Review: Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

 

Authors: Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan

Genre: Young Adult – Parody

Pages: 352

Publisher: Allen & Unwin - Harper Teen

Amazon: Team Human

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan was kindly provided to me by Allen & Unwin.

Craunston High School senior Mel Duan isn’t a fan of Vampires, she has never associated with them and has never wanted to but things change when her best friend Cathy becomes infatuated with a newcomer to their school, Francis who Mel is convinced is shifty.

Team Human follows the story of Mel trying to help Cathy understand the consequences of falling in love with Francis and her decision to become a vampire by proving Francis is up to no good as well as investigating the disappearance of another friend, Anna’s father who is believed to have run off with a vamp but they suspect otherwise; It was a fun-filled storyline that kept me turning the pages, I loved the mystery of it all.

Mel was a great main character, she was snarky, flawed but believable she was also absolutely hilarious in such a dry way and I adored her loyalty to her family and friends.

The secondary cast of characters were wonderful! I adored Kit; I thought he was the sweetest, so oblivious to the human ways since he was raised by vampires but he was a perfect match for Mel; I loved Cathy who although smitten with Francis was intelligent and loyal, Jared was great and Camille, Francis and the other Vampires within Kit’s shade were also great additions to this story.

This book is the very first parody I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor, the sarcasm and the lightness of it, the authors have written an entertaining read that on numerous occasions had me giggling but the more serious side also kept me riveted.

Ms. Larbalestier & Ms. Rees Brennan make a wonderful writing team; it is cleverly written, was a load of laughs and caught me completely by surprise.

Overall, if you are looking for something a little on the lighter side then Team Human is for you; I thought it was a great story of consequences and great friendships.