Once in a Full Moon

Gr 7 Up—Celeste's life is practically perfect. She hangs out with the popular crowd and dates Nash, the hottest guy in school. Then she finds herself drawn to Brandon, an alluring new student from the wrong side of town. On the way home one evening, she becomes lost in a snowstorm and is suddenly surrounded by wolves. Brandon steps in to save her and is bitten. As the two begin a romance, questions linger about what exactly happened to Brandon that night. Is he transforming into something dangerous—or is someone else causing the rampant werewolf sightings taking place all over Legend's Run? Fans of Schreiber's "Vampire Kisses" books (HarperCollins) may be disappointed that Celeste is very different from that series' spunky goth protagonist. She is a "good girl" who volunteers at a nursing home and follows the rules. But even after breaking up with Nash, she never stands up to her bullying friends, and she keeps her relationship with outcast Brandon a secret. Readers looking for complex characters or realistic teen dialogue won't find it here. Even so, this novel will surely be in demand with Schreiber's fans.—Hayden Bass, Seattle Public Library, WA