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The Society of S -
Susan Hubbard.
Publisher description
Sample text
New York : Simon & Schuster, c2007.
304 p. ; 25 cm.
Reviews:
- Ann Welton (VOYA, October 2007 (Vol. 30, No. 4))
Ariella Montero has had an unusual upbringing. Raised in a distinctly Victorian house in Saratoga Springs, New York, she has been home schooled by her father and his assistant, Dennis. Her father works from home and is extremely protective of her in a distant way, telling her that her bland diet (cooked with generally unappetizing results by Mrs. McGarrity, the housekeeper-cum-nanny) is to prevent her developing the lupus that affects him. Ariella is plagued by strange dreams and unanswered questions about her mother, who disappeared shortly after Ariella's birth. She exists in this pinafored, intellectual, mysterious state, however, until she turns twelve, and Mrs. McGarrity unexpectedly revolts. Telling her employer in no uncertain terms that Ariella is missing out on a normal childhood, Mrs. McGarrity takes the girl to her home, where Ariella meets Kathleen, her first friend, and Michael, her first love interest. These contacts with the "outside world" prove catalytic, as Kathleen falls for Ariella's mysteriously handsome father with disastrous results and Ariella insists on some answers-and eventually a reunion with her mother in Homosassa Springs, Florida. It also wrenches from her father the truth about their situation: that they are vampires. As much bildungsroman as vampire saga, this unusual tale presents vampirism as a condition that can be controlled using modern science (supplements and sunscreen). The presentation of vampires as a group within society, moving and shifting to escape human prejudice and notice for their excessively long lives and seemingly perpetual youth, is original and intriguing. The characterization is sound for the most part, although Ariella's relationship with her mother is just too good to be true. Still this quibble is small in a generally atmospheric tale that is part surrealist dream, part On the Road, and features prose that is almost mesmerically beautiful at times. With a sequel in the works and an attractively mysterious cover, it will appeal to vampire fans, romance enthusiasts, and readers of serious fiction. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P J S A/YA (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 2007, Simon & Schuster, 320p., $25. Ages 12 to Adult. Subjects:
- Vampires Fiction.
Horror fiction.
Humorous fiction.
| Language | Call Number | LCCN | Dewey Decimal | ISBN/ISSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (eng) | PS3558.U215 S63 2007 |
2006051265 |
813/.54 |
9781416534570 1416534571 |