Oddly enough this is my first time reading anything longer by either author. I've read short stories by both of them, but for one reason or another I haven't read their solo novels. This probably was a good thing as I've often found when reading jointly written books by authors I've read solo works from, I have trouble focusing.

TEAM HUMAN was an enjoyable read, and appreciated in the vastness of YA paranormal lit these days. I found the discussions of the pros and cons of turning to be the most fascinating; its an aspect that's hardly ever discussed. The realities of the change, the toll that it can take on people who aren't prepared--these were thoughtfully discussed.

Mel's distrust of vampires, while well-founded, tainted the narrative somewhat. The book itself is meant to be a satire--not quite a parody because it deals with topics like prejudice and learning to let go, but its supposed to be a send-up of the genre. That said, it makes Mel as biased as any of the girls in other novels who go ga-ga over the vampires. It sometimes made it hard for me to take what she said with the seriousness she intended.

Much like Daniel Waters "Generation Dead" books, Larbalestier and Brennan take a paranormal topic (in this case vampires) and use it as a catalyst to discuss the prejudice of human nature. Its natural to be wary of the unknown, and work hard to protect those we love from it. Thing is we can take (and almost always do) take it overboard. Toss in high schoolers and things just get crazy. They're careful to never take things too extreme, to have Mel emphasis her reasoning and investigate anything that sounds too out there.

This would make for a good summer read or to hand to your friend who seems a bit too into the sparkly brethren.
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I read this a while ago, and it took me a while to remember it. It's a vampires and humans coexist universe, where people can choose to become vampires. It's always kind of interesting because a lot of characters have big moral objections to becoming a vampire, and I wonder how that would work out in real life. In this one a girl is trying to convince her friend to stay away from vampires and definitely not become one to be with her boyfriend, and her friend does not agree. So this is a vampire love story not told from the lover's perspective, which is an interesting twist. ( )

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!
On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Okay, so I’m pretty sure none of y’all have seen me after watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the Vampire Diaries. Some of you might have read my reactions to books like The Vampire Academy/Bloodines by Richelle Mead. If not I’d just like to make one thing clear: I love vampires. I am obsessed with them.
That being said, I have also in the past said that under no circumstances would I ever consider BECOMING a vampire.
There are many perks to being a vampire. Lets see if we can list them:
Eternal youth.
You get, like, a thousand sexy points upon turning.
You get to spend forever with your one true love.
It’s very romantic.
You can be really, really bad.
But, there are there drawbacks:
You have to live for eternity.
You may be stuck as eternally middle-aged, depending on hen you turned.
Other people you love, family, friends, you’ll outlive them.
No sunlight.
In some books, no sleep.
In this one, no laughter. No crying.
And me? I just… I couldn’t. the very thought of eternity scares me to death. Its so big and the though of having to fill all of it? I’d go insane.
Not to mention, I’m having a hard time that my best friend moved to another state for college. If she died and I’d have to live forever…
No sunlight. I…
No sleep? That makes filling up eternity even harder.
And than, this last one? No laughter, no crying? That’s such a big part of me. My life is an emotional roller coaster. I’ve had some pretty low lows, and I’ve hated them. I’ve… I tried to commit suicide once. And I’ve had several heavy contemplations of it, both before and after the attempt.
But when I’m not on one of my lows… I laugh all the time. it’s par of what keeps me going.
So… I guess, by those standards, I’d be on Team Human, right?
I still love vampires. I adore them. If I was offered to be a vampire blood slave, I’d probably do it.
So, does that make me Team Vampire?
I guess that I’m just Team Me.
Does that make sense?

Wow, deep thoughts. This was actually a pretty funny book. I spent all afternoon cracking up. Why don’t I just get to reviewing it already, huh?

Plot: Fantastic. 5/5
So we’ve got a mystery thing going on. Sort of a murder mystery, but that’s only half the plot. The other half has to do with vampire complications, and how the vampires and the murder-mystery connect. (no, the vampires did not kill the dude)

Characters: 4/5
Mel: Has got the WORST NAME EVER. Seriously, what kind of parents would inflict that upon their child?
Other than that, I liked her as a character. She was snarky and funny and determined, and her unease of vampires was understandable. Though at times, it seemed like less of an uneasiness and more like a hatred, even though she consciously insisted she didn’t hate vampires. Her view on vampires… confusing. It did seem like she hated them at times, but, as was observed by other characters, they’d never done anything to her. No dead family members or anything. Yeah, there was thing with her friend Anna, but that gives Anna cause to hate vampires. Not Mel.
Cathy: Eh. I’m not sure if I believed her character at all.
Anna: We never really got to know her that well.
Francis: Okay, I really loved the way he talks. It’s hilarious.
Kit: Most definitely my favorite character. Possibly because he kind of has the same thoughts regarding and becoming one as I do, towards the end at least.

Romance: 5/5
If you ask me, Mel and Kit are a perfect match. They’re both really funny, and they’re complete opposites in nearly every other way.

2 points extra credit for making think such deep thoughts.

Overall grade: 16/15

That’s an A . Good job, Justine Labralestier and Sarah Reece Brennan. You guys get a smiley face sticker!

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I chuckled through half of this book, I swear. Because I am that person who yells out "Team Bella Learning to Love Yourself" instead of falling all over super-romantic vampires and weres. So I completely understood Mel when her best friend fell for their school's new student, the super handsome vampire guy and Mel was so very against it. She's hilarious and a good friend and this book was fun. ( )