Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Katherine Tegen Books (HarperTrophy) (HarperCollins)
Pages
253
Description
Sixteen-year-old Raven, an outcast who always wears black and hopes to become a vampire some day, falls in love with the mysterious new boy in town, eager to find out if he can make her dreams come true.
Description
In her small town, dubbed "Dullsville," sixteen-year-old Raven -- a vampire-crazed goth-girl -- is an outcast. But not for long...
The intriguing and rumored-to-be haunted mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood vacant and boarded-up for years. That is, until its mysteriously strange new occupants move in. Who are these creepy people -- especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town prattle actually ring true? Are they vampires? Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.
Ellen Schreiber's spooky and stirring romance tells the story of two outsiders who fall in love in a town where conformity reigns, and ends with a shocking surprise.
The intriguing and rumored-to-be haunted mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood vacant and boarded-up for years. That is, until its mysteriously strange new occupants move in. Who are these creepy people -- especially the handsome, dark, and elusive Alexander Sterling? Or rather, what are they? Could the town prattle actually ring true? Are they vampires? Raven, who secretly covets a vampire kiss, both at the risk of her own mortality and Alexander's loving trust, is dying to uncover the truth.
Ellen Schreiber's spooky and stirring romance tells the story of two outsiders who fall in love in a town where conformity reigns, and ends with a shocking surprise.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003-08-05
Physical description
253 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
9780060093365
Similar in this library
Lexile
610L
User reviews
LibraryThing member chibimajo
This is the third book by her that I've read, and she has a very light, ditzy kind of style of writing. Or maybe it's just her main characters, I don't know. Raven is a total perky goth. Like, seriously. She's very perky, it would be very annoying if I didn't like perky goths, so I'm warning you in
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advance. But here again, vampire romance. It was actually pretty cute, and there's also totally something going on with this other guy that does not get fully developed, but hey, there's 2 more books now, so maybe something will happen. Show Less
LibraryThing member CheriePie69
Raven is a Goth teen who lives in "Dullsville"... where nothing interesting ever happens! Until the Sterling family moves into the haunted house on top of Benson Hill, and the rumors start flying that they're vampires since they're never seen during the day.
Raven, who as a little girl proclaimed
This was a quick and enjoyable teen book that ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me anxiously looking forward to the sequel, which unfortunately I don't yet have. :( Despite the teen target audience, the author is good at keeping you wondering right up until the very end.
Raven, who as a little girl proclaimed
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she wanted to be a vampire when she grew up, has had a strong attraction to the house even during the long years it sat empty. So she's determined to uncover the truth about the spooky new family... especially the darkly handsome 17-year-old Alexander.This was a quick and enjoyable teen book that ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me anxiously looking forward to the sequel, which unfortunately I don't yet have. :( Despite the teen target audience, the author is good at keeping you wondering right up until the very end.
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LibraryThing member lunanshee
Sixteen-year-old goth Raven is the odd-girl-out in her small hometown. No one else dresses in black, plays in cemeteries or is obsessed with vampires. When asked by her fourth grade teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up, Raven promptly replied, “I want to be a vampire.” Still, nothing
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remotely interesting happens in Dullsville, until a new family moves into the abandoned mansion of a Romanian baroness. Town rumor has it that the new residents are vampires. Raven is ecstatic, when she finally meets the boy of her dreams. But Alexander has a secret. Is he truly the dream-boy, or a nightmare? This is a really fun book. Raven is funny, interesting and candid. Schreiber challenges some stereotypes, while using others to her advantage and the product is a novel worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member melissathelibrarian
It’s common for teens to go through a “goth phase”… wearing black, waiting to be kissed by a vampire… but 16-year-old Raven has been like that since she was five. Her peers call her a freak, and her only friend even wonders about her sanity sometimes. Then a new family (with a hot teenage
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goth-boy) moves into the mansion on the hill… there are rumors the family are vampires… two reasons Raven should definitely meet this guy. But does she like him for who he is… or because of what he might be? Show Less
LibraryThing member TeenBookReviews
Sixteen-year-old goth Raven is the odd-girl-out in her small hometown. No one else dresses in black, plays in cemeteries or is obsessed with vampires. When asked by her fourth grade teacher what she wanted to be when she grew up, Raven promptly replied, “I want to be a vampire.” Still, nothing
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remotely interesting happens in Dullsville, until a new family moves into the abandoned mansion of a Romanian baroness. Town rumor has it that the new residents are vampires. Raven is ecstatic, when she finally meets the boy of her dreams. But Alexander has a secret. Is he truly the dream-boy, or a nightmare? This is a really fun book. Raven is funny, interesting and candid. Schreiber challenges some stereotypes, while using others to her advantage and the product is a novel worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member readingrat
This book is very different than the graphic novels of the same name. While it tends to be a bit formulaic, it's a fast read, has a strong ending, and should hold up well with it's target audience.
LibraryThing member Fallen_from_Grace
A decent book, though not one I would want to read again. The character does not seem very smart and spends a lot of her times complaining. As far as vampire books go it is lacking. the book spends more time on the point of being gothic compared to being, in lack of a better word, a prep.
LibraryThing member The_Book_Queen
Though it is technically written/promoted for a teenage audience, Vampire Kisses is a great, light read for anyone who enjoys a book filled with wit and humor, mystery and romance, and of course, the much beloved vampire plot. In short, if you loved Twilight, you will probably enjoy Vampire Kisses
Though Vampire Kisses can be a bit 'immature' at times *That is how one reviewer put it, though I would never call it that. It's too harsh for a book that, over all, is still a good read!* reminding you that it is told by a teenager for a teenager. But that's the fun thing about VK-- its not always heavy and complicated, but instead it's a lighter, fluffy read. The author, Ellen Schreiber, meant for the story to come out more laugh- out- loud than deep-in-thought-must-save-the-world kind of plots. It's a quick read, really quick. In fact, I finished this book in under 5 hours.
Raven is an interesting character, to say the least. She's never felt like she fits in, and practically from birth she's been obsessed with vampires and all things Gothic related. Her biggest goal in life? To meet a vampire and get turned into one. So when she meets this dark, mysterious Gothic boy that just moved into the deserted Mansion on the hill, it seems like fate is finally making her dream come true. But can she make it work when everyone in town, including her friends and family at first, are still against her and her weird ways? I don't want to spoil anything, so you'll have to read it yourself. But warning-- the ending is a big cliff hanger, and you will want to have the next books at hand because as soon as you finish VK, you will need to find out what happens next!
I think my favorite part in the book, besides some of the melt-into-a-puddle-on-the-floor quotes that Alexander says to Raven, is when Raven decides to screw with her nemisis, Trevor, one of the most popular boys in her school. I was laughing through the whole thing! It makes more sense, and you'll laugh more, if you read it yourself, so I won't say too much about it other than this: Underwear on a locker. Are you scratching your head, trying to figure out what this scene could be? I'll bet you are, but I'm not saying any more about it!
4.5/5 STARS! For a charming and witty vampire romance, Vampire Kisses is the perfect option!
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, I have to say that I personally still hold Twilight as number one, and probably always will. But that's just me. :)Though Vampire Kisses can be a bit 'immature' at times *That is how one reviewer put it, though I would never call it that. It's too harsh for a book that, over all, is still a good read!* reminding you that it is told by a teenager for a teenager. But that's the fun thing about VK-- its not always heavy and complicated, but instead it's a lighter, fluffy read. The author, Ellen Schreiber, meant for the story to come out more laugh- out- loud than deep-in-thought-must-save-the-world kind of plots. It's a quick read, really quick. In fact, I finished this book in under 5 hours.
Raven is an interesting character, to say the least. She's never felt like she fits in, and practically from birth she's been obsessed with vampires and all things Gothic related. Her biggest goal in life? To meet a vampire and get turned into one. So when she meets this dark, mysterious Gothic boy that just moved into the deserted Mansion on the hill, it seems like fate is finally making her dream come true. But can she make it work when everyone in town, including her friends and family at first, are still against her and her weird ways? I don't want to spoil anything, so you'll have to read it yourself. But warning-- the ending is a big cliff hanger, and you will want to have the next books at hand because as soon as you finish VK, you will need to find out what happens next!
I think my favorite part in the book, besides some of the melt-into-a-puddle-on-the-floor quotes that Alexander says to Raven, is when Raven decides to screw with her nemisis, Trevor, one of the most popular boys in her school. I was laughing through the whole thing! It makes more sense, and you'll laugh more, if you read it yourself, so I won't say too much about it other than this: Underwear on a locker. Are you scratching your head, trying to figure out what this scene could be? I'll bet you are, but I'm not saying any more about it!
4.5/5 STARS! For a charming and witty vampire romance, Vampire Kisses is the perfect option!
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LibraryThing member TheLibraryhag
Gee, I was so expecting to like this book and I just did not. Raven, the main character, will do just about anything to get a rise out of folks. She dresses Goth, but she really is not. She just has to rebel by wearing black when she lives in a very preppy sort of town. She is the object of massive
The vampire part of the story is really not developed much in this first book of the series. There is the spooky house that has been empty for years that is finally occupied by a mysterious family, yada, yada. I am really having a hard time figuring out the appeal and for that reason alone I will probably read the second in the series to try to figure out why these books are so popular with young adults.
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teasing at school but she seems to enjoy it and is really more in a competition with her main nemesis rather than being a victim. She gets into physical confrontations with this boy and is very satisfied when she hurts him. She befriends a lonely girl, but she uses this friend and bosses her around. She breaks the law by tresspassing and even entering a house through a window. I really did not like her.The vampire part of the story is really not developed much in this first book of the series. There is the spooky house that has been empty for years that is finally occupied by a mysterious family, yada, yada. I am really having a hard time figuring out the appeal and for that reason alone I will probably read the second in the series to try to figure out why these books are so popular with young adults.
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LibraryThing member raizel
Nice enough and funny in spots. I'm too old to be not the target audience.
LibraryThing member mesmericrevelation
Raven reminds me of myself when I was a teen, except she is more outgoing and can, and will, talk. I think that's why I love this book, well, the whole series. It's incredibly easy for me to relate to Raven.
These books are fast, easy and cute reads. They are also a lot more than that. At least they
If you love vampires, and you want a nice fun read, you should pick up this book. But I will warn you know, you will want to run out and get the rest of the books as soon as you finish this one.
These books are fast, easy and cute reads. They are also a lot more than that. At least they
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are to me. I don't know how to explain how much I love this series, especially this book, since it's the one that got me hooked.If you love vampires, and you want a nice fun read, you should pick up this book. But I will warn you know, you will want to run out and get the rest of the books as soon as you finish this one.
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LibraryThing member bookbutterfly9
As far back as she can remember, Raven Madison has been obsessed with vampires. In kindergarten, her teacher asked the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. When it was Raven’s turn, she swooned, “a vampire”. Living in the town she aptly describes as “Dullsville” is not easy for
Everything changes when the Sterling family moves into the creepy, abandoned mansion on top of Benson Hill. The whole town begins talking about them, and their son Alexander in particular. It’s said Alexander hangs out in cemetaries and never goes out in daylight. Raven dreams that Alexander is a real vampire and her ticket out of Dullsville.
Raven’s feisty wit and sharp tongue really made me enjoy this book. It is definitely geared to the pre-teen set, but no less enjoyable for adults. The writing really began to have more meaning for me when Raven began to understand her family better, and realized that being a vampire might not be as important as being accepted and loved for who she really is. I think this is a good start to a new series and will appeal to fans who want a good vampire story without the gore.
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someone like Raven- being that she is the only goth-girl with a love of horror movies and black lipstick. On top of that, her once cool ex-hippie parents dramatically changed after the birth of her little brother, a boy Raven endearingly nicknames “Nerd Boy”. She has no real friends, except for Becky, a timid farm girl from the wrong side of the tracks.Everything changes when the Sterling family moves into the creepy, abandoned mansion on top of Benson Hill. The whole town begins talking about them, and their son Alexander in particular. It’s said Alexander hangs out in cemetaries and never goes out in daylight. Raven dreams that Alexander is a real vampire and her ticket out of Dullsville.
Raven’s feisty wit and sharp tongue really made me enjoy this book. It is definitely geared to the pre-teen set, but no less enjoyable for adults. The writing really began to have more meaning for me when Raven began to understand her family better, and realized that being a vampire might not be as important as being accepted and loved for who she really is. I think this is a good start to a new series and will appeal to fans who want a good vampire story without the gore.
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LibraryThing member mdtwilighter
This book was a really quick read. It didn't have a whole lot to the story and you could tell it was one of those series books, where the series never ends. It was an interesting view on the vampire romance- the view of a Goth girl who hopes she's falling in love with an undead boy. The end was
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unsatisfying, leading into the next book in the series. Worth the read if you don't mind following book after book and are in on the whole vampire craze. Show Less
LibraryThing member Laura_Fichter
I am typing a book review on the great book, Vampire Kisses, by Ellen Schreiber. I chose to read this book, because I like vampires, (not the sparkly kind). It really caught my eye, and thought it looked interesting. I loved this book. The book had the same kind of younger humor I could relate to.
One of the chapters in the book describes a teen party in which Raven, (the main character) and her best friend, (Becky) crash. She gets her arch nemises (Trevor) naked in the woods, and then grabs his clothes and run, leaving him drunk and alone in the woods. I thought that was hilarious! That is the kind of teen humor I can get. Also, when she sees Alexander, (her future boyfriend)for the first time, is very mysterious and scary. Becky thought she had run him over with her truck by accident, and he disappears.
I thought this book was very good. I didn't like the ending though because Alexander vanishes. It was sad. It didn't really meet my expectations because I thought it would be stupid and terrible, but in reality, it was really awesome! So anyone into goth, vampires, humor, or all, I highly highly recomend it. :)
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The book had a lot of imagery in the characters. It was about a goth girl who finally meets the vampire boyfriend of her dreams.One of the chapters in the book describes a teen party in which Raven, (the main character) and her best friend, (Becky) crash. She gets her arch nemises (Trevor) naked in the woods, and then grabs his clothes and run, leaving him drunk and alone in the woods. I thought that was hilarious! That is the kind of teen humor I can get. Also, when she sees Alexander, (her future boyfriend)for the first time, is very mysterious and scary. Becky thought she had run him over with her truck by accident, and he disappears.
I thought this book was very good. I didn't like the ending though because Alexander vanishes. It was sad. It didn't really meet my expectations because I thought it would be stupid and terrible, but in reality, it was really awesome! So anyone into goth, vampires, humor, or all, I highly highly recomend it. :)
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LibraryThing member bridget1138
I read vampire Kisses, by Ellen Schreiber. I chose to read this book because it was about vampires. It was also recommened to be by a friend.It was filled with love and hate. I was a wonderful story that you never wanted to end.
The book was about a girl named Raven. She was the goth girl who
i read the book Vampire Kisses, by Ellen Schreiber. I was a wonder ful story filled with mystery and love.This book met all my expectations. I could not put it down.Alexander and Ravens love is so interesting.
The book was about a girl named Raven. She was the goth girl who
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everyone picked on. Then come along the one person she wil love the rest of her life,Alexander. He is mysterious and charming.He also likes the night just like raven.i read the book Vampire Kisses, by Ellen Schreiber. I was a wonder ful story filled with mystery and love.This book met all my expectations. I could not put it down.Alexander and Ravens love is so interesting.
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LibraryThing member peaceloveandpat
I've read too many vampire themed books and so it's really hard not to compare it to my favorites. Before I read this book I wasn't sure what to expect of Raven, so I speculate on an awkward girl that had a traumatic experience when she was a kid, and now reaching sweet 16 she reflects it by having
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a dark phase with very low self esteem and parental issues. Of course now I see that I was wrong. Raven is a very interesting character. She have a loving parents that used to be hippies. She's witty, funny and have a lot of spunk. She never cares what people think and doesn't dodge Trevor's BS. (Their bouts are always a hoot, except for that last part.) Aside from her preference in clothing and her ambition in life - which is to become a vampire, I think she's pretty normal. Schreiber under-described Alexander which I think adds mystery to his character. All I got was he was tall, pale, handsome... and I view this as a good thing. The negative part was the vampires in this book we're the stereotypical ones. They only come out at night, can't handle garlic, no reflection, they turn into bats, etc... but it seems like they age. Which raised a very interesting question- do they really? if yes, how? I guess I'd have to find out if that is the case. Show Less
LibraryThing member flemmily
The YA novels I've been reading lately are generally written fairly recently. I feel like somewhere along the way there was a shift in YA writing and it's a little more sophisticated now. This book was kind of a throwback. If I were a teenager, I'm pretty sure I would have dismissed this book as
However, I'm not a teenager, so I instead enjoyed it as fluffy, anachronistic tripe. The main character is the most cheerful goth I've ever heard of, and the is he/isn't he a vampire plot is reminiscent of those children's books which try to help little kids grow up by explaining away magical seeming events as misunderstandings, and try to "teach a lesson" while squashing their souls.
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condescending tripe.However, I'm not a teenager, so I instead enjoyed it as fluffy, anachronistic tripe. The main character is the most cheerful goth I've ever heard of, and the is he/isn't he a vampire plot is reminiscent of those children's books which try to help little kids grow up by explaining away magical seeming events as misunderstandings, and try to "teach a lesson" while squashing their souls.
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LibraryThing member patricia_poland
What a quick, funny, teen romance with a twist at the end. Enjoyable read. Wish I had been as gutsy and funny as Raven when I was in high school!
LibraryThing member trishalynn0708
I could not put this book down. This is the perfect book for a teen to read about vampires. There isn't a lot of sex, or bad language in it. It also reads more like a YA book. And it has lots of vampire reading in it, even though that doesn't start until the end of the book, not going to say
The book starts off with a girl named Raven who wears black all of the time and has never fit in, only with her best friend Becky who never fit in either. Raven has a lot of trouble with a guy named Trevor in the book, which I think he secretly likes her since he always seems to end up where she is and is always talking to her. But Raven gets her revenege over Trevor towards the end of the book, without even really trying.
The best part of the book, and the most entertaining for me is the house on top of the hill. It is a mysterious dark house that no one has lived in for a long time until a strange family moves in that the town thinks are vampires. Which makes Raven very happy since she has wanted to be a vampire since kindergarten. After Raven meets the mysterious boy that moves into the mansion the book takes off and I stayed up very late reading it.
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anymore because I don't want to ruin the book for anyone. The book starts off with a girl named Raven who wears black all of the time and has never fit in, only with her best friend Becky who never fit in either. Raven has a lot of trouble with a guy named Trevor in the book, which I think he secretly likes her since he always seems to end up where she is and is always talking to her. But Raven gets her revenege over Trevor towards the end of the book, without even really trying.
The best part of the book, and the most entertaining for me is the house on top of the hill. It is a mysterious dark house that no one has lived in for a long time until a strange family moves in that the town thinks are vampires. Which makes Raven very happy since she has wanted to be a vampire since kindergarten. After Raven meets the mysterious boy that moves into the mansion the book takes off and I stayed up very late reading it.
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LibraryThing member TheBooknerd
There's a lot of young adult fiction out there that appeals to an older audience. Besides some soft language and tamer content, they're still interesting and well-written stories. 'Vampire Kisses', on the other hand, is clearly intended for a young audience and doesn't cross over well to older
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readers. Even as a teenager -- or a preteen, for that matter -- I would have found this book to be too juvenile. The characters are shallow and generally unlikable. The plot is trite and predictable. In summary, this is a weak book. It's possible that the series improves as it progresses, but I'm jumping ship on this one. The twelve-year olds can have it. Show Less
LibraryThing member vampireLuV101
This book is really amazing. I really love it!
LibraryThing member danizinha
It's actually two and a half stars and ONLY because it could have been a decent book if only it weren't so underdeveloped. Raven could have been so funny a character. As I remember she's supposed to be around 16, instead she acts as if she is 6, I expected her any minute to start stomping her foot
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in addition to her constant whining. Actually she had the behavior of some stuck-up princess, who is used to getting everything on a silver platter, instead she is portrayed as an absolute outcast. What is the point to have a personage, especially a principal one, make it a social pariah and not give it a real character and a witty attitude, it seems a bit pointless. The here-and-there snarky comments, which were fun from time to time, were far outweighed by the cliche and superficiality, spread throughout the entire book. I'm still thinking about whether I should give one of the next parts a shot. Show Less
LibraryThing member LaurenGommert
A good read for a young Vampire enthusiasts. The story was good, and the storyline is much more appropriate for a young reader than Anne Rice of even Twilight. I don't plan to continue the series as I'm much more into Anne Rice's vampires, but were I 11 or 12 you wouldn't be able to pull me away!
LibraryThing member rbernard907
This book is a simple, goofy read if you are looking for something light to pick up. Don't get me wrong, this book is very stupid, but it is so stupid it is funny. I read the next one just for the fun of it more than for its literary value.
LibraryThing member taz1030
The book Vampire Kisses is a great book for anyone wanting romance and suspense is a story. This is a series of books and each one has chanlenges ranging from revenge filled vampires to jealous vampires. It leaves you wanting more.
Awards
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2006)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2004)
Young Adult Favorites Award (2005)
Call number
YA B Sch