A Taste for Red
Creepy, funny vampire mystery is a page-turner.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this vampire read for middle graders is pretty mild for the genre. The violence is gore-free: a kidnapping, an almost-poisoning, someone falls out a window and breaks his arm, and an attempt to kill a vampire.
Community Reviews
Great for Tweens
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Wonderful Book! Perfect for Tweens!
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What's the Story?
Svetlana Grimm is a new student at Sunny Hill middle school. Previously homeschooled, she finds herself in 6th grade where the classes are boring and the kids are friendly -- which is unfortunate because she wants to be a loner. She believes she is a vampire and soon finds herself involved in a mystery along with her neighbor, Ms. Bones, and her science teacher, Ms. Larch. When three of her classmates disappear and she discovers her true gift, she has to grow up quickly and figure out a way to help.
Is It Any Good?
A TASTE FOR RED is a very quick, entertaining read. The mystery goes along at a good pace and kids will be excited to see how it all turns out. Creepy and funny, Svetlana's Sunny Hill middle school will remind readers of Buffy Summers' Sunnydale high school. It's always great to see a female protagonist and Svetlana doesn't let us down.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about making new friends. Why did Svetlana start out rejecting her classmates' attempts at friendship?
Svetlana said, "I remember reading somwehere that the things you find to criticize in others are really the things you wish to improve in yourself." Do you think that's true? Have you ever had that experience?
Book Details
- Author: Lewis Harris
- Genre: Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Clarion Books
- Publication date: June 15, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 176
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
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Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
Exciting vampire tale sucks in reluctant readers.
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Vampire Island
Middle school vampire read all angst and no bite.
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Demons of the Ocean: Vampirates, Book 1
Vamp/pirate mashup is intermittently exciting.
For kids who love fantasy and humor
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