The Society of S

Joyce Bean's vocal range is well suited to Hubbard's intriguing coming-of-age story. Ari Montero's family history is puzzling, to say the least. Her father was "vampirized" shortly before her parents' marriage, and her mother vanished on the day she was born. Bean uses a lilting tone and bright timbre to reflect Ari and easily distinguishes the various teenagers and adults who are part of her world. Bean's well-paced characterization of Ari's adolescent uncertainty is empathetic and sensitive. When Ari embarks on a picaresque journey to locate her mother, listeners will be entranced by the well-plotted mystery and enchanted by Bean's vivacious delivery. S.C.A. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

February 12, 2007
Identity issues involving a child of mixed heritage get a supernatural spin in this affecting coming-of-age tale. Ariella Montero's mother vanished the day she was born, leaving her to the care of her overprotective scientist father, who homeschools her and limits her contact with the outside world. Only when she reaches adolescence does Ari discover that her special diet and insular home life set her apart from her peers. Her father's confession that he was vampirized shortly before marriage, and that Ari can choose whether to be undead like him or mortal like mom, set her off on a road trip that eventually brings her to her mother and into an understanding of tough truths about her family. Hubbard (Walking on Ice
) delineates Ari's world of innocent and uncertain adolescence with uncommon poignance and forgoes sensationalism for sensitivity in her depiction of vampirism as one of many emotionally charged challenges Ari faces as a child of estranged parents. She doesn't do much original with the vampire theme, but the novel's open ending suggests inevitable sequels where this may develop further. Author tour.

April 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-Ariella Montero leads a sheltered and quiet life in this novel (S & S, 2007) by Susan Hubbard. She is homeschooled by her scientist father, and her basic needs are seen to by Mrs. McGarritt, the housekeeper. After Ariella begins to spend time with the McGarritt family, she realizes that her austere life is really very different. She wonders about her mother, who disappeared the day she was born. Ariella presses her father to tell her more about their lives, and learns that he is a vampireand she might be one as well. The girl sets out alone on a cross-county trip to find her mother. Ariella discovers her true self on this journey which ends at her mother's home in Florida. Vampirism is not sensationalized in this tale, but is treated as another one of Ariella's challenges in life. Narrator Joyce Bean reads the entries in Ariella's journal. She doesn't seem comfortable with the storyAriella's voice is unconvincing and the narrator's inflection is too mature for a young teenager. At times the reading of the journal passages seems stilted and too reserved. The author covers no new ground in vampire lore, but for teens who are drawn to vampire tales, this is a strong coming-of-age story combined with the supernatural."Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN"

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