Westerfeld, Scott (2005). Peeps. New York, New York: RazorbillISBN: 9781595140838
336 pages
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 15-19
Stars: 5 stars
Subjects: Vampires, Parasites, Future, Science Fiction
Reader's Annotation
19-year-old Cal moves to New York from Texas and when he loses his virginity, he acquires a disease that leaves him with night vision, superhuman strength, and a craving for lots of protein, and as he tracks down the woman who infected him, he suspects a greater danger may be lurking in the city.
Summary
Cal moves from Texas to New York City, and on his first night in the big city, he contracts an STD that leaves him parasite-positive, or "peep". When presented in full form, peeps are cannibals that hide in darkness and prey upon unsuspecting victims. Cal, however, has a more controlled form of the illness that leaves him with great night vision, superhuman strength, and a craving for lots of protein. After contracting the disease, he joins an underground agency that seeks to track down others of his kind. The more he delves into the mystery, the more he unfolds as he realizes that there may be something even worse than peeps in the city.
Notes
Fans of Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy or even Meyer's Twilight Saga will enjoy this take on vampire fiction. It presents an interesting take on vampire legend and does quite a bit explaining how and why parasite-positives exist in society. The mix of medicine and mystery creates a thriller that teens will pick up and not want to put down.
Author Information
