Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

TantalizeQuince’s parents died in a car accident three winters ago. The most important thing she has left of them is the Italian restaurant that the family owns, which is now being run by her Uncle Davidson until Quincie turns twenty-one. Business has been slow in the downtown Austin restaurant, so Uncle D has decided to change Fat Lorenzo’s into a vampire-themed restaurant. Sanguini’s seems cursed from the start when Vaggio, the head chef, is violently murdered in the kitchen and the police begin to suspect Quincie’s best friend and love interest, Kieren, as the murder. It doesn’t help that Kieren actually is a hybrid-werewolf. When the new chef arrives and murders in the downtown area continue, Quincie finds her life taking a very unsettling turn.

Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer

8th grade bitesVladimir Tod lives with his Aunt Nelly since his parents were killed in a house fire. Vlad has a secret. He’s a vampire. His father was a vampire and his mom was human. Vlad is the first known case of a vampire actually being born and not “created” through a vampire bite. So some consider Vlad special while others detest his existence.

Nelly, a nightshift nurse, keeps Vlad stocked in packets of blood from the hospital. She only takes the ones that will be destroyed because the packets are about to expire. Vlad has never killed anyone to feed. Vlad’s best friend, Henry, knows his secret, too. But odd things soon start happening in Vlad’s town. Mr. Craig, a favorite middle school teacher, is missing. His substitute, Mr. Otis is very different and Vlad believes Mr. Otis is on to his secret. The vice principal watches Vlad like a hawk just waiting for him to mess up so he can administer a severe punishiment. Mark and Todd, the school bullies, continually pick on Vlad for his “goth” appearance, while Vlad longs to have the courage to speak to his crush, Meredith. And, as his vampire powers become more prominent, he longs to know more about his father and his background. Check out Eighth Grade Bites to find out how Vlad handles it all!

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean by Jason Somper

vampirates demons of the seaVampirates: Demons of the Ocean follows the story of the fourteen-year-old Tempest twins, Connor and Grace, as they make their way in the world. When their father dies, they leave their lighthouse home to get away from their only choices: an orphanage or adoption by an uncaring couple. They steal their father’s boat and head out to sea. When a violent storm capsizes their boat, Grace and Connor are separated. Connor is rescued by pirates and Grace is rescued by a mysterious ship with a ghastly crew.

Follow up this adventure with the sequel, Vampirates: Tide of Terror. Connor considers joining the Pirate Academy while Grace struggles with visions of the Vampirate ship and her connection to Lorcan.

If you like The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, you should enjoy the Vampirates series.