The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
gabrielleragusi's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book when I was in elementary school and I never really understood what it was about; I remember that I liked it at the time, with the innocence of the child that I was (I picked it up on a school trip to the town's library).
Now I can't help but ask myself: who could have placed this book (amazing, one of my favourite, as it is) in the children's section? I don't think my parents would have let me read it knowing what it was about.
Anyway, overlooking this, back to the book. After forgetting about it over the years, there still was this title, "Uncle vampire", nagging in the dark recesses of my brain, until I looked up for it on Google and bought it.
Reading it again broke my heart, but still, in the eyes of the adult I am today, I can't not like this book. It's surreal and real at the same time, it's dark and the stark reality.
While reading it for the second time (more like the first, really), I remembered nothing about the twins, who they really are, and maybe that's why it was another shock.
The book itself is far from perfect, the writing is somehow aimed to children's reading, but the story makes up for it in my opinion. It's not one of those books you read, finish, discard on your bookshelf and entirely forget about it.
As I couldn't forget its title for fifteen years, I know I won't forget this story for the rest of my life.
Now I can't help but ask myself: who could have placed this book (amazing, one of my favourite, as it is) in the children's section? I don't think my parents would have let me read it knowing what it was about.
Anyway, overlooking this, back to the book. After forgetting about it over the years, there still was this title, "Uncle vampire", nagging in the dark recesses of my brain, until I looked up for it on Google and bought it.
Reading it again broke my heart, but still, in the eyes of the adult I am today, I can't not like this book. It's surreal and real at the same time, it's dark and the stark reality.
While reading it for the second time (more like the first, really), I remembered nothing about the twins, who they really are, and maybe that's why it was another shock.
The book itself is far from perfect, the writing is somehow aimed to children's reading, but the story makes up for it in my opinion. It's not one of those books you read, finish, discard on your bookshelf and entirely forget about it.
As I couldn't forget its title for fifteen years, I know I won't forget this story for the rest of my life.
kilosmom7's review against another edition
3.0
while reading this all i could think was, “wow. this is written like middle grade.” until around the end when all the reality started to set in.
ALSO, big twist with Honey!! liked it for a quick read!
ALSO, big twist with Honey!! liked it for a quick read!
mylifebetween_pages's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jesslady's review against another edition
2.0
It's only getting two stars instead of one because her intentions were good.
limina's review
dark
sad
I read this book a long time ago now, but I was drawn to it because of the title; it sounded like so many YA vampire books I had read. It was much darker and more serious than I realized, but an important topic. I don't want to say too much in case it's upsetting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
elle_reads's review
5.0
A book I paused to ponder for awhile once I had finished it.
At the age I am now, the truth was obvious to me. Yet, dispensing disbelief as the age group it was primarily written for it would contain a huge shock. I think it is a good way to explore 'forbidden' topics with young adults (age 10-24).
I would recommend it to anyone over 12.
At the age I am now, the truth was obvious to me. Yet, dispensing disbelief as the age group it was primarily written for it would contain a huge shock. I think it is a good way to explore 'forbidden' topics with young adults (age 10-24).
I would recommend it to anyone over 12.
parkergoodreau's review
Oh Lord Almighty, what am I going to say about this book?
It shocked me, which I was really unprepared for because I thought it was kind of, you know, all there in the summary (No, it's not really a vampire book: don't set yourself up for disappointment. Summaries are your friends). But parts of the story really took me by surprise in the best, internal-gasping, what-the-heck-was-that way. Apart from that, it really isn't a very complicated plot.
However, it gets very emotionally complicated. Maybe moreso if, like me, you found yourself relating to Carolyn. We have a lot in common, in the way we think about our families especially. I always appreciate when the complication of a messed up family dynamic come through. I thought it was very well done, and really I'm very glad I read this book for that reason.
That being said, sometimes I wasn't very impressed by the writing. It got a little static at times. I guess it could be a matter of style, but I was quite honestly shocked to discover that Carolyn is in ninth grade. She didn't sound that old to me. This changed a little as it went on, but... there's still something a little unpolished about it. Maybe I'm asking too much. Some of the dream sequences were amazing.
All in all, I was a little disappointed by the writing, but unexpectedly engrossed by the story. It's an easy physical read and a not-so-easy but satisfying emotional one. No star rating for this one.
P.S. - The edition with the eyes on the cover (the one my library gave me) is so enormously creepy that I could not leave it face-up anywhere I could see it. Get a different edition if you can. If anything's going to give me nightmares, it just might be that cover.
It shocked me, which I was really unprepared for because I thought it was kind of, you know, all there in the summary (No, it's not really a vampire book: don't set yourself up for disappointment. Summaries are your friends). But parts of the story really took me by surprise in the best, internal-gasping, what-the-heck-was-that way. Apart from that, it really isn't a very complicated plot.
However, it gets very emotionally complicated. Maybe moreso if, like me, you found yourself relating to Carolyn. We have a lot in common, in the way we think about our families especially. I always appreciate when the complication of a messed up family dynamic come through. I thought it was very well done, and really I'm very glad I read this book for that reason.
That being said, sometimes I wasn't very impressed by the writing. It got a little static at times. I guess it could be a matter of style, but I was quite honestly shocked to discover that Carolyn is in ninth grade. She didn't sound that old to me. This changed a little as it went on, but... there's still something a little unpolished about it. Maybe I'm asking too much. Some of the dream sequences were amazing.
All in all, I was a little disappointed by the writing, but unexpectedly engrossed by the story. It's an easy physical read and a not-so-easy but satisfying emotional one. No star rating for this one.
P.S. - The edition with the eyes on the cover (the one my library gave me) is so enormously creepy that I could not leave it face-up anywhere I could see it. Get a different edition if you can. If anything's going to give me nightmares, it just might be that cover.
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