The Silver Kiss

August 3, 1992
PW praised the ``often striking prose'' in this compelling tale of a modern-day vampire who preys on a lonely teenaged girl. Ages 12-up.

August 29, 1990
Zoe is 16 and facing bereavement: her mother is dying of cancer, and her father seems to be excluding her from her mother's hospital bedside. No one dares speak to Zoe about the family tragedy, and she is isolated by grief, anger and fear. Then she meets the alluring, enigmatic Simon (``His eyes were dark, full of wilderness and stars''), who has an uncanny ability to recognize her feelings. After a series of nocturnal meetings, Zoe learns that Simon is a vampire kept alive by his thirst to avenge the death of his own mother three centuries ago. Drawn to him by an empathy charged with both longing and fear, Zoe agrees to participate in a dangerous scheme to trap Simon's mother's supernatural killer. The two emerge from their encounter able to mourn and acknowledge their losses. First-novelist Klause is excessively ambitious in her juggling of genres and themes; as a result, her suspense is uneven, her love story inadequately rooted and her resolution just a bit pat. Nevertheless, the use of the vampire figure to exorcise Zoe's complex feelings and often striking prose attest to an intelligent and original eye. Ages 14-up.

September 1, 1990
A well-drawn, powerful, and seductive novel. One evening, when 17 - year - old Zoe is sitting in the park contemplating her mother's imminent death due to cancer, her father's lack of support, and her best friend's move, she meets Simon. Simon is startlingly handsome and strangely compelling. As their friendship grows over time, Simon reveals to Zoe his true identity: he is a vampire, trying to kill his younger vampire brother. In a forceful conclusion, Simon accomplishes his mission and commits suicide. Zoe, in turn, comes to grips with her problems and finds an inner strength to cope. All the characters are skillfully portrayed and highly believable. Dialogue is superb. Simon and Zoe, each with their own problems, come together, and are able to draw strength from one another. Klause blends their struggle into a fine novel, integrating story, history, and a bit of vampire lore. The climax is a roller-coaster ride in reality, the macabre, death, and love. The subject matter and simple language will make The Silver Kiss a haunting choice for reluctant readers. It is easier to read than Meredith Pierce's Darkangel (Little, 1982). A book that's bound to be popular with teens, not only for its spellbinding story, but also for its theme of good vs. evil. -Molly Kinney, North Dade Regional Library, Miami, FL

January 1, 1990
A novel of a young girl struggling to accept the impending death of her mother is curiously interwoven with her entanglement with a vampire. The theme is death; the fascinating, beautiful vampire is certainly charged with sexual allure, but the plot is seriously flawed, and the setting is unclear. An uneven but interesting first novel.

(Copyright 1990 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)