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91st out of 148 books
—
181 voters
A Taste for Red
by
Lewis Harris
A sixth-grade Goth girl who thinks she’s a vampire encounters her greatest nemesis when she enrolls at Sunny Hill Middle School in this hilarious and entirely original take on the vampire genre for middle graders.
Svetlana Grimm has recently discovered she’s a vampire. The clues are all there: she can eat only red foods, has to sleep under the bed because of her heightened...more
Svetlana Grimm has recently discovered she’s a vampire. The clues are all there: she can eat only red foods, has to sleep under the bed because of her heightened...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
June 15th 2009
by Clarion Books
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Svetlana Grimm is a snarky and hilarious narrator of middle school life. She describes her classmates and teachers as if they're from another planet and prefers to remain secluded in the tree of doom, her personal hideout than risk their company. However, she's forced to attend school for the first time in her usually homeschooled life.
From the first day of class she's suspicious of the science teacher. Although Ms. Larch is beautiful Svetlana can smell the evil in her. Literally, Larch smells l...more
From the first day of class she's suspicious of the science teacher. Although Ms. Larch is beautiful Svetlana can smell the evil in her. Literally, Larch smells l...more
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 too late?
Whe...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 too late?
Whe...more
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...more
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? But then what is up with t...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? But then what is up with t...more
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 meets her new science te...more
When Svetlana meets her new science te...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Self-named and self-proclaimed, Svetlana Grimm is a charming and clever girl who believes she is a vampire. Consequently, she can only eat red things...or white, because white is neutral. What makes Lewis Harris' "A Taste for Red" stand out is that the funny parts come out of Svetlans's compulsions and idiosyncrasies, rather than merely out of snarkiness. The story begins on Svetlana's first day in public school after having been home-schooled her entire life. At first, it's hard to tell if she...more
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...more
Artemis Fowl by way of Charles Addams?
This was the first impression I got of the main character, Svetlana, as I was introduced to her and her world. She's got a little bit of the super-genius "holier than thou" attitude but she also has a slightly dark twist to her humor. I felt she'd be right at home as a cousin of the Addams Family.
The author introduces a new take on vampires and supernatural creatures which I found interesting and refreshing. I don't want to give away much about the mythos in...more
This was the first impression I got of the main character, Svetlana, as I was introduced to her and her world. She's got a little bit of the super-genius "holier than thou" attitude but she also has a slightly dark twist to her humor. I felt she'd be right at home as a cousin of the Addams Family.
The author introduces a new take on vampires and supernatural creatures which I found interesting and refreshing. I don't want to give away much about the mythos in...more
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, however,...more
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 her...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 her...more
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, dinging, and voices came over me ina flood, as...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, dinging, and voices came over me ina flood, as...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
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 girls that are lo...more
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 and girls-...more
Mar 09, 2010
Sarah
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
grades 5-7
Recommended to Sarah by:
5/6 list
Shelves:
children-fantasy
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 classmates meet their...more
Meanwhile, Svetlana and her classmates meet their...more
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.
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 Bones. Unfort...more
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?
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 guys s...more
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
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
grades 3-6,vampires
Recommended to Marcia by:
LBS 803
Shelves:
grades-4-6
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.
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.
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
Susan Adams
added it
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.
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...
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.
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
Joyce
marked it as to-read
Shelves:
j,
fiction,
vampires,
adventure,
fantasy,
humor,
kidnapping,
missing-children,
new-house,
supernatural,
school,
ya
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.
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!
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