the vampire stalker by allison van diepen

This young adult novel will appeal on many levels to many readers. Even the school librarian has an important role! The main characters carry the plot, but the cast is expanded with Amy's girlfriends, the jock squad at school, Amy's mom and younger sister Chrissy and, of course, the vampires who have found the portal leading from their world to ours. Clearly, the author understands teenagers, thanks to her career as a high school teacher. Van Diepen's characters are realistic in their actions and their speech. However this makes her Vigo's next target and pulls her further into the dark and dangerous vampire world which she thought existed only in books. Amy does her best to help him, by, for instance, teaching him to use modern technology. The action keeps readers on the edge of their seats as Alexander hunts down the vampire who is on a killing spree in present-day Chicago. The short chapters and the use of plenty of white space on each page make the book attractive for reluctant readers. Although the cover seems aimed at a primarily female audience, boys would also enjoy the intrigue and adventure of the plot. The fates of the vampire and his stalker are intertwined, and only one of them can continue to exist.Īllison Van Diepen has written a novel which will please both avid readers and reluctant readers. Imagine her shock when fiction becomes fact and Alexander enters Amy's world in order to hunt down and kill Vigo, the leader of the vampires in Otherworld. And about to pounce on him before he grabbed you, I might add.'Īmy adores Alexander Banks, but there is a problem with their relationship – he is a character in her favourite series of novels. 'I'm lucky you were there,' I said, still trying to catch my breath. I practically had to run to keep up with him, while at the same time scanning the darkness for signs of another attack. 'It's on the other side of the apartment complex.' It took me a few moments to orient myself. How did I get all the way over here? I couldn't have run this far. I was at the other end of the park, where the sandboxes and swing sets were located. I looked around, confusion muddling my brain. 'I will show you to your door, miss,' the guy said. I didn't know who, or what, had just attacked me, and I had no idea who my savior was. With trembling hands, I pushed the wild strands of hair out of my face. It must have been a mirage – my mind's way of bringing me comfort after the terror. I did a double take, but his face and figure were now shrouded in darkness and mist.

After all I'd been through, I was still thinking of Alexander. New York, NY: Point/Scholastic (Distributed in Canada by Scholastic Canada), 2011.

The vampire stalker by allison van diepen