Peeps by Paul Westerfeld.
Cal works for the Night Watch, a secret, extra-governmental agency that
has operated in New York City since colonial times. Cal's job is to
hunt down parasite-positives (a.k.a Peeps). The parasite alters the
host's physiology and brain chemistry, making them stronger and faster,
giving them heightened senses, sensitivity to light and an extreme
hunger for meat-- the rarer the better. The parasite is transmitted
through bites or an exchange of bodily fluids. In other words,
vampirism is an STD.
As the book opens Cal is hunting down his ex-girlfriend Sarah. Cal
finds her in a warehouse in Hoboken with her brood of rats. He manages
to subdue her for the transport squad to take her into custody. Cal has
to hunt down all of his exes because he infected them with the parasite.
Cal is a rarity, a carrier who does not become a full-blown Peep.
With Sarah in custody Cal has found all the women he infected. Now he
must find the woman who infected him, Morgan. His hunt for Morgan leads
him to Lace, budding journalist, to whom he is drawn. Their
investigation uncovers some bizarre goings on under the city and within
the Night Watch itself. Is someone in the Night Watch protecting
Morgan? And are there things worse than Peeps stalking beneath the city?
Westerfeld's take on the vampire story is original and refreshing, sort
of like a thinking teen's Cirque du Freak. The fiction is mixed with
science as Cal gives occasional discourses on parasitology, some grisly
enough compete with main story. The s@xual aspect of the story is never
graphic but the mature content makes it a better bet for high school
than middle school. Kids who liked Klause's The Silver Kiss, Anderson's
Thirsty, Hautman's Sweetblood, and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books will
love this one.
--
----
Tony Doyle, Librarian
Livingston High School, Livingston, CA
tdoyle@muhsd.k12.ca.us
<Http://www.lhs.muhsd.k12.ca.us/library/index.htm>
"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get
people to stop reading them."-- Ray Bradbury
"One of the standard problems with the universe is that it's large
enough that unlikely things happen pretty often."--Nigel Sharp, U.S.
National Science Foundation
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home