5. Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

ISBN: 978-0-7636-4059-0

Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MA, 2007

311 p.

Plot Summary

Having just lost her parents three years prior, 17-year-old Quincie is left in charge of the family restaurant, Sanguini’s, with help from Uncle Davidson.  When still in preparation for the new reveal of the restaurant as vampire-themed, the head chef, Vaggio, is murdered in the kitchen while Quincie is in the other room.  Seemingly mauled by a Wolf, Quincie’s best friend, Kieran, becomes a person of interest.  Although Quincie quickly dismisses the possibility, she begins to question the timing of when Kieran found Vaggio and starts to doubt her trust in him.  Especially considering he is a hybrid Wolf, Quincie is very aware of his inability to control his transformation and her doubts increase.  Also, when Kieran tells her that he must soon leave and join a pack of Wolves, Quincie begins to feel even more alone.  Meanwhile, the restaurant is left without a head chef weeks before opening, leading Quincie and Uncle D to seek out a replacement.  Henry Johnson shows up at the restaurant, looking to fill the position, and Quincie aims to transform him into the vampire chef that makes the restaurant unique, even renaming him Brad Sanguini.  Even though her attempts don’t quite seem to make the grade, Brad enters the restaurant on opening night, looking the perfect picture of the Dark Lord.  Still under suspicion for Vaggio’s murder, Kieran makes it his mission to figure out exactly who Brad is and, worried about the changes he sees in Quincie, hopes to convince her before it’s too late.

Critical Evaluation

Having read a few vampire novels, the aspect of Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Tantalize that most appealed to me was the strength of Quincie’s character.  In contrast to the typical female teenager in vampire novels, the story focused more on Quincie’s life and her struggles, adding a touch of romance with her attraction to both Kieran and Brad as one element of her life.  Considering the tendency of many teen girls to throw themselves fully into relationships, Quincie serves as a role model that is able to balance the different parts of her life.  Deeply affected by the death of her parents, Quincie is forced to grow up fast and take on more responsibilities than many girls her age, particularly when her only guardian does not provide much support beyond helping with the restaurant.  Even then, though, Quincie is steadfast in her declaration of her ownership of Sanguini’s, aware that once she turns 18, the restaurant will be her sole responsibility.  While other novels bring the protagonist’s romantic relationships to the forefront in that they are nearly constantly thinking about them, Quincie is able to manage her life, including entertaining thoughts of her romantic interests.  However, Leitich Smith reveals her character’s fallibility and immaturity through her nearly blind acceptance of the new chef in town.  Therefore, even though Quincie demonstrates a more mature outlook when handling her grief over the loss of loved ones and the responsibility she inherits, her naivety toward Brad makes her a more relatable character.  It would have been easy to create Quincie as either a broken-spirited or a tough-skinned teen because of the trials she has had to deal with early in life, but the blending of the two makes her into a realistic character amidst the supernatural characters pervading the novel.

Reader's Annotation

Austin, Texas is a quirky town where vampires and werepeople are not an uncommon occurrence.  When Quincie’s mentor is murdered weeks before her new vampire-themed restaurant opening, Quincie is forced to find a new chef, while her suspicions peak over her long-time crush’s involvement in the murder.

Information About the Author

Cynthia's fiction is noted for its diversity, humor, lyricism, imaginativeness, compelling action, and mid-to-southwestern settings.  Her website at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com, offers articles, interviews, reading recommendations, publishing news, and annotated links.  It was named one of the top 10 writer sites on the Internet by Writer's Digest, and it was recognized among "Great Sites for Kids" by the American Library Association in the "Authors/Illustrators" category.

She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Writers' League of Texas, and Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. She graduated with degrees in news/editorial and public relations from the White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas, Lawrence in 1990 and from The University of Michigan Law School in 1994. She also studied abroad in Paris, France during the summer of 1991 via a program sponsored by Tulane Law School and the University of Paris IV. (information from author’s website: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/CLS/about_cyn.html)

Genre

Young Adult – Paranormal Romance/Dark Fantasy/Contemporary Fantasy

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1. Popularity of teen vampire/werewolf novels.

2. Discuss the differences between Quincie's relationship with Kieran and Brad.

3. Focus on the topic of teens dealing with adult issues.

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Challenge Issues

Because of the inclusion of vampires and werepeople, there are some violent and gory depictions in the novel.

When confronted with complaints about this novel, librarians should become familiar with the material and its content.  Turn to reviews from publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, as well as reviews from teens that have read it.  Also, it is beneficial for librarians to present reasons backed by the ALA in support of intellectual freedom.  As stated in the Library Bill of Rights:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Why Include Book in Selection? 

This novel was a required read for the class.  I enjoyed the uniqueness of the vampire/werewolf/human story and decided to cover it in this project, as well.