The Knaveheart's Curse: A Vampire Island Story

It didn't hit me until after I wrote my review of the first book, Vampire Island, but the Livingstones are totally a 70s sitcom family like The Munsters or the Adaams Family. Yes, I know they're supposed to be fruit-bat vegetarian hybrid humans, but going into this series that's really what you need to know. They're like those kooky families, but while dealing with the tough enough issues of trying to fit in they also have to deal with real dangers connected to the nature of being who they are. In this book that danger happens to be a "curse" that could hit a bit too close to home. Along the way Maddy is up to her old tricks, well new ones really as there are no vampire neighbors left to stalk this time around. Lexie, she's managed to end up even more tragic than usual. Hudson, well he's here, but well he's just Hudson. Pete finally gets to show off his true self. And much like the first book it feels as though the major dramatic showdown scene is rushed through, still it sort of works as these crazy creatures would probably do things rather quickly even if it makes the book's big scene feel a little anticlimactic. That said, I liked it enough that I'm onto the next.

My daughter and I read this story together about Maddy and her family. It was a light and entertaining look at friendship with a vegetarian vampire twist. A fun read. Even our teenager enjoyed a quick read.

Reviewed by Neha Kashmiri (age 13) for Reader Views (7/08) Fans waiting for a sequel to the first Vampire Island book will not be disappointed by the second installment in the series, "The Knaveheart's Curse." Maddy and her family are fruit-bat vampire hybrids living in New York. They hope that by living a blood-free life they can truly become humans. I haven't read the first book so I won't pretend to be an expert on Maddy, Lexie and Hudson. From what I gather, the first book follows all three children. "The Knaveheart's Curse," however, is centered on Maddy. Maddy has zero social graces and a love for mildew so it's not hard to see why she has zero friends. Most eleven-year-olds don't have much in common with her. The day she blackmails sweet Dakota Underhill to be her friend for just one day changes a lot. On the day they were supposedly meant to be friends, the leader of the most vicious gang of Old World vamps, the Knavehearts, came to town. And the leader is here for none other than Lexie, Maddy's older dead-poet-obsessed sister. Maddy has to save her sister with the help of Hudson and, surprisingly, Dakota Underhill. Her only problem is which one is the evil Old World vampire and which one is her sister? Maddy takes on an evil much bigger than herself, with help from her brother, friend, unlikely allies, and a new cape. Oh, and that Box of Disgusting should come in handy too. "The Knaveheart's Curse" is a short and funny story by Adele Griffin. I can't help but think of mini-Goths every time I think of it. Hudson doesn't do much except freak out Old-World-style and then help a little at the end. Dakota is an unlikely but useful ally. All in all, it's a funny and enjoyable book that gives yet another new set of vampires and vampire lore to love and remember with fondness.