After finding out that he is destined to become a vampire, Chris struggles to remain human while thirsting for the blood of people around him.

Summary: A young boy named Chris is coping with the changing relationship with his family and many other conflicts in his life. Most of the conflicts he experiences are at home, where his parents have a rocky marriage and are getting a divorce. Besides the family conflict, Chris is having conflicts with his own body. He thinks he is adjusting to his own changing hormones and sexual desires that accompany puberty, but those feelings seem to be more than puberty. With his change in emotions, he becomes isolated and alone in his quest to understand what is happening to him. No one in his circle seems to understand him. Chris’ emotions and desires are not of this world, because they are violent and strong. Chris becomes distan in his relationship with his male friends, and have a new view on the opposite sex. Chris learns that he is changing from human to vampire, all while changing form boyhood to adulthood. Chris does not want to hurt those that he loves, so he willingly has to isolate and distance himself for everyone’s benefit.

Critical Review: Anderson’s story follows the classic coming of age tale, with the added element of horror.The story is an excellent display of the emotions, circumstance, and experience of one boy’s transition from boyhood to manhood and vampire-hood. Vampires are usually linked to sexuality, and Anderson seems to pair the image of primal sexuality with physical changes, puberty, and maturity. This book can help teenage readrs undstand the multiple tensions and stress that Chris is dealing with in this vulnerable time of his life. Although the book containes teenage sexuality, Anderrson presents the subject in a very real way.