Sweetblood

Publishers Weekly

The author traces a vampire-obsessed 16-year-old diabetic's steep slide downward as she is intellectually seduced by a middle-aged cybervamp via the Internet. "The exotic theme coupled with the heroine's highly recognizable feelings of oddity and isolation make for a tantalizing read," said PW in a starred review. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) n Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Pete Hautman's typical, yet interesting, novel about adolescent rebellion delves into the world of a teenage diabetic and her theories on the disease's relationship to vampirism. In the first pages, Lucy Szabo relates that, at six, she had an encounter with a bat, soon followed by the onset of diabetes and then a lifelong obsession with linking these unrelated events. Now in her mid-teens, she has started rebelling against her parents, doctors, teachers, and even friends. Whether she is ignoring her insulin program, dressing like a "Goth," chatting with weirdoes in a "Transylvania chat-room," or sneaking out to parties, Lucy longs to find acceptance and understanding. After writing a scary essay in which she expounds on her theories about untreated diabetes—its resulting comas and insatiable appetites, etc.—and the medieval belief in vampires, Lucy is swept up in a world of over-reacting adults who confiscate her computer and send her to a psychiatrist. The novel's strengths lie in its author's deft use of contemporary teen culture, such as the "Goth" scene and internet chatting, and its portrayal of a chronically ill young person's struggle for acceptance. Reading about Lucy's mother's hand-wringing drama over her health and the vice-principal's violent response to her insulin reaction reminded this reader of a recent tabloid headline, "VAMPIRE POPULATION THREATENED BY AIDS." Although Lucy's theory about vampirism may remain a fantastic one, young readers should learn that, even today, people with diseases have to live with the ignorance and hysterical reactions of others. 2003, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 12 up.
—Scott Harris

VOYA

Sixteen-year-old Lucy Szabo has diabetes and is fascinated by vampires. She has come to the conclusion that the vampires of ancient legends were actually untreated diabetics, a theory that she enjoys discussing in a vampire chat room. She dresses in black, reads Anne Rice, and is attracted to Dylan, a mysterious student in her French class, who introduces her to Wayne, an intriguing older man who role-plays as a vampire. After sneaking out on Halloween night to accompany Dylan to a party at Wayne's house, Lucy drinks too much and collapses into a diabetic coma while walking home. Rescued by Mark, her loyal childhood friend and neighbor, she wakes up in the hospital much wiser and with a newfound appreciation for those who love her. Hautman, a diabetic himself, creates a thoroughly believable, smart, and likeable character in Lucy. His imagery is witty and energetic, and his style of writing in first-person present tense gives crispness and a feeling of immediacy to the novel. Lucy's anger at her disease leads to isolation and self-destructive behavior, such as failure to regulate her insulin, but her unfailing humor and common sense prevail in the end. There are no "real" vampires in this book. Nevertheless, the predator Wayne, an adult who hosts wild parties for teenagers, is more chilling than any vampire could be. Hautman's warning is serious but subtle and will be better understood by older readers. VOYA Codes: 5Q 4P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Simon & Schuster, 192p,
— Dotsy Harland

KLIATT

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, May 2003: This is quite an amazing novel. I remember when many YA novels featured a disease and then an after-school special followed up on the "educational" story—very contrived. Sweet Blood is not contrived. Perhaps it helps that Pete Hautman himself suffers from insulin-dependent diabetes and knows all about it, because this is the disease that the narrator Lucy is dealing with. Anyone with any firsthand knowledge of what it is like to be monitoring blood sugar throughout each day, with fluctuating moods and energy levels, will recognize the reality of Lucy's life. Highly intelligent, Lucy considers what it must have been like for diabetics in the past, before doctors understood the disease and insulin was available. She does some research and writes a report for history class, proposing that the descriptions of vampires could be descriptions of those suffering from diabetes—this is how vampires get connected to this novel. Lucy struggles with defeated parents, with herself, with deceptive people she meets. She is angry and stumbling, making bad choices, but generally progressing toward some acceptance of her situation and herself. I like the respect Hautman shows for her—she's smart and she really is trying to come to grips with her body and her life. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2003, Simon & Schuster, Pulse, 242p., Ages 12 to 18.
—Claire Rosser

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Hautman is known for tackling unusual topics in his fiction, and this book is no exception. Lucy Szabo has been an insulin-dependent diabetic since she was 6, and now, at age 16, she has developed an interesting theory that links vampirism with diabetic ketoacidosis. When she explains her theory in a creative writing paper, however, her teacher, counselor, and parents become concerned that Lucy may finally be "too weird" and take steps to find help for her. When her computer is removed from her room and she is unable to frequent the Transylvanian chat room, Lucy decides that perhaps real-life adventures are in order. With a new friend, she ventures into the world of tarot cards and goth, perhaps meeting a real vampire in the flesh, while allowing her diabetes to spiral out of control. Teens eager for vampire stories will find Lucy's link between diabetes and vampirism fascinating and plausible. Most of the characters are stock, but the protagonist stands out as being an intelligent, curious young woman who is dealing with all of the usual adolescent angst, compounded by her condition. No longer wishing to be controlled by anything, she decides to stop conforming completely, with almost deadly results. This book should appeal to a wide range of interests, from those looking for a good vampire book to those touched by the illness.-Lynn Evarts, Sauk Prairie High School, Prairie du Sac, WI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A gripping, painful, and well-written coming-of-ager with a twist. Diabetic Lucy Szabo's world is populated by legions of the Undead: those, like herself, who are only alive due to modern medicine. Untreated diabetes, she believes, is the true source of vampire legend, which makes her a potential vampire. Though she wears mostly black, reads Anne Rice, and spends time on vampire chat rooms, Lucy is adamantly "not goth." She is, however, 16, angry, and flunking out of school, and her worried parents confiscate her computer. Bitter and lonely, Lucy lets her health deteriorate as she befriends those who, while potentially dangerous, seem to understand her troubles. To survive, she must learn to preserve her individuality without building a personality centered on despair. Lucy is richly drawn: smart and likable, with wit and a knack for language. Despite a cast of characters straight out of a formulaic problem novel, an original and powerful tale. (Fiction. YA)