I picked up this book because it was recommended through the Common Sense Media website. (For their Halloween read column.) In part I wanted to see the degree to which the Common Sense
Media recommendations were actually good quality literature. I'm happy to report that I think this book
deserves glowing recommendations. It is
indeed a of paranormal romance/fantasy book.
However, I found the characterizations but nuanced and the plot line
intriguing.
The stories set in New Whitby, a vampire/human city founded
in the 1800s when a vampire ship landed to establish a community where vampires
could be free from persecution and discrimination. It is essentially a city like any of the other
but cities in the original Colonies.
There are some unique characteristics including antidiscrimination
regulations assuring that vampires and humans have equal rights. However, it quickly becomes clear that the
vampire and human populations are for the most part mutually exclusive. They do live together peacefully for the most
part.
Larbalestier & Brennan have done a masterful job of imagining
the complexities of the vampires and humans coexisting. This is not just a YA takeoff on True Blood . It does echo some of the themes that Charlaine
Harris has introduced in her Sookie Stackhouse series, however there is clearly
enough difference that Team Human avoids
imitation. The authors are quite
explicit and acknowledgement of the contributions of other vampire literature
including Anne Rice, Stephen King, Richelle Mead, Stephanie Meyer, Bram Stoker,
Scott Westerfield and a long list of other well-known writers who have also
composed in this genre. (In fact they have created a reading list for me.)
Two themes that I find particularly compelling in this book
are those of the qualities of true friendship and what true love looks like in
practice.
