Uninvited
Marrone’s character-driven novel uses the vampire curse as a metaphor for the difficult issues teens grapple with in high school—drug addiction, bulimia, alcoholism—all of which figure prominently in this story. Jordain, a smart, talented girl cursed with low self-esteem and absentee parents, turns toward alcohol and sexual flings to cope—until her behavior and her ex-boyfriend (a vampire) come back to haunt her. Fear of her undead ex curtails after-school or after-hours shenanigans, forcing her to reflect on the poor choices she has been making. In expected fashion, Jordain’s inner turmoil and conflicts with her parents and friends are resolved, but the book will still pull a chunk of  readers whose tastes run to stereotypical high-school dramas and vampire-boyfriend stories. For a slightly different take on vampires, send readers to Stephenie Meyer’s vampire-romance novels. Grades 7-10. --Rebecca Jensen