The Story Siren: Be My Guest Reviewer: Sarah

Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 6:00 AM

Sarah is a teen services librarian in Ohio. She occasionally writes reviews for yalibrarian.com. She also has a book review blog http://curiouserwonderlandchick.blogspot.com/, but admits she needs to update it more often!
__________________________________________________________

Dark Moon Diary Volume 1
Written by Che Gilson
Illustrated by Brett Uher
Rated 13 and up

High school student Priscilla Armitage must move away from sunny California to the European village of Nachtwald when her parents pass away. She quickly learns that Nachtwald is no ordinary place and the relatives she's now living with are not ordinary either: they're vampires! Priscilla must not only adjust to a new high school but also the fact that she is constantly surrounded by vampires, werewolves, and witches. Priscilla's cousin Kitten is at the top of the social pecking order at school, and she and her friends do not appreciate the fact that the newest student in their school is an "entree." Through writing in her diary, Priscilla works through her thoughts and feelings on living in a new place, leaving behind the things she once knew, and being an outsider for the first time.

This is a sweet story that will appeal to teens no matter what genre of manga they typically read. Horror and gothic fantasy fans will appreciate the myriad of preternatural characters while others will be drawn to Priscilla's struggle to fit into her new surroundings. The only downside to this book is rabid readers will want the next volume immediately, but it won't be released until September.
___________________________________________________________

Thanks Sarah for the first Manga review ever on The Story Siren!!

Check back next week for another guest reviewer! Would you like to review a book and be a guest? Email me at thestorysiren@hotmail.com for more information.