The Uninvited

Gr 9 Up–On her first day in Paris, Tosh is alone and locked out of the new apartment. Luckily Nick, an American student, helps her enter the building and settle in. Nick goes on to play tour guide, showing Tosh the sites of Paris and introducing her to daring street artists who dance the night away and explore off-limits catacombs. Adventures with her newfound friends become cause for concern as reports of violent attacks on women increase; some claim the attacker is a vampire, an idea that takes over news headlines and social media feeds. Feeling wary, but trusting her instincts for self-preservation, Tosh defies curfew and strays into the path of the predator to discover that not only are vampires real, but this one is no stranger. With atmospheric descriptions of scenery and the flavors of Paris, this story has a strong sense of place and delivers an interesting look at the power of art through feminist and multicultural reinterpretations of classical works. But plagued by dull internal monologue, uneven pacing, tepid romance, and inauthentic teen voices, the story lacks emotional appeal and believability and may be trying to accomplish too much as it touches on, but does not fully explore, issues of sexual predation, grief, cultural identity, mass media and hysteria, superstition, mental illness, and chemical dependency. The race of the main characters is not mentioned, though a supporting character wears a headscarf.