MAY 2014 - AudioFile
Narrator Julia Whelan draws out the most interesting facets of each character in this vampire story. Mel has lived in a town founded by vampires her whole life, but it’s not until teen vampire Francis begins to attend her high school that Mel realizes how uncomfortable she is with living amongst the undead. As Mel fights to keep her friend Cathy from becoming a vampire, tries to ferret out her principal’s dark secret, and struggles with feelings for a boy, Whelan keeps each character distinct. She uses varying cadences and succeeds with both British and French accents as needed. Young vampire lovers will be thoroughly entertained. J.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
Larbalestier (Liar) and Brennan (the Demon’s Lexicon trilogy) affectionately poke fun at vampire tropes and, in the process, create a memorable story about love, prejudice, and the lengths to which people will go in service of both. High school senior Mel Duan is not impressed when a 150-year old vampire (who looks like a teenager and talks like a 19th-century poet) enrolls in her school. Sure, New Whitby, Maine, is known for its large vampire population, but the vamps and humans keep to their own. Mel finds Francis merely annoying until her best friend Cathy falls for him and decides to become a vampire herself, at which point Mel shifts into full-blown protective mode. This smart and entertaining novel—part Nancy Drew with vampires, part thoughtful and provocative story about assumptions—fully blooms in the second half. Themes of honest friendship and freedom of choice mix with zombies, accidental romance, a diverse and complex cast, and sharply funny dialogue to create a thoroughly enjoyable read with a core of unexpected depth. Ages 13–up. Agents: (for Larbalestier) Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management; (for Brennan) Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency. (July)
Maureen Johnson
Funny, scary, touching, and thoughtful in ways you’d never expect: if you love vampire books, this is the book for you—if you hate vampire books, this is also the book for you.
Rachel Caine
I could not be more a fan of this book than if I had a TEAM HUMAN cheerleader outfit ... brilliant, funny, sharply emotional!
Claudia Gray
No matter what team you’re on, there are characters here you’ll cheer for. Suspense, humor, and romance: Team Human has it all!
The Horn Book
Team Human is both fearsome and funny, a fresh entry in the popular genre.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The perfect blend of humor, heart, brains (braaaaaaaainssss?) and thrills.
Cory Doctorow
Incredibly fresh and original—and absolutely charming.
Booklist
A witty, comedic parody that adds a fresh idea to the teen vampire novel trend.
Booklist
A witty, comedic parody that adds a fresh idea to the teen vampire novel trend.
The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books
The perfect blend of humor, heart, brains (braaaaaaaainssss?) and thrills.
MAY 2014 - AudioFile
Narrator Julia Whelan draws out the most interesting facets of each character in this vampire story. Mel has lived in a town founded by vampires her whole life, but it’s not until teen vampire Francis begins to attend her high school that Mel realizes how uncomfortable she is with living amongst the undead. As Mel fights to keep her friend Cathy from becoming a vampire, tries to ferret out her principal’s dark secret, and struggles with feelings for a boy, Whelan keeps each character distinct. She uses varying cadences and succeeds with both British and French accents as needed. Young vampire lovers will be thoroughly entertained. J.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
Both lovers and loathers of teen vampire romance will revel in this hilarious satirical take on the genre. Mel might not exactly have her own life sorted out, but she's always been there for her BFFs, Cathy and Anna. She indulges Cathy's passion for history, ruins and old things in general; that is, until Francis Duvarney enrolls in their high school. Vampires may be both dead and deadly, but they are also a legally tolerated minority and even tourist attractions--and Francis, with his mesmerizing good looks and stuffy arrogance, is irresistible to an old-fashioned girl like Cathy. Meanwhile, Anna sees Francis as an unbearable reminder of the collapse of her parents' marriage. Mel knows her duty to both of them: prove that Francis is up to no good, whether the clues lead her into the city's terrifying vampire district, the school's rat-infested basement, or even the arms of a cute guy. While primarily an affectionate parody of the genre, filled with clever allusions and devastating snark, the story also sympathetically illuminates the allure of vampire romance, for characters and readers alike. In an unexpectedly poignant turn, it becomes a celebration of love in all its forms: crushes and spouses, parents and children, brothers and sisters, families born and created, and, above all, friends tested and true. Laugh-out-loud funny, heart-wrenchingly sad and fist-pump-in-the-air triumphant, this sparkling gem proves that vampires, zombies and even teenagers … at heart, we're all on Team Human. (Fantasy. 12 & up.)
