St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009
ISBN: 9780312592288
Available: New
Fifteen year old Zack Thompson, orphaned at a young age, is a resident of Nicholls Ward, a hospital psychiatric unit. When a haggard man crashes through the front door of Nicholls Ward and tells Zack someone is after him, Zack escapes his boring, routine-bound life in the ward and goes on the run He must discover the truth about the malady that has left him in the ward, and find out and who is after him and why.
Night Runner is a refreshing addition to the young adult vampire genre. The book breaks out of some of the safe staples of teen vampire novels and is a good fit for the reader who enjoys vampires but is tired of the same old tropes. The action starts right away, and there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages to see what happens next, with a surprise finish. Night Runner’s nonstop action and male protagonist suggest strongly that the book is targeted to teen boys, but there is a romantic subplot, and there will still be appeal to female readers. Readers advisory note: Readers who enjoyed Scott Westerfield’s Peeps may also enjoy Night Runner. Highly recommended for middle and high school libraries and public library YA collections.
Contains: Violence