Oliver Nocturne: The Vampire’s Photograph
by Kevin Emerson
Published by Scholastic
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Wendy Hines
The first in a five book series, Kevin Emerson takes us into a world unlike any other.
A small Ohio town sub-division is deserted and unsafe. Anyone who ventures there usually doesn’t linger long. Beneath the rubble and filth, live vampire families. A few even are upstanding citizens in the human community to make sure their sub-division isn’t demolished.
The Nocturnes, a normal-looking family of mother, father, and two sons, live there. However, normal families don’t eat sugared blood cake for breakfast or sleep in a coffin using dirt as their blanket. But over the centuries, they’ve tried to bring forth their old world ways and adapt to today’s society. Hence, the boys go to school. After the human school day is over, the vampire’s secretly use the building at night. Oliver, the youngest Nocturne, doesn’t have many friends among other vampire children.
Oliver was having trouble sleeping lately. One morning, when everyone else was sleeping, he heard a noise coming from above. Being very quiet, he was shocked to see a young girl sneaking into their home by crawling through a broken window. He watched her, curious about this human who did not seem scared. She snapped several pictures of the abandoned room, the flash from the camera disorienting him. She senses him getting closer and whirls around and snaps a picture. Shocked, Oliver knows this is very bad.
The next day, he leaves for school early. Oliver hopes to follow the human girl as she leaves school to get that photograph. His parents have always told him to never let his picture get taken. Before long, Oliver and Emalie are kind of friends and embark on a dangerous journey to acquire a potion to fix the photograph. Oliver learns the truth about his origins and he’s more confused than ever.
Escalating to a shocking and fierce ending, Oliver, still drawn to the human world, must find his purpose in the vampire world. With well-developed characters, Emerson takes us into a world of fun fantasy with a twist of reality.
Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended. Look forward to the next in this unique series.
Author’s Web site: http://www.KevinEmerson.net