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jrosenstein 's review for:
Blood and Chocolate
by Annette Curtis Klause
There seems to be a trend among young adult authors to re-work classic horror stories. In Peeps Scott Westerfeld puts a new spin on vampire stories, and Annette Curtis Klause offers her take on werewolves in Blood and Chocolate. The werewolves in Blood and Chocolate are not blood-thirsty animals; they are a tight-knit extended family with strict rules about not hunting humans. Vivian, the main character, is a teenage girl who loves being loup-garou, or werewolf. To her and her pack being a werewolf is not a curse but a gift, and they pity humans for only having one form.
However, occasionally werewolves do get out of control. The pack's home, a remote inn in the mountains of West Virginia, is burned down by suspicious neighbors when one of the pack kills a human in town. Vivian's father, the pack leader, is killed in the blaze. After the fire the pack moves to the Maryland suburbs, where Vivian starts dating a meat-boy (a human), Aiden despite the disapproval of the rest of her pack. Vivian longs to reveal herself to Aiden, but fears she would be endangering the rest of the pack. Meanwhile, the werewolves struggle to hold together in the aftermath of the fire and find a new leader strong enough to shepherd them into a new life.
The book has plenty of action and is likely to appeal to teenagers. Despite the magical elements, in some ways this is a coming of age story. Teenagers will be able to identify with Vivian's struggles with her mother, her fight to decide who and what she wants to be, and the many fears and challenges that characterize the transition between child and adult. A word to the wise- this is not really a book for middle school. Though it's not explicit, the entire book absolutely reeks of sex. I have never read a book so drenched in sexual energy. The werewolves are more open about sex and Vivian's decisions about sex form many of the major plot points.
I definitely recommend this book for 9th grade and up. The unique premise and fast-moving storyline (not to mention the sex-soaked atmosphere) are sure to capture and keep their attention
However, occasionally werewolves do get out of control. The pack's home, a remote inn in the mountains of West Virginia, is burned down by suspicious neighbors when one of the pack kills a human in town. Vivian's father, the pack leader, is killed in the blaze. After the fire the pack moves to the Maryland suburbs, where Vivian starts dating a meat-boy (a human), Aiden despite the disapproval of the rest of her pack. Vivian longs to reveal herself to Aiden, but fears she would be endangering the rest of the pack. Meanwhile, the werewolves struggle to hold together in the aftermath of the fire and find a new leader strong enough to shepherd them into a new life.
The book has plenty of action and is likely to appeal to teenagers. Despite the magical elements, in some ways this is a coming of age story. Teenagers will be able to identify with Vivian's struggles with her mother, her fight to decide who and what she wants to be, and the many fears and challenges that characterize the transition between child and adult. A word to the wise- this is not really a book for middle school. Though it's not explicit, the entire book absolutely reeks of sex. I have never read a book so drenched in sexual energy. The werewolves are more open about sex and Vivian's decisions about sex form many of the major plot points.
I definitely recommend this book for 9th grade and up. The unique premise and fast-moving storyline (not to mention the sex-soaked atmosphere) are sure to capture and keep their attention