Reviews
Review from The Midwest Book Review
My Vampire Cousin
J. K. Hawkins
Lily Ruth Publishing
PO Box 2067, Jacksonville, TX 75766
9780982300909, $8.95, www.lilyruthpublishing.com
Sometimes when your parents don't mention your family, it may be for the best. "My Vampire Cousin" tells the story of Alice, a twelve year old curious about her family history. When she ventures where her mother told her not to go, she soon finds that her relatives are not exactly what you would call normal, or even alive... "My Vampire Cousin" is a fine introduction to author J.K. Hawkins' spooky world. Also available and highly recommended is the sequel, "My Werewolf Brothers" (97809823000916, $8.95).
Carla Naylor, librarian of the Chisum ISD Middle School, Paris, TX, recommends J. K. Hawkins’ books:
Hey Ladies,
I just wanted to let you know that I read both of these books this weekend and I can't wait for the rest in the series!!! I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what happened next. I wasn't expecting to get as interested in the story as I did and I completely "forgot" the fact that they were written by such a young author. I was very pleased and surprised. In this day and age, I have to be very careful what I put in the library. Sometimes the language and/or situations are very "not age appropriate" for this age group. I didn't find one thing wrong with these books.
Julie, you are an exceptional author and have a talent that most people only dream of. And I love your imagination!! I see some good things happening to you in your future writings.
Jennifer, you have nurtured a love of writing into your little sister that will last a life-time. You should be proud. With your help and support, the sky is the limit. You have done a fantastic job of putting these books together. The illustrations are great too.
Congratulations Ladies. I think you're on a roll.
I may be contacting you at the beginning of next year's school year to talk about you doing an author visit/book signing at Chisum. I will put these two books on the shelf and see how popular they become.
--
Carla Naylor
Middle School Library
Chisum ISD
Review from ReaderViewsKids.com
My Weird Family Series: My Vampire Cousin
J.K. Hawkins
Lily Ruth Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780615198484
Reviewed by Brenna Bales (age 11) for Reader Views (3/09)
This exceptional novel by J.K Hawkins is both thrilling and humorous. The outstanding storyline, along with the main theme of the story, create a tale that I know many kids will really enjoy reading.
The story’s main character, Alice, is strong, and confident, and smart. This is what all kids look for in a fairy-tale. They can easily imagine themselves as the character, fighting off the vampires, and reacting to finding out that their whole family is made up of mythical creatures. This book is probably for children ages 8-10, but any kid who loves a great adventure story will adore this book.
In the story, Alice finds out that her family is not only dead, but the living dead! As she escapes from all the vampire teeth coming at her, she discovers that no matter what types of creatures your family is made up of, you can still love them. It is a superb work of fiction that any child will find irresistible to put down.
The overall plot of the book is very intriguing, and kept my attention throughout. It did have some parts that went a little too fast, or confused me as to what was happening. No book is perfect though, and it amazes me that the author is only 12-years-old! Her writing is stunning!
The cover of the book looks very spooky, but that famous saying to not judge a book by its cover applies here nicely. The book was very captivating, and J.K. Hawkins is an amazing author.
I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series, and any of the other books that she has written. I give “My Weird Family Series: My Vampire Cousin” by J.K. Hawkins a 5 out of 5.
Review from AllBookReviews.com
Title: My Weird Family Series: My Vampire Cousin
Author: J.K Hawkins
My Weird Family is about a young girl of twelve who finds out that her long-lost relatives are in fact, monsters. The story portrays Alice Trivett as a true adventurer with a quick wit and attractive personality. After stumbling accidentally-on-purpose into a haunted castle, she comes across her vampire cousin and learns things about her family that she hadn’t known before. Alice has to decide whether she has enough curiosity to continue on the path of monsters and vampires or to return back to the human world, something that no one has ever been able to do before.
J.K Hawkins’ has a very developed and hilarious writing style. Her story, My Weird Family, reminds me of the types of stories that made me fall in love with reading when I was younger. Although targeted at a slightly younger audience than myself, her quick one-liners would make even the oldest of readers smile if only for a moment. All of her fictional characters have realistic personalities with quirks and pet peeves. It is these types of traits that make one story stand out more than others. My Weird Family is definitely a stand-out kind of story.
J.K Hawkins is a first time children’s book writer who created her first character, Alice, at the age of eight. She is now the author of the, My Weird Family Series, which includes twenty stories, including My Vampire Cousin. Her favourite hobbies include writing and playing soccer.
In conclusion, My Vampire Cousin, is creatively written and inspires the imagination of it’s readers. Highly Recommended, for young readers who want a memorable read that will inspire their own creativity.
Nicole Harris, Allbooks Reviews www.allbookreviews.com
Title: My Weird Family: My Vampire Cousin
Author: J.K. Hawkins
Publisher: Lily Ruth Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-615-19848-4
Pages: 100
Price: $7.95
Date: May 2009