Team Human

Starred review from May 28, 2012
Larbalestier (Liar) and Brennan (the Demon’s Lexicon trilogy) affectionately poke fun at vampire tropes and, in the process, create a memorable story about love, prejudice, and the lengths to which people will go in service of both. High school
senior Mel Duan is not impressed when a 150-year old vampire (who looks like a teenager and talks like a 19th-century poet) enrolls in her school. Sure, New Whitby, Maine, is known for its large vampire population, but the vamps and humans keep to their own. Mel finds Francis merely annoying until her best friend Cathy falls for him and
decides to become a vampire herself, at which point Mel shifts into full-blown protective mode. This smart and entertaining novel—part Nancy Drew with vampires, part thoughtful and provocative story about assumptions—fully blooms in the second half. Themes of honest friendship and freedom of choice mix with zombies, accidental romance,
a diverse and complex cast, and sharply funny dialogue to create a thoroughly
enjoyable read with a core of unexpected depth. Ages 13–up. Agents: (for Larbalestier) Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management; (for Brennan) Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency.

November 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-When Mel's best friend, Cathy, begins to fall in love with a centuries-old vampire who starts attending their high school, Mel does everything she can to prevent them from becoming a couple. Afraid of losing Cathy forever, and forced to face her own prejudices against vampires, she begins an adventure that results in mystery and romance. The story is set in a town famous for being founded by vampires escaping persecution; the cast of characters deals with typical teen issues while also living in a world with vampires and zombies. What really happened to their friend's dad, a vampire psychologist said to have run off with a patient? What does it mean to be human when you've been raised in a community of vampires? Is the chance of becoming a zombie worth the risk in order to follow your dreams and heart? Larbalestier and Brennan have created a witty story of friendship that takes place in a realistic fantasy world in which people can choose to become vampires as long as they follow the official government protocol. Not your typical vampire novel, this entry into the genre has a poignancy that is rare, coupled with a dry humor that is truly laugh-out-loud funny.Sharon McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
Mel does not like vampires. They're cold, they hate sunlight, and, worst of all, they have no sense of humor. Though most vampires in New Whitby are law-abiding citizens, Mel firmly believes they belong in the vampire quarter of town, the Shade, not mixing with humans. When Francis, a particularly irritating vampire with a stuffy English accent, arrives at her school, Mel is horrified to see her best friend Cathy falling for him. After all, their other best friend, Anna, is still grieving over her doctor father's recent disappearance with a beautiful vampire patient. Determined to stop Cathy from making a tragic mistake, Mel follows her to Francis's house in the Shade, where she is surprised to meet a human boy who was raised there -- a very hot human boy, in fact. Kit makes her laugh and also causes her to question her preconceptions about vampires. Creating an original vampire story among the plethora of recent offerings is a challenge, but these two authors team up successfully with a new twist that retains all the essential elements -- romance, suspense, and danger -- as Mel investigates the increasingly suspicious disappearance of Dr. Saunders. Stamped with Mel's distinct brand of sarcastic humor, Team Human is both fearsome and funny, a fresh entry in the popular genre. lauren adams

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

April 23, 2012
Individually, Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan have produced some of the wittiest, sharpest youngadult fiction on the market. Working together, they have managed to inject new life into the vampire genre—with trademark humour and sarcasm. When a handsome and brooding vampire enrols at Mel’s school, she’s a little concerned. Then her best friend Cathy falls in love with him and it is up to Mel to ensure Cathy doesn’t do something stupid—like decide to become a vampire herself. Team Human somehow manages to tackle vampirism with a delightfully serious touch, turning what has become the punchline of B-grade romances into a complex moral and ethical issue that mirrors the challenges faced by everyday teenagers. The relationships and characters are pitch-perfect, with just enough sentimentality covered by sharp humour. Kit (Mel’s love interest) is a fantastically confused and naive male lead, and his willingness to play sidekick to what has got to be one of the sassiest and bravest heroines of the young-adult genre is refreshing. With an interesting blend of vampires, zombies and some very un-ordinary teenagers, Team Human cleverly balances side-splitting humour with an exploration of what it means to be human.

Meg Whelan works at Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne