Secret Vampire (Book)

Smith, L. J. (1996). Secret vampire. New York, NY: Archway Paperbacks. ISBN: 978-0-671-55133-9

Interest Level: Ages 9 to 14
Genre: Fiction
Subjects/Themes: Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural beings, Vampires,

Plot:  The Night World is a secret society of witches, vampires, and werewolves that has existed since ancient times.  Humans who find out about the Night World are killed or used as food for vampires and werewolves.  This is because humans greatly outnumber Night World citizens, though this was not always true.  Night World citizens can torture or kill a human, but they are forbidden to fall in love with one.  But lately there's been whispers in the Night World that soul mates are being found.  The soul mate principle means that for every person there is one other person fated to be their perfect match.  The soul mate connection is stronger then any known magic.  But even more interesting is the rumors that those finding their soul mates are finding them in regular human beings. 

In Secret Vampire, the vampire James has found his soul mate in a human girl named Poppy.   Growing up together as best friends, James has quietly waited until they were old enough to become more then friends.  But Poppy has been diagnosed with an incurable disease and time is running out.  James breaks the rules, telling Poppy about the Night World, and gives her a choice - die young or become a vampire.

Personal Thoughts: This was one of my favorite series in junior high.  I wasn't that big of a fan of the Vampire Diaries but I was glad that it got turned into a TV show since that meant that the rest of L.J. Smith's books were likely to get more attention and get republished.  Each book was a great tween romance that stressed testing true love and your personal principles.  Each of the characters were high school students that are also dealing with very realistic problems as well as magical ones. 

The first book tackles the question about death and illness.  Poppy is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  The question of would you choose to live forever?  Poppy, unlike Twilight's Bella, understands the gravity of her choice and isn't rushing into it blindly.  James on the other hand is desparate to save her.  They break Night World laws by turning Poppy into a vampire and that could mean her destruction.  They have an even bigger possiblity of getting caught when Ash, James' cousin, finds out about what they have done.     

When compared to Twilight, the stories are shorter but the female characters are stronger.  Also the material is pretty PG with nothing outside of simple kissing in these stories; though by all reports the last book, Strange Fate, (which has been in the works for years now) does get more intense with the Apocalypse which results in vampires taking over and humans as slaves.  But I'll report back on that once its published.  Definitely a Must Read for young vampire fans!

Series Info: Book One of the Night World series
Sequel: Daughters of Darkness
Book Talk: Check out my 2 minute book talk for the Night World series first three books.

Author's Website: L.J. Smith Offical Website