Secret of the Reaping

Starred review from July 4, 2022
Bayron (This Poison Heart) makes her middle grade debut with an inventive suburban vampire mystery. Twenty years after the Reaping saw an end to the undead’s last hive at the hands of the heroic Vanquishers, San Antonio prepares for an anniversary celebration, Vanquisher Appreciation Week. Though most residents believe that the world is now vampire-free, the families of irreverent brown-skinned sixth graders Cedrick, Jules, and Boog—together known as the Squad—aren’t so sure, and they continue to maintain the old ways. They never go outdoors after nightfall, never invite strangers into their homes, and coat every entryway with a homemade garlic-and-silver vampire repellent. Often bullied for their parents’ collective vampire concerns, the Squad yearns for their parents to move on—until new neighbor Aaron goes missing during a school fund-raiser. As their formerly sheltered world closes in and their parents grow more protective and secretive than ever, the Squad sets out to track down their new friend. Combining mythology and science to produce a fresh take on modern vampire lore, Bayron erects a fantastical San Antonio that is as chock-full of personality as each of the story’s characters. Pithy dialogue and sensational description make this a speedy, eerie read. Ages 8–11. Agent: Jamie Vankirk, Rainbow Nerds Literary.

September 15, 2023
A group of middle schoolers is determined to help save their community from the return of vampires in this sequel to The Vanquishers (2022). Despite others' belief that the threat of vampires is over, Boog's parents and their friends, who are Vanquishers, remain vigilant. This proves tricky, since classmate Aaron was bitten and has turned into the creature they are supposed to fear. But the kids are still hanging out with him despite his new condition, and Aaron's mother is working tirelessly to come up with a potion to cure him. School counselor and Vanquisher historian Mr. Rupert, who provides vampire history lessons, thoroughly disapproves, telling Boog that she will inevitably have to "end" Aaron. Meanwhile, Boog's mom is concerned that the vampire who bit Aaron is still at large and likely part of a group. She and the other Vanquishers realize they must share their knowledge, even as they strive to keep their children safe. A string of mysterious disappearances and the unexpected arrival of Casey, who was once part of a group (with Boog's parents) who trained future Vanquishers, fuels the young people's desire to find out what the adults are hiding. A vampire attack that injures one of the dads raises the stakes. This action-packed second volume features lively writing and engaging protagonists. It builds on the exciting series opener while more deeply exploring the relationships among the largely Black and Latine cast members. A riveting follow-up that will delight readers. (Fantasy. 9-13)

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October 1, 2023

Gr 4-8-This second installment in Bayron's "Vanquishers" series picks up where the first book left off. Boog and her friends Cedrick and Jules are now taking classes in Vanquishers history from Mr. Rupert, who doesn't seem any less grumpy, even though his role in the Vanquishers is out in the open now. Their tight-knit community in San Antonio is rallying around Aaron and his mom, and nightly vampire-prevention measures are taken to make sure all the families on their street will stay safe now that vampires are active again. As in the first novel, the heart of this story is the relationships among Boog and her friends, and the intergenerational support system of their parents who were once Vanquishers. The first half of the book is a little slow, with musings about what is going on from Boog and her group, largely kept in the dark by the adults. Just when readers may start to despair over all the secrecy, the action ramps up, with a final reveal that will leave tweens thirsty for the next book. All main characters are coded Black and Latinx. Jules uses they/them pronouns and Cedrick has two dads. VERDICT A solid follow-up that will keep readers invested in this exciting series.-Dana West

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