: Twilight, Vampire Academy, or Vampire Diaries.
 
Booktalking Ideas  
1.  Vampire Theme: Discuss how the relationship between Sunshine and Con is complicated. How can a human and vampire become allies?
2.  Baking Theme:  Discuss Sunshine's baking talent and how she creates incredible desserts.  Is cooking related to magic?

Challenge Issues 
Language and sexuality. 

Challenge Defense Ideas

• Become familiar with the book and its content.
• Refer to the collection development policy of the library. 
• Refer to reviews from Booklist, School Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly available for viewing on amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin-McKinley/dp/0425224015/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256704098&sr=8-1
• Try to get reviews from teens who have read the book. 
  

Reading Level/Age
Adult Crossover.  Ages 16 and above.
Why I included this title  
This selection was recommended by Nancy Pearl as a cross over for YA readers at a seminar I attended at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.  It is also included on the 2005 ALA Best Books for Young Adults.