From: Donna Scanlon <dscanlon>
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 1997 17:58:38 -0400

It has been a while since I contributed to this list, so I will re-introduce myself. My name is Donna Scanlon, and I'm a children's librarian at the Lancaster County Library. I also buy the YA books, and I have a strong interest in the YA collection.


I bought Blood and Chocolate at ALA and started reading it on the plane. I only emerged to accept food and drink -- it was absolutely engrossing. I have to say that I read it purely for the story, so I can't offer critical analysis, but I was struck by how the main character's experience was both like and unlike a typical adolescent teen. (I'm blocking on the girl's name.) Klause has a delicious command of language -- my only complaint about her is that she writes too slowly! I found it to be entirely satisfying, and I'm eager to see how it goes over here. It's on order right now, but I've been "priming the pump" with The Silver Kiss.

I'd pair this book with Thirsty by M.T. Andersen, which is about a teenaged boy becoming a vampire in a society where vampires are hunted down and destroyed. Again, his change involves a lot of the syptoms of adolescence. It isn't as "elegant" as Blood and Chocolate, but it's equally engrossing.

I want to reread both and see what else arises from beyond the story.

Donna Donna L. Scanlon / dscanlon at lancaster.lib.pa.us / 71796?13 x137 Lancaster County Library 125 N. Duke St. Lancaster PA 17602
"Touch magic. Pass it on." -- Jane Yolen
Received on Thu 28 Aug 1997 04:58:38 PM CDT