BOOK REVIEW - TEAM HUMAN by SARAH REES BRENNAN & JUSTINE LARBALESTIER

By: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan

Published By : Allen & Unwin

Released : 3rd July 2012

Details: Paperback For Review From Publisher, 359 Pages

RATING : 3.75 FRANCIS STARS!!

Book Blurb : Goodreads

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity.

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Acclaimed authors Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan team up to create a witty and poignant story of cool vampires, warm friendships, and the changes that test the bonds of love.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :

I am going to start by saying I had not read any of Sarah Rees Brennan or Justine Larbalestier’s works before I read Team Human, so I was coming in fresh. I have since read Sarah’s , The Demon Lexicon, and loved it.

Team Human was not at all what I was expecting. I have been interested in this book for a while as I love vampire stories and YA genre. Putting these two authors together as a writing duo made for a quick and easy read where you could tell behind the scenes these ladies were having fun. It comes across in the writing.

Mel , looooovvveee her full first name, no, not in a million years will you guess it. I have to be honest and say, that I personally found her to be a tad annoying as a character. She was sticking her nose into all sorts of business , very blindly, and throwing accusations about like last years fashion. But, this IS her character. It didn’t make it any less annoying, but , she is deliberately written this way. Mel is Mel and she truly believes in her job of bff to Cathy.

I looovved Cathy and Francis. I could see Team Human being their story, it is semi, but it is mainly the most, LOL!! annoying Mel and her endeavours to break up, stop things with Francis and Cathy. Well, she is Team Human.

I would have liked to get to know Francis loads more as I really, really, loved his characteristics. He is very funny, without trying to be. Sure, everything goes rather quickly in Cathy and Francis’ relationship but Francis is well over 150 years old so, hey, why not.

I loved Francis’ family. Minty is a tad frightening, Kit is the human amongst the vampires. I liked this! Kit , again, wait until you find out his name...I laughed but I also went...awwww! There was some silly fun with Kit, being raised by vampires, hence why I think these ladies were having a lot of fun behind the scenes writing this book.

Mel was spending her time throughout this book with the ‘anti Francis’ campaign, and trying to solve a mystery, with Kit slowly growing on her until he too drops a bombshell. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to shake Mel or commend her for caring toooo much for her friends business.

I really liked Cathy. She is intelligent, she suits Francis. She is not prejudiced, she really ‘sees’ Francis. She thinks things through, unlike Mel, who I thought was a bit too pepped up, sometimes.

I liked the ZDU - Zombie Disposal Unit, idea. A bit of a different take on turning vampire, sometimes it doesn’t stick. I think readers are used to seeing a rather painful, long, turning vampire process in books. The ladies have written their version a bit more........ well, that would be spoiling. Shame on you for wanting to know......hehe!

I enjoyed the mystery that was playing behind Mel’s busy bodying. There was a great twist and I am looking forward to more Kit. He is a great guy, just a bit naive to some things. Mel has so much prejudice and Kit has none, so this will be an interesting friendship.

I enjoyed Team Human, it is a read that will make you laugh, you will find that a good friend comes with great intentions, but sometimes they need to be told politely, ‘thanks for caring I hear you, now hear me.’

Michelle