Bella and the Vampire (Shiver-by-the-Sea, Book 1) by Erin Dionne, illustrated by Jenn Harney. Pixel+Ink, 2023. 9781645951674 Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3 Format: Hardcover Genre: Mystery What did you like about the book?  Following her parents’ divorce, Bella Gosi is not thrilled to be uprooted from her New York City apartment to start a new life with her mother in the slightly strange and quite tiny Massachusetts town of Shiver-by-the-Sea.  They will be living with Bella’s Uncle Van, a magician whose tricks seem to be infused with actual magic.  ..read more

Belle Morte by Bella Higgin. Wattpad Books, 2022. 9781989365892 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 2 Format: ARC (anticipated publication 4/5/22) Genre: Romance/supernatural What did you like about the book?  In Renie’s world, vampires are A-list celebrities, living in magnificent mansions with their pick of blood “donors” who vie to enter their world. Her sister June entered the Belle Morte house and seemed happy at first, but then disappeared (communication is limited to old-fashioned snail mail). Renie hates the idea of being a donor, but wants to find June, and so jo ..read more

Glory on Ice: A Vampire Hockey Story by Maureen Fergus, illustrated by Mark Fearing. Alfred A. Knopf, 9781524714512, 2020 Format: Hardcover Rating:  1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Genre: Picture book What did you like about the book? This is a funny sports picture book. Vlad the vampire decides he wants to play hockey, but is surprised to find that it is actually hard work, despite having purchased the equipment and watched it on TV! Eventually he learns that lots of practice, teamwork, and friendship are more important. The lesson of the story is clear, and the solid stor ..read more

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire (9781536233322) / Vlad el vampirito fabuloso (9781536233339) by Flavia Z. Drago. Spanish translation by the author. Candlewick Press, 2023. Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Hardcover picture book What did you like about the book? Vlad is a stylish vampire whose passion is fashion. He dresses all in black, as all of the most elegant paranormal vampires do. But, Vlad has a secret…under his stylish outfits, his cheeks are PINK! Hiding his cheeks behind elaborate costumes eventually becomes tiring, so he sadly decides to go off on his ow ..read more

Ham Helsing: Raising the Stakes by Rich Moyer. RH Graphic, 2023. 9780593308998 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover graphic novel Genre: Horror/humor What did you like about the book? Ham’s dad opens the book from his coffin, swearing that he is back to vanquish the “vampirish fiends” that elude him. The tone is more humorous than scary, though, as he cannot remember the name of his less favored son, Ham. When we get to Ham, he is drafting a love letter to his compatriot Ronin, and it’s clear that he is not following in his dad’s footsteps as a fearsome ..read more

In Nightfall by Suzanne Young. Delacorte Press, 2023. 9780593487587 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3.5 Format: ARC (publication date 3/28/23) Genre: Horror/supernatural What did you like about the book?  This supernatural mystery opens with Theo, brother Marco, and their newly divorced dad on the road from sunny Arizona to Nightfall, Oregon. They’ve never visited their dad’s hometown or met their paternal grandma Nonna before and aren’t thrilled about relocating for the summer. At first things seem OK; the town is beautiful and fully stocked with hot teens who love t ..read more

Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown. Disney Rick Riordian Presents/Disney Hyperion, 2022. 9781368066365 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Hardcover Genre:  Fantasy What did you like about the book? 12-year-old Serwa Boateng has the coolest life ever: She hunts the adze, vampiric beings from Ghana who suck human blood and possess our bodies, but appear as tiny, harmless fireflies. With her mother and father as the greatest Slayers in the world, Serwa is armed with powerful weapons and ancient Ghanaian magic, always ready for the hunt ..read more

Vampiric Vacation by Kiersten White. Delacorte Press, 2022. 9780593379080 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover Genre: Fantasy/adventure/mystery What did you like about the book?  In Book Two of the Sinister Summer series, the Sinister-Winterbottom twins Theo (female, brave, active) and Alex (male, cautious, resourceful) are once again cast adrift by their enigmatic Aunt Saffronia, who deposits them unceremoniously at the Sanguine Spa (still accompanied by their adopted older sister and cellphone devotee Mel). At first glance, the facilities seem right u ..read more

Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan, Little Island Books, c2021, 2022. 9781915071019  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3 Format: Hardcover novel-in-verse Genre: Fantasy/Romance What did you like about the book? Immy is a vampire and she is in love.  She knows she has been in love before, she remembers much from her previous lives.  But she has always been supplied with blood from her family of Henry and Freddie.  Her new love, Claudia, however, will let Immy drink her blood. The story is told in first person, poignant and reflective. Anything you did not like about ..read more

Vampenguin – written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. Atheneum Books, Simon & Schuster, 2021. 9781534466982 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover Genre: Picture book What did you like about the book?  The Dracula family has planned a Saturday at the zoo (in fact, it looks like the Central Park Zoo). Mom does not seem to be a vampire, but she does rock thigh-high black boots and cat-eyed sunglasses. Dad, Big Brother, and Baby all sport widow’s peaks and capes. An unattended door in the Penguin House leads to a mix-up; Baby ends up in the exhibit ..read more