A Small Charred Face

Starred review from September 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* In this lyrical, character-centered fable, three separate yet irrevocably linked stories relate a panoramic, heartbreakingly beautiful tale about the lives of the Bamboo, Chinese vampires living in exile in Japan. The Bamboo live about 100 years, feed only on the already dead, and are ruled by a king and a strict set of laws, the most important of which is to never associate with humans. Kyo, a young boy whose family is murdered by the Yakuza but is rescued by a kindhearted Bamboo, tells the first story, recounting his years being raised by two vampires who want nothing more than to protect his flame. Next is Marika, a Bamboo turned as a teen, who befriends the human Kyo during his high-school years and becomes inextricably linked to him. Finally, we go back in time to hear the story of the two royal teen vampires who saved their brethren and helped them escape to Japan. While the vampire frame is central to the plot, the novel is quiet, with little violence. Though horror in a sense, this is mostly a thoughtful coming-of-age tale about familial love and life with all of its blessings and hardships, related in an authentic voice. A compelling tale perfect for those craving something other than the usual fairy-tale retellings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)