Blood and Chocolate lived up to the hype as an outstanding piece of Young Adult literature. The story unfolded perfectly as you quickly became attached to Vivianne's story of love and betrayal by the one she loved. Vivian and her pack are forced to move to an east coast suburban town after a fire set to drive out her kind, killed her father, the pack leader. Viv falls in love with a human --a meat boy-- and she begins to wonder if she can keep her secret for much longer. Added to that, while saving her mother in a superiority battle among the women of the pack, Viv herself becomes the head female and finds and deeper connection to the new pack leader than she ever wanted. Which will she choose...human or wolf? Like most life decisions it never an simple question and the answer surprises even Vivianne. ( )

Blood and Chocolate takes a much different tone than so many YA books these days; the main characters are far from perfect in very realistic ways, even while being totally unrealistic creatures. Vivian, the werewolf lead, is strong, but at times kind of hard to like. She tries to fit into a normal world that has never accepted her while balancing the sense of duty she feels for her pack. I expected this to go one way, hoped it would go that way even, but it veered off on a much different path than I expected. The actual ending was great, and sent a strong message of staying true to yourself and being happy with what has been right in front of you the whole time. ( )

Blood and Chocolate is amust read if you enjoy Twilight (And I must admit it is better written than Twilight). ( )

Author last name, first name. Title. Year. Publisher: City.
Klause, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. 1997. Random House, Inc.: New York.

Genre:
Fantasy

Themes:
Love, Fear, Werewolves, Family, Relationships, Death of a parent, Treachery, Romance, Young adult

Age / Grade Appropriateness:
14 & up

Awards:
1998 YALSA Award for Best Books for Young Adults

Censorship Issues:
There is a lot of sexual content in this novel. There are very explicit touchy, feely scenes, but never an actual sexual encounter. There is also foul language from many of the teenagers in the novel.

Plot Summary (Summarize the plot in 250 words or less):
Vivian, a 16-year old girl, and her family are part of the loups-garoux, which is a species of werewolves. They have recently moved to Maryland from West Virginia because some people from their community believed them to be killers and set fire to their homes. Her father, the leader of the group, died in this fire. Now her pack has no leader, and fight amongst each other constantly. Vivian adores her double life, and takes pleasure in the change from human to creature. Until, that is, she falls in love with Aidan, a human or “meat-boy” as her pack calls it, at her school. She battles with her differences, trying to make the decision to hide them, or put them out to her new found love. All the while, she is being chased by the boys from her own pack hoping for her undivided love. She must make the decision to show her true self and hope to be accepted, no matter the consequences, or follow the traditions of her ancestry.

Critique (Consider if the book fits the bill of a YA book as we have discussed /read. Include your opinion of the book here as well):
The themes that this novel cover hit home with many young adults. Although the main character has a rare difference, the YAs can identify with her, nevertheless. Some difference that they may have keeps them from feeling a part of the normal crowd. Trying to fit in is a constant worry that is on the minds of young adults these days. The settings in this novel are all very believable as are the characters. There are characters showing several types of personalities, all of which a teenager would come into contact with on a day to day basis.
Curriculum Uses (Possible uses in the classroom / school library / public library):
This book would be a great book for use in a comparison to the Twilight novel. There are many similarities, and many differences. I think it would lead into a quite interesting discussion. This book could also be used when discussing the anatomy of the human body. Along with the discussion of the wolf body, this book could also be used to further study the wolf species and things such as their species, prey, habitat, etc.

Blood and Chocolate is the best one could hope for within the genre of supernatural teen fiction, abundant with strong writing, believable characters, and plenty of page turning suspense. The work stays true to the animal and sexual overtones of werewolf lore without becoming overly horrific or erotic, avoiding the bubblegum banality and preachy moralistic overtone present in a certain popular work of the same genre that succeeded it. This book doesn't end happily ever after, and presents its readers with a valuable lesson: You must be who you truly are, no matter what the cost. ( )

This is a great work of literature. Klause takes a favorite topic of the ages and makes it brand new again. The story will keep readers guessing, eager to find out what new twist will pop up to shock them. The writing style is great, and the characters have an amazing feeling of life that will make you believe they are real. ( )

Blood and Chocolate is a great novel about knowing yourself and embracing your differences (in this case being a werewolf) rather than trying to be something you're not (human). It also highlights the folly of fearing what we don't understand and the heartbreak that can result. It is a great book - not preachy at all - and is great for tweens and teens who enjoy fantasy or werewolf stories. ( )

One of the best werewolf books I have ever read. I did not like the movie but the book is one of my all time favorites. Vivian is a strong heroine and it was easy to picture her as I read it. Defintely a read again! ( )

I read this after reading the Silver Kiss and was just as impressed. Annette Curtis Klause makes believable characters that feel and make you feel with them, even ones like Esme that will make you angry. Vivian's struggle with who she is and who she will become resonates with the just-entering-high-school crowd, in my opinion, because these are kids who are trying to get away from what they've always known, the way she does. Good young adult drama. ( )

I didn't at all like this book when I read it. I wanted something with adventure and romance, but it was mostly screwed up awkward romance. Not my favorite book out there. ( )

I liked the book when I first read it then when I saw the movie I couldn't beleve it. A movie was better then a book. I'm not trying to ofend the athor but the people who did the movie got it right. But don't ask me to explain how they got it right cause I just can't! ( )

One of my favorite werewolf books. The movie was so dissapointing. But I love Vivian and her struggle to aceppt her fate. ( )

Do not let the cover or the title stop you. A great read for teens 15-18. It addresses the issue that many teens face of feeling that you belong with an exciting twist that will entice fantasy readers. ( )

This is a werewolf romance book. I don't feel like I need to explain more.

This book is about par for the course of horror romances with lots of occult references, suspense, sexy scenes (but no sex scenes), and a couple of mysterious murders. She really makes her werewolves like wolves, which makes things more interesting than they would be otherwise.

I'll admit that the horror-romance is not my cup of tea though I have read a few. I do know plenty of people would eat this book up. I feel like those people who would like this book would know that they like this book. ( )

Vivian is a young werewolf dealing with pack troubles. She falls in love with a human and must struggle with the consequences. I felt that the book was a little shallow and doesn't offer very much to its readers. ( )

Vivian Gandillon is a werewolf. Her pack has been leaderless since the death of her father. As well as having to deal with her grief, she also has to listen to the arguments that arise over who will take over, and it irritates her beyond belief. If that wasn't enough, she also has the young wolves of the pack sniffing after her. But then she meets Aiden, a human with a passion for all things magical. Vivian soon falls in love and dreams of showing him her other form. He's bound to love her even more for being this magical, beautiful creature, right? However things get turned upside down when a murder threatens to expose the pack for what they really are. Caught in the middle, Vivians actions can endanger both human and wolf, and she needs to decide who she is, and where her loyalties lie.

I really loved this book! I thought it was amazing. As the book is from a werewolf's point of view, you understand their lives and your sympathies lie with them in certain aspects, and it takes away the stereotype of werewolves being monsters. Readers can identify with Vivian in her uncertainty as to who she is, we can understand her love for both worlds, and her anguish at them being seperate. The emotions were very true to life, and he suspence over the murder and what the effect will be on the pack is brilliant. You'll be sitting on the edge of your seat and worrying along with Vivian as both her worlds collide with catastrophic consequences. It's a great read, and I highly recommend it. ( )

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause is a chilling story about a werewolf that falls for a human. But werewolves are brutal creatures, can love surpass natural instincts? ( )

Great young adult book. I hear they gave the move a happy ending. Horrific! ( )

I love Annette Curtis Klause because she's not afraid to do the unexpected in her books-you will ALWAYS be guessing. That aside, this is a story about werewolves, one werewolf girl in particular, and how she's trying to fit in at highschool. And oh yea, she falls in love with a HUMAN-how the hell is that going to work?!? I loved this book, and I still haven't seen the movie cuz i heard they completely butchered it. ( )

A bewitching story of the conflicts within life, family and who we are. Blood and Chocolate is the ultimate metaphor of our daily lives and how we feel around it. ( )

Reading this book I was very much reminded of my experience in reading M.T Anderson’s, Thirsty, in that whist it is certainly an okay-ish if sometimes sluggish read, with a decent-ish plot, and I can appreciate that it is well written and does what the author intended it do, I just did not enjoy it, and in fact the whole experience left me a little empty. (the clue is in all the ish-s!)

The book tends to score a higher rating than I have given in, and fairly positive reviews, and as I said earlier, this is certainly not a badly written book, but while I am going to stick with my rating of 3 stars, I will admit that if I had been in a more conducive state of mind to the book’s mood, then it would have likely maybe a 3.5/4 depending. But such is the Russian roulette of reading. Mostly the timing is right, sometimes, it aint.

Hey ho…

On with the next one!

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/... ( )

The book Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause is filled with mystery and emotion. The story takes place at Maryland and it is told in third person point-of-view.
The main character is Vivan Gandillon who enjoys the change that carries her from a girl to a wolf. She wants to live a normal life and be with others, but it seems impossible with the pack of young wolves after her. So she likes being a wolf but she also wants to fit in with normal people.
Then she meets a guy named Aiden who is fascinated by magic and supernatural things. At first she just wants to play around with him, but the n she falls in love and longs reveal her secret.
With a leaderless pack, the young wolves are running out of control and a brutal murder threatens to expose them. She feels confused and doesn’t know which world she belongs to, and her big question is what is she rally- human or beast? Which tastes sweeter- blood or chocolate?
I like this book a lot. If you are interested in supernatural stories, and if you want to know her answers, I recommend that you read the book. ( )

the second best book i have ever read.i havent finished it yet im on the part where vivian becomes queen bitch ( )

16-year-old Vivian is a loup-garou, or werewolf, who has recently moved from a rural settlement to the city of Riverview, Maryland with her pack to escape a fire in which her father, the pack leader, perished due to human discovery. As her struggles with her human and wolf natures mirror those of her pack trying to blend in with urban life, Vivian falls in love with a human teen and reveals her nature, leading her to fear human reprisal and werewolf censure from the new pack leader, Gabriel, who also has laid claim to her as his mate. Profanity, some explicit violence, and discussion of sexual situations. Ages 14+.

Overall a good read, but the characters and main plot can seem a but off at times and I didn't believe the ending.