Peeps [Paperback]

Scott Westerfeld (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 7, 2006

A year ago, Cal Thompson was a college freshman more interested in meeting girls and partying than in attending biology class. Now, after a fateful encounter with a mysterious woman named Morgan, biology has become, literally, Cal's life.

Cal was infected by a parasite that has a truly horrifying effect on its host. Cal himself is a carrier, unchanged by the parasite, but he's infected the girlfriends he's had since Morgan. All three have turned into the ravening ghouls Cal calls Peeps. The rest of us know them as vampires. It's Cal's job to hunt them down before they can create more of their kind. . . .

Bursting with the sharp intelligence and sly humor that are fast becoming his trademark, Scott Westerfeld's novel is an utterly original take on an archetype of horror.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–Vampire stories are a staple of the publishing industry. They are usually romantic and sexy, steeped in a dreamy magic. Peeps is none of those–well, maybe a little sexy. Nineteen-year-old Cal, a Texas transplant, lost his virginity–and a lot more–when he first arrived in New York City. He became a parasite-positive, or peep–he prefers not to use the v-word. Now he works for the Night Watch, a secret branch of city government dedicated to tracking others of his kind. Unlike the rare natural carriers like Cal, who has acquired night vision, superhuman strength, and a craving for lots of protein, most peeps are insane cannibals lurking in darkness. But now the teen has found the young woman who infected him–and learns that something worse than peeps is threatening the city, and he is on the front lines. Cal's voice is genuine–he's a little geeky, as evidenced by the intermittent discussions on parasites, and he laces a dry humor through this immensely reasonable biological vampire story. The evocation of NYC is exactly right, so that even the most fantastic elements of the plot feel believable. Much of the story is concerned with Cal's detective work and growing relationship with Lace, his Major Revelation Incident (he tells her his secret); toward the end, the action picks up in a race to reveal the horrors to come. This innovative and original vampire story, full of engaging characters and just enough horror without any gore, will appeal to a wide audience.–Karyn N. Silverman, Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. In Westerfeld's latest smart, urbane fantasy, parasite positives, or "peeps," are maniacal cannibals that cause illness. College freshman Cal was lucky: he contracted the sexually transmitted disease during a one-night stand, but it never developed into its full-blown form. Now he works for an underground bureau in Manhattan that tracks down peeps. Apart from the cravings for rare meat and enforced celibacy (turning lovers into monsters is "not an uplifting thing"), life is okay--until a hip, cute journalism student intensifies Cal's yearnings for companionship. Complicating matters are indications that peeps have an urgent evolutionary purpose. Breezy essays on parasitology feel a bit intrusive, and the plot ultimately spirals into B-movie absurdity. But a great many YAs, particularly those who relished M. T. Anderson's Thirsty and Annette Curtis Klause' Blood and Chocolate (both 1997)will marvel at Westerfeld's plausible integration of science and legend. Westerfeld's concluding, passionate defense of evolutionary theory will raise some hackles, but the fact that the whole thing is premised on an STD probably preselects an audience that won't take offense. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Razorbill; Reprint edition (September 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595140832
• ISBN-13: 978-1595140838
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Westerfeld's teen novels include the Uglies series, the Midnighters trilogy, The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#15 in Books > Teens

#15 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Guaranteed to make you squirm March 9, 2006

By Harmonyfb

Format:Hardcover

This YA book was head and shoulders above the adult novels I've read in the last six months. Well-written, creepy as all get-out, it had well-defined characters, an entertaining plot, and even a bit of 'stealth science'. The best part was the way in which vampirism was addressed as a parasitical infestation. Every symptom, from photosensitivity to cruciphobia, was discussed in terms that were not only internally consistent, but perfectly plausible.

The title, "Peeps", refers to a shorthand designation for the vampires - as in "Parasite-Positive". The narrator, Cal, is also infested - he's a carrier, capable of infecting others, but not suffering the more dire effects of the infestation (i.e., the blood-drinking and cannibalism). He's recruited to join the Night Watch, an ancient organization that monitors and controls outbreaks of Echinococcus cannibalis -- the organism which causes vampirism -- to act as a vampire hunter, tracking and capturing others who don't have his lucky immunity. In the process, he learns that vampires aren't the only things that go bump in the night.

Highly recommended for teens and adults alike (middle-schoolers may also enjoy this, but parents should be aware that there are references to sex and "being horny" that may require some discussion, and there are numerous discussions of real parasites that may cause uneasiness.)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and full of adventure, but not for the faint of heart or stomach October 21, 2005

By Teen Reads

Format:Hardcover

First rule: Don't call them vampires. That's just a ridiculous term. The proper label is parasite-positives, or "peeps." Maybe some people think that peeps have a few things in common with vampires of legend, but New York City is a long way from the Carpathian Mountains.

Second rule: Whatever you do, don't forget the anathema, when peeps start hating the things they used to love. The anathema hurts, but in a good way.

These rules to live by are a part of Cal Thompson's daily life. Cal is a peep hunter, sworn to protect New York from the spread of the parasite that, well, makes people act like vampires, if you have to use that word. Cal himself was infected with the parasite, but on him it works differently. He has the superpowers and the urge to feed, but he can still live among those who don't carry the parasite. In a quest to track down the woman who gave him the parasite, he peels away the layers of a mystery involving rats, cats, writing on a wall, and a building with more than a health club in its basement.

Be forewarned: PEEPS is neither for the faint of heart nor for the faint of stomach. But if descriptions of parasites and some truly disgusting life forms under New York City are what you live for, then pick up this book immediately. Westerfeld provides a fascinating, high-adventure look at the lives of parasites and ties it into a gritty urban fantasy with plot twists around every corner.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Vampires with a twist - they aren't what you think they are August 8, 2006

By K. Maxwell

Format:Hardcover

Peeps or Parasite Positive people are crazy cannibals, a danger to themselves and the rest of human society, unless you are a Peep carrier, then you have a lot of enhanced skills but none of the madness. Carriers are recruited to hunt down the mad Peeps. Cal is a Peep carrier who is hunting down his ex-lovers, now all crazy peeps hiding from the things they loved. However, Cal is about to find out that that despite a year of education on Peep behaviour and hunting skills he doesn't know the really important things about the changes in himself.

By the time you finish this book you'll know a lot more about parasites than you did before you started, both the good and the bad. In a lot of ways this is an introductory novel. There is a sequel due to come out called _The Last Days_ but I'm not sure it has the same characters. For me this was an enjoyable young adult vampire-like book with a new twist that doesn't concentrate on excessive sex, blood or soppy romance for its story line.