Uninvited

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

These days, Jordan's got a lot on her mind. Her social phobias are getting the better of her, she thinks she messed things up with a guy she really connected with... and her ex-boyfriend, popular jock Michael, has been appearing at her bedroom window since the night after his funeral. It seems the rumors that Michael killed himself aren't true -- he was attacked by a vampire, and became one himself. Now he wants Jordan to join him. Every night, he pleads and cajoles and turns on his charm, trying to get her to invite him in, and Jordan's arguments are starting to crumble.

UNINVITED is a tense, scary book that manages to throw in a little humor on the side. Marrone does a superb job of building show more the suspense about Michael's true intentions and how Jordan will deal with them. Nothing works out quite the way the reader will expect, and Jordan's struggles will have them on the edge of their seats, unable to put the book down. The climax is thrilling and dark, and the ending is hopeful without leaving its heroine unscarred.

It may take readers a little while to warm up to Jordan, whose binge-drinking and pessimistic ways may seem too depressing. But it quickly becomes clear that she has every reason to want to drown out the rest of the world. Her growth as she fights her fears and destructive tendencies is both believable and inspiring. The supporting characters are well-developed as well, from Michael's twisted personality to Jordan's quirky friend, Rachael.

Readers who enjoy books a little out of the ordinary, especially the dark and suspenseful, should run out and grab this one as soon as possible. It takes one of the most familiar creatures of the supernatural genre and manages to tell a story unlike any you've read before. show less

The book's a good one, and it's a fast read. Oh, I had a few nitpicks--I would've liked a little more setting towards the beginning, and there's an opening sentence about the noise Jordan's hair makes across the pillow being so loud she grimaces (hair makes noise on a pillow? Really? Maybe my hair's too fine to do such a thing...)--but there's nothing in the tale to pull one out of the story, and Marrone's work with her protagonist is really good. She sounds like a real teen, and she makes real decisions too, which is what made this book so satisfying. :)

For a full review, which does include spoilers, please click here: http://calico-reaction.livejournal.com/46532.html

When I picked up the book, I was definitely not expecting THIS!

There’s little paranormal in the story, actually I think that the book should’ve been a Realistic Fiction, the whole vampire thing could’ve been dismissed so the story can only revolve around Jordan and her addiction and family problems plus the death of her ex-boyfriend and how she tries to handle all these with a messed-up and broken mind.

The atmosphere is really dark, this is my first book that deals with a teen girl who muddle through her angst and anxiety issues by smoking pot, sniffing coke, no-tomorrow flings and “getting trashed and wasted” at almost every party.

Though it’s YA novel, I think it’s more suitable for older teens (16 and up).

've had my eye on this book for awhile, and finally picked it up at the library the other week. You know Michael is a vampire and Jordan knows Michael is a vampire, but that's pretty much the end of my expectations. Uninvited doesn't dwell on Michael's death and how it affects Jordan - Michael's harassment/stalking actually forces her to reflect on her life. Jordan is basically a shy girl with some odd anxieties, but it all relates to the fact that her shyness has limited her social skills. She started dating Michael the summer he moved to town, and their relationship went faster than she wanted it to, but she was too happy to have Michael in her life, so she let it go. She actually breaks up with him because she so afraid of the show more attention the relationship brings her once school starts.
Her mother basically ignores her, when she isn't unknowingly implying that Jordan isn't pretty or good enough. Jordan feels she has no one to turn to when Michal starts showing up outside her window. He alternately tells her he loves her and threatens her in order to gain access to her room. Jordan's life starts to unravel and she sinks further into unhealthy behaviors. She goes to parties, drinks too much, smokes pot, and has started having sex with the occasional stranger. When an old childhood friend finds out about Michael, she forces Jordan into accepting her help and actually doing something about the vampire, as opposed to remaining a victim.

Verdict:
Oh my goodness, I totally loved this book. It was so very unexpected! I got so frustrated with Jordan, who seemed to accept this inevitable road to self destruction and eventual death or eternal life with Michael. When Lisa, the old friend, forces Jordan to accept her help, Jordan starts to understand that there is more to people than gossip or social expectation. when she starts to edge away from her current group of friends, who aren't a good influence, she finds that one of them really is a strong and good friend. And the reason for Michael visits... loved it! I definitely recommend this books - such a fun read. show less

The premise was interesting... girl's ex-boyfriend dies unexpectedly and then shows up at her window each night begging to be let in. Her life has sucked since they broke up and hey... maybe being a vampire's not so bad? Once you get past the novelty of a depressed girl wondering if letting a vampire in is better or worse than typical teenage life, the book is extremely average. Good idea, extremely average execution.

This is a tense, scary book that manages to throw in a little humor on the side. Marrone does a superb job of building the suspense about Michael's true intentions, and how Jordan will deal with them. Nothing works out quite the way the reader will expect, and Jrodan's sturggles will have them on the edge of their seats, unable to put the book down. The climax is thrilling and dark, adn the ending is hopeful without leaving its heroine unscarred. Mary

This book follows Jordan, a teenager who has been spending her last few months in her bedroom, waiting for the sun to go down. Her ex-boyfriend Michael died over the summer, and has been coming to her window as a vampire ever since, trying to get her to let him in. Jordan's existence has become a blur of booze, boys, and drugs, and she's contemplating whether or not her life would be better with Michael, or over altogether. When her situation hits rock bottom, she must decide whether or not she can trust what Michael has become, or whether there's enough of her life left to save. As a character, Jordan manages to be both flawed and sympathetic. Although I saw her making very bad decisions, I still cared enough about her to hope that show more things would turn out well. Readers who are bothered by portrayals of teen drinking and drug use may not enjoy this book, but fans of vampire stories will probably enjoy it. The author has created a traditional vampire story with a twist by combining it with Jordan's pressing decisions, and I would recommend it to anyone who feels like they've been backed into a corner. show less