A sixth-grade Goth girl who thinks sheuntil her new neighbor, The Bone Lady, fills her in on Ms. Larch's true identity and her own. What happens wh...
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Dec 30, 2010
Karissa
rated it: 
Another book I obtained from Amazon Vine. This is just a little slip of a book but it was an entertaining read.
Svetlana is different from other kids. She only eats red things and likes to sleep under her bed; oh and she can hear people's thoughts. Ms. Larch also only eats red things but to Svetlana Larch smells like the worst of all rotting things. Then three girls at school go missing and Svetlana is convinced that Ms. Larch is involved. Can Svetlana find out the truth before it is to More...
Svetlana is different from other kids. She only eats red things and likes to sleep under her bed; oh and she can hear people's thoughts. Ms. Larch also only eats red things but to Svetlana Larch smells like the worst of all rotting things. Then three girls at school go missing and Svetlana is convinced that Ms. Larch is involved. Can Svetlana find out the truth before it is to More...
Jul 06, 2009
Rachael
rated it:
Svetlana—not Stephanie!—Grimm thinks she’s a vampire. How else would you explain her preference for red-colored foods, her ability to read and influence other people’s thoughts, and why she likes sleeping under her bed? Unfortunately, there’s nothing Svetlana can do to change her parents’ minds about her new schooling arrangement—sixth grade at Sunny Hill Middle School. Having been previously homeschooled, Svetlana is not looking forward to spending multiple hours in the company of kids she has
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May 03, 2009
Kristen
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Svetlana (aka Stephanie) is making the transition to 6th grade - and not just the going from elementary to middle school - she's also moved from Texas to California, gone from home school to public school, and discovered that she believes she's a Vampire.
A Vampire you say?
Well she's not sure what she is - but she only eats red foods, only wears black, can read people's minds, and sleeps under her bed. So the only thing that fits all those categories is vampire right? Bu More...
A Vampire you say?
Well she's not sure what she is - but she only eats red foods, only wears black, can read people's minds, and sleeps under her bed. So the only thing that fits all those categories is vampire right? Bu More...
Apr 25, 2010
Terri
rated it: 
Stephanie has changed in the weeks since she and her family moved to California from Texas. She can't sleep in her bed, but sleeps very well under it. She no longer cares for her old favorite foods, but loves red foods of all types. She is becoming very sensitive to odors, and suddenly looks fantastic in black. Strangest of all, she is beginning to sense the thoughts of others. "Svetlana," as she now wants to be called, thinks she is turning into a vampire.
When Svetlana me More...
When Svetlana me More...
May 10, 2010
Tabitha
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 30, 2009
Emma
rated it: 
Svetlana Grimm, the protagonist of Lewis Harris' debut novel A Taste for Red (2009) is not your average eleven-year-old. Even after starting at Sunny Hill Middle School in California, after years of being homeschooled in Texas, Svetlana is just not like the other sixth graders in her class. Svetlana has a penchant for black clothes that his almost as strong as her preference for red foods. She sleeps under her bed. She can sometimes read, and influence, people's thoughts. And she thinks she migh
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Jun 25, 2010
Deanna
rated it:
Stephanie has been homeschooled her whole life, but when her family moves and her mom takes a job, she is forced to attend public school for the first time. Simultaneously she begins to notice other changes. She can only eat red foods and she can only sleep UNDER the bed to name a few. Stephanie, who suddenly prefers to be called Svetlana believes she is turning into a vampire. When her new science teacher seems to share similar traits, Svetlana believes she has found a kindred spirit, howev
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Oct 24, 2010
Anna
rated it:
Svetlana Grimm (that's how Stephanie wants to be called now) has changed her taste in food (she only wants to eat read food) and dressing (she kind of likes black now). But she's also changed her Texas home schooled live to a California middle grade school. She's not happy about it and she shares her views with a sarcastic voice I loved, and I'm sure kids will do too.
With this changes, she even believes she's a vampire but when she meets face to face with the evil vampire she has to change More...
With this changes, she even believes she's a vampire but when she meets face to face with the evil vampire she has to change More...
Aug 06, 2010
Ms. LaPorte
rated it: 
Stephanie opps, Svetlana picks up school in 6th grade. (She had previouly been homeschooled.) Things have become different for her; she has developed strong olfactory senses, will only eat food that is red (white is neutral), and prefers to sleep under her bed. She must be a vampire! but how?
I enjoyed the author's word choice: cranium; coccyx; "glandular issues",
din:
"...she sashayed off into the carnival crowd. The din of music, laughter, ringing, d More...
I enjoyed the author's word choice: cranium; coccyx; "glandular issues",
din:
"...she sashayed off into the carnival crowd. The din of music, laughter, ringing, d More...
Oct 22, 2010
Samantha
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 01, 2011
Lorena
rated it:
Spring break officially started this afternoon and "A taste for red" is the first book I've read for pleasure since the Christmas break. I'm off to a great start. This book is quick and funny. The main character, Stephanie a.k.a. Svetlana, is smart and funny. I thought this was going to be another vampire story, but it has a twist. There is action and some violence, but I think this book is appropriate for sixth grade. I look forward to recommending this to students, especially g
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May 05, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
A fun spin on the vampire genre. 6th grader Stephanie, who has just moved AND begun public school, is convinced she's a vampire- and she's convinced her new science teacher is one too, and maybe has found a "kindred soul". Stephanie (who is now going by Svetlana and only wears black) soon finds out that she was wrong- and now, must stop something terrible from happening. A secret society, middle school angst, possible boyfriend, and well written suspense make this a fun read for boys a
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Mar 09, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
Stephanie (who prefers to be called Svetlana) moves to a new town and attends a new school. Many of the kids think that she’s a bit of an oddball; Svetlana prefers wearing black, only eats red food, has extrasensory powers, and believes that she’s a vampire. Is that really so strange? What Svetlana finds strange is her new neighbor Mrs. Bones. At first glance, Mrs. Bones seems like a perfectly normal old lady, but Svetlana soon learns differently.
Meanwhile, Svetlana and her clas More...
Meanwhile, Svetlana and her clas More...
Jul 28, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
This book was really funny. Kinda like Buffy if she'd started being a slayer when she was in middle school. Svetlana (not Stephanie as her parents insist on calling her) finds herself changing after her family moves to Sunny Hill. She starts only eating red foods, has heightened senses at night, and sleeps under the bed. She is convinced that these are all signs she is a vampire. When three girls go missing, she suspects her science teacher Ms. Larch is behind it.
Mar 16, 2010
Bernadine
rated it:
Svetlana (aka Stephanie) Grimm is not your average 6th-grader, as she will be the first to tell you. And she is certainly not looking forward to life at Sunny Hill Middle School. Sunny Hill?? Not exactly the kind of place a young vampire feels comfortable. Yes, Svetlana is a vampire (or so she thinks) and "being a vampire is a solitary business". But despite her best efforts, she finds herself making friends at her new school, as well as getting to know her elderly neighbor, Lenora Bo
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Jul 20, 2009
Heather
rated it:
Definitely darker and creepier than the Bailey School Kids' adventures, but I kind of wanted to call this one "Do Vampires Teach Science?" Stephanie (call her Svetlana, please) has just started 6th grade after being homeschooled. She thinks that since moving to California she may have become a vampire; she certainly has developed some interesting abilities. But if she is a vampire, then why is her science teacher so horrifying? And why won't anyone believe that Ms. Larch is a monster?
May 22, 2010
M.
rated it:
Svetlana Grimm seems to have become a vampire. And she’s moved from Texas to somewhere else, and she’s gone from being homeschooled to being a 6th grader at Sunny Hills Middle School. The kids on the whole are welcoming, but the science teacher definitely is not. She’s scary and threatening (to Svetlana) and she smells like rotten meat. With the help of a couple of boys from her class, Svetlana ultimately learns she is not a corrupted vampire (one who needs blood) but a good guy (the good gu
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Dec 29, 2008
Kerri
rated it:
This one is pretty cute - a girl thinks she is a vampire because she only prefers the taste of red foods, sleeps under her bed, and her senses become ultra aware at night time. She discovers something completely unexpected when she starts her new middle school and meets her Science teacher. This is a very light read and I think that younger girls (5th - 7th graders) might like this one.
Dec 29, 2009
Marcia
rated it:
Stephanie "Svetlana" is sure she is a vampire. She prefers sleeping under her bed and only like to eat red foods. The new science teacher at her new school, Ms. Larch is also a vampire, but not a "good" one like kind neighbor Lenora Bones. Svet gets to the bottom of the mystery of her missing classmates( and why her teacher smells sooo bad) in a story that is part funny, part kitschy and part suspense. I think this fun book will be a bit hit with the 3rd & 4th graders.
Apr 07, 2011
Heidi
rated it:
Pretty good book. It seemed a little blah at the start--just another young girl who hates everything about life, but as the plot picked up it got interesting and intriguing. It seemed to open up for an entire series, but since it was just published last year, I'll have to wait and see what happens with this author.
Aug 02, 2010
Natasha
rated it:
I thought this book was cute and surprisingly unique. I really liked the pace and I felt it was appropriate for kids.
Side rant:
Don't you hate it when people don't know what the word REVIEW means? Thanks, I can read the back to get an idea what the book is about! I want to know what YOU thought of it.
Side rant:
Don't you hate it when people don't know what the word REVIEW means? Thanks, I can read the back to get an idea what the book is about! I want to know what YOU thought of it.
Oct 05, 2010
This vampire novel was very different from some I have read such as Twilight. It was a quick read and busted some of the "myths" about vampires such as they cannot have their picture taken, don't like sunlight, etc. Not so gory, this book was also a mystery with the possibility of a sequel.
Jul 12, 2009
Shannon
rated it:
Given to me by a friend of the author's, I found the book quite fun, especially for a middle school reader. Svetlana may seem a bit snarky for her age, but that's what makes her so hilarious, and believable--not to mention appealing to even the adult readers. ***to be added to later...
Sep 01, 2009
Sandy
rated it:
This was actually much better than I expected. It's somewhat vaguely like Buffy, but for 5th graders (girl fights the supernatural). I do like the idea of this organization - The Circle of Red - that fights against the supernatural. It seemed like Harris was setting up for a series, but the book stands well enough on its own.
Dec 22, 2009
Sylvia
rated it:
12 year old Svetlana Grimm thinks she's a vampire. But then she meets her new science teacher, who really IS one. It's up to Svetlana to track her down and destroy her since she's destined to be part of a secret society who recognizes and rids the world of Vampires.
Jul 02, 2010
Summary: When some of her classmates disappear, sixth-grader Svetlana, along with her new friends go in search of the missing students using her newfound ability as an Olfactive, one who has heightened smell, hearing, and the ability to detect vampires.
Dec 04, 2009
Laura (Tampa BookWorm)
rated it:
This book was not what I was expecting. The author introduces a new take on vampires and supernatural creatures which I found interesting and refreshing. The writing is lively and fun, and there is nothing inappropriate for tweens. I hope the author has another book planned because this one left me wanting more!
Dec 31, 2009
Laura
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 04, 2010
Cindy
rated it:
Love Svetlana. She is witty and sarcastic. I thought there was going to be some unexpected twists, but their weren't and she got rid of the vampire too easily, but still a quick interesting enjoyable read
Sep 24, 2011
Is Svetlana Grimm a vampire? What about her teacher, Ms. Larch? Where are the three popular girls that go missing? Whatever happened to the vampires' bodies? Read Taste for Red to find out.
