Hearts & Other Body Parts

January 9, 2017
Debut novelist Bloom combines classic monster story tropes and characters with a modern high school setting in this clever if uneven comedy. Esme, Katy, and Ronnie Silver hail from a long line of witches, but their sisterly bond is broken when two very different boys enter their lives. The first is Franklin Norman Stein (yes, Frank N. Stein), who goes by Norm; a highly intelligent boy with acromegaly and various cancers, Norm has been reassembled in true Frankensteinian fashion after being cryogenically frozen by his genius father. The second boy is Zack Kallas, a vampire in search of new blood. All three Silver sisters fall for Zack, jealousy overtakes them, and they set about sabotaging each other’s chances with him via hexes and spells. Little do they realize that winning Zack’s heart means becoming lunch for Zack and his master, the Ancient One. Though the setup in this monster mashup is as slow as Norm’s shuffling gait, the story picks up as tongue-in-cheek humor and sharp-edged dialogue create spiky interactions among Bloom’s supernatural teenage cast. Ages 14–up.

December 1, 2016
Franklin N. "Norm" Stein, a scarred teen with acromegaly, starts at a new school where he meets a trio of sisters who are witches and helps them escape the thrall of two vampires. Tongue-in-cheek humor abounds in this clash of monsters set at a modern high school. Bright, diligent Esme initially falls for hulking Norm despite his outlandish appearance, until preternaturally handsome Zack Kallas arrives with his father and claims the affections of not just Esme, but also her sisters, Katy and Veronica, causing a rift. At the same time, girls begin to go missing, and Esme learns more and more about Kasha, a talking cat who has been a familiar in her family for ages. Teens with a bent toward silliness will be best poised to appreciate the campy humor and fun wordplay of this novel. At times its cleverness overshadows character development, though Norm and Esme are a likable pair. A secondary character who eventually comes out as gay feels stereotypical with his proclamations of "girlfriend" and "fabulous." All of the main characters seem to be white; Norm is Jewish, as is the arch villain, who spouts "Yiddish invective" in the final face-off. A reworking of some classic stories that will entertain its readers even if it doesn't stay with them very long. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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March 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-Esmeralda "Esme" Silver has a pretty good life. She has two great younger sisters named Katy and Veronica, is on track to attend Stanford when she graduates, and is a practicing witch. Esme becomes fascinated when a monstrous boy named Norman moves to town. She is challenged by his intellect and wit, and the two become fast friends. That is, until Zach Kallas moves to town. He catches the eye of both Katy and Veronica, and Esme falls prey to his charms as well. The only problem? Zach is a vampire with a habit of killing girls who develop feelings for him. Norm struggles to bring Esme to her senses, but will he be too late? This debut novel attempts to modernize and update characters such as Frankenstein and Dracula by changing their names, turning them into teenagers, and placing them in a high school setting. Unfortunately, the dialogue is confusing, with many attempts at humor that fall short. Even more confounding is the inclusion of Esme's "demon cat," Kasha, her "familiar" who speaks English aloud and has served the Silver family for generations. As the story progresses, Kasha's speech and intent are never truly made clear. The cat is obviously an attempt at comic relief that just doesn't land on its feet. VERDICT A supplemental purchase for collections that need additional horror titles.-Ryan P. Donovan, Southborough Public Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 The influence of classic gothic horror novels is clear in this modern-day first novel, which gathers three witch sisters, a Frankenstein's monster, and vampires in an American high-school setting. Witch sisters Esmeralda, Veronica, and Katy befriend gentle, ugly giant Norman, whose Frankensteinian origins are definitely weird and a wonder of modern science and medicine. Complicating their simple, everyday lives is the arrival of vampire Zack, caretaker for the mysterious Ancient One. The undead boy stirs up unrest between the sisters, who begin using their powers for the first time in many years, hexing and spelling themselves and one another in various wild ways. Even worse is the enmity between Norman and Zack, who find themselves immediately at odds. This is Monster High for the YA set: the fun kind of scary with a little bit of romance and a healthy dose of humor mixed in. It may not sound like it should work, but it does and is sure to hook readers with ease.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)