Team Human (Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan, A&U)

Individually, Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan have produced some of the wittiest, sharpest youngadult fiction on the market. Working together, they have managed to inject new life into the vampire genre—with trademark humour and sarcasm. When a handsome and brooding vampire enrols at Mel’s school, she’s a little concerned. Then her best friend Cathy falls in love with him and it is up to Mel to ensure Cathy doesn’t do something stupid—like decide to become a vampire herself. Team Human somehow manages to tackle vampirism with a delightfully serious touch, turning what has become the punchline of B-grade romances into a complex moral and ethical issue that mirrors the challenges faced by everyday teenagers. The relationships and characters are pitch-perfect, with just enough sentimentality covered by sharp humour. Kit (Mel’s love interest) is a fantastically confused and naive male lead, and his willingness to play sidekick to what has got to be one of the sassiest and bravest heroines of the young-adult genre is refreshing. With an interesting blend of vampires, zombies and some very un-ordinary teenagers, Team Human cleverly balances side-splitting humour with an exploration of what it means to be human.

Meg Whelan works at Hill of Content Bookshop in Melbourne

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews