The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto

I was introduced to author Michelle Muto and her books on Twitter.  I will eventually review her other book, but Ms. Muto herself advised me to start with The Book of Lost Souls after I told her I needed something funny to read.  If you are/were a fan of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," then this is definitely the book for you.  Teen witch Ivy MacTavish and her paranormal pals get involved in some magical mayhem and then find themselves in a struggle to save the world--no big deal. The Book of Lost Souls is as funny as it is suspenseful and won't disappoint.


Title: The Book of Lost Souls
Author: Michelle Muto
Pages: 288
Publisher: Independent
ISBN: 9781466463219
Publication Date: March 6, 2011
AR Levels:  N/A
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13291148-the-book-of-lost-souls

In a nutshell:  Teen witch Ivy MacTavish makes an interesting date choice for a Halloween dance when she decides to turn a friend's lizard into her very own college guy--Spike; however, her plan comes unraveled when Spike acts less than humanly at the dance and everyone finds out what she's done, even the guy of her dreams--Dean--and the bad boy she can't stand--Nick.  Her band of friends, which includes a brother/sister pair of werewolves and a brother/sister pair of vampires, help her try to pick up the pieces and also make amends for her actions.  While cleaning up a cemetery with her friends, Ivy finds a pair of magic-related books that she believes were hidden by her father, a notorious outlaw known for dark magic who left Ivy and her mom years earlier.  When a murder spree breaks out in her town, Ivy knows that she not only has a connection to what's going on but also that she must do what she can to stop it.  Along the way, she wants to win Dean, but demon Nick  becomes infatuated with her.  Can she stop the dark magic that's plaguing her town, or will she or one of her loved ones become the next victim? And what will she have to risk along the way?  Read to find out!

I'd recommend it for grades: 8-12+

I'd recommend it to:  anyone who loves books about witches, werewolves, and vampires, as well as anyone who enjoys a good paranormal laugh.  

What I liked most about this book:  This book includes character types that we've seen in other fantasy books, but those other books don't include the hipness and suspense that this book brings to the table.  This book isn't Harry Potter or Twilight, and I found that very refreshing!!

Single favorite moment (without getting spoiler-y):  One of my favorite moments occurs early in the book when Ivy's werewolf friends' senile uncle crashes the dance gnawing on a human bone he dug up from the cemetery.  It was definitely a laugh-out-loud moment for me!

Star rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): I'm going to say 4 stars.  The Book of Lost Souls is a very quick read that will keep you guessing until the end!  I'm looking forward to much more from Michelle Muto!

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Book 1) by Heather Brewer

Greetings, all.  I pondered over which book I would review first and finally narrowed it down to two that I read recently.  My first choice (which I’ll save for later) also dealt with the topic of bullying, so instead I’ll introduce you to a series that revolves around another popular topic—vampires!  Don’t get me wrong—I was very hesitant to jump on the vampire bandwagon, but a teacher friend of mine recommended Heather Brewer’s The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod to me.  Vladimir Tod is not exactly your everyday teen—the son of a vampire dad and a human mom, Vlad just wants to fit in at his school in Bathory.  The series includes 5 books with one for each grade from 8^th to 12^th (similar to the Harry Potter series).  Obviously, you’ll want to start with the first book, Eighth Grade Bites.

Title: Eighth Grade Bites
Author: Heather Brewer 
Pages: 172
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books
ISBN: 9780525478119 
Publication Date: August 16, 2007 
AR Levels:  Interest Level--6th+; Book Level--5.4; Points--7.0
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/530848.Eighth_Grade_Bites

In a nutshell: Vlad seems like the typical 8th grade boy. He has a pair of bullies on his tail, a principal who watches him like a hawk, and a best friend who has the hots for the girl of Vlad’s dreams; what most people don’t know, though, is that Vlad’s a vampire and that he’s living with his aunt after his parents’ mysterious death. On top of the Junior High mayhem and his own secrets, Vlad’s favorite teacher goes missing and the creepy sub informs him that he knows Vlad’s true identity, although Vlad himself doesn’t actually know much about being a vampire. All he wants to do is blend in, but now he must protect his secret and solve the mystery surrounding his teacher, all while trying to pass and survive 8th grade. . . which is no easy task! Now, don’t think this is just another knockoff of Twilight—Eighth Grade Bites has moments that are downright hilarious and others that will have you on the edge of your seat. This is a quick read that will leave you wondering what can possibly happen next!

I’d Recommend It for Grades: 6th + (The first book is the tamest of the series, but the content matures with Vlad.)

I’d Recommend It To: Anyone who’s felt different or who’s carried a big secret and fans of other fantasy series like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. Also, I would recommend it to anyone who likes books about vampires, but especially to those not on the Twilight train (In the 5th book, Vlad notes that “Vampires, after all, don’t sparkle.”)

What I Liked Most About This Book: Vlad may be a vampire, but the author presents him as a typical teenager; he and the other characters in the book seem like people who you might actually encounter walking down the halls of a school. The book isn’t overly dramatic but, instead, includes just the right amount of teen angst, drama, humor, and suspense.

Single Favorite Moment (without getting spoiler-y): I’m a sucker for a good pun, so I thought one conversation between Vlad and his substitute teacher Mr. Otis was downright funny. Mr. Otis keeps asking personal questions to Vlad and tells him that the answers are his business, to which Vlad responds, “Well, pardon the pun, Mr. Otis, but you can bite me.”

Star Rating (where 5 stars is awesome and 0 stars is atrocious): I’m giving this one a 4.

***Side Note: If you like this series, Brewer is working on a spin-off series based on one of the characters you'll meet in Book 2. (Review pending!)***