Sweetblood
by Pete Hautman

    SWEETBLOOD by Pete Hautman
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  8/10/04
    Publisher:  Simon Pulse
    Reviewed by:  Jocelyn Pearce
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Lucy Szabo is diabetic, and that’s led her to think up some interesting theories about vampires. Lucy believes that
    vampire legends were inspired by dying diabetics--the uncontrollable thirst, the deathlike appearance.

    When Lucy gets involved with an interesting crowd--including a “real” vampire, a cute boy from school, and a
    bunch of burnout Goths--she starts to lose control of her life. She’s sneaking out at night, her grades are
    plummeting rapidly, and she passes out at school because of an insulin reaction. Lucy’s life is falling apart, and only
    she can pull the pieces back together again.

    SWEETBLOOD is definitely an interesting novel, and very original. It’s interesting in terms of Lucy’s theories and
    in terms of how vampire legends started, but also just as a personal story, as the story of Lucy’s life. There are
    good, intriguing characters throughout the novel, it’s quite well-written, and very much worth reading.