My Blood Approves

Gr 9 Up—Amanda Hocking (indie self-publishing author of the "Trylle Trilogy") returns with the first book (CreateSpace, 2010) in another paranormal romance series. Alice, 17, is living an unremarkable life—her mother is distant and never home, her father out of the picture, and her little brother is friendless and dealing with his sexuality—until she meets Jack. Handsome and charming, Jack seems attracted to her. When he takes her home to meet his family, she falls wildly for his brother, Peter, who doesn't seem to be able to stand the sight of her. It takes Alice much longer than listeners to realize that the brothers are vampires. In a matter of weeks, Alice's life changes completely. Passive Alice hardly questions why her blood is so intoxicating to Jack and Peter, the feasibility of being caught in a vampire romantic triangle, or that she will probably become a vampire herself. The story is read capably by Hannah Friedman. Three sequels and a related novella are also available. Give this to "Twilight" fans.—Julie Paladino, East Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, NC