Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Candlewick Press, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2791-1

Plot Summary

When beloved chef Vaggio is murdered mere months before the re-opening of the vampire-themed restaurant, Sanguini’s, it is up to Quincie to not only solve his murder but to train the new chef as well. Unfortunately, both these tasks will not be easy as Quincie’s first suspect is her best friend (and crush) Kieren and new chef Henry Johnson seems anything but a bloodthirsty vampire. Soon, however, while not forgetting Vaggio’s brutal slaying, Quincie finds that she must devote all her time to the re-opening of Sanguini’s and leave Kieren to find Vaggio’s killer. This is made even more difficult by the creepy girlfriend Quincie’s uncle insists on dating, Quincie’s new school schedule, and her knowledge that Kieren will soon leave town, possibly never to return. But while Quincie’s struggles to stay focused on Sanguini’s menu and the new chef’s outfit, sinister plots are afoot, ones that promise to change Quincie’s life forever.

Critical Evaluation

Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Tantalize is a welcome reprieve from the standard paranormal romance fare. While almost all the characters in her book are not quite human, ranging from werewolves to vampires to werecats, the plot does not fully revolve around this detail. In fact, at least half the novel is about Sanguini’s re-opening and Quincie’s hard work transforming new chef Henry Johnson into a fictional bloodthirsty vampire. And while the mystery of who murdered Vaggio constantly hovers in the background, it too is not the focus of the novel. As a result, the paranormal and even the plot are secondary to character development, resulting in a fully realized protagonist. True, readers may think Quincie foolish at times but her actions almost always have a rational motivation behind them. For example, while she claims that the extensive time that she spends with Bradley is for the good of the restaurant, she privately admits to herself that she is really trying to distance herself from her best friend Kieren. But while Smith’s plot moves quickly and her protagonists are intriguing, Tantalize has too many loose ends and weak premises to be considered a truly great novel. For example, it seems odd that police cannot to track down the killer(s) after a spate of murders, indeed vampirism as a possible explanation does not even seem to occur to the authorities. So too, readers will be confused when Quincie begins imbibing large quantities of wine, as she is in all other respects, a fairly responsible character. Of course, the ultimate weakness of the book is in its implausible ending as readers are left to believe that everything will return to a state of relative normalcy simply on a villain’s promise. So, while Tantalize may be a refreshing read compared to some paranormal novels, it still cannot be considered fine literature.

Reader’s Annotation

In the wake of her friend Vaggio’s brutal murder, Quincie must open a restaurant, train the new chef, deal with the knowledge that her best friend is leaving her (perhaps forever), and try to catch a killer before he (or she) kills again.

About the Author

Cynthia Letitich Smith is the author of four children’s books and three YA novels. She is currently at work on two graphic novels, Tantalize: Kieren’s Story and Eternal: Zachary’s Story. Smith is quite involved in the authorial community. Not only does she hold a membership to the Authors Guild but to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well. She also belongs to the Writers’ League of Texas and the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers (Smith, 2011). Graduating from the White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas, Lawrence and The University of Michigan Law School with dual degrees in News/Editorial and Public Relations, she went on to work a variety of jobs including popcorn popper, law clerk, receptionist, and reporter (Smith, 2011).

Smith is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and has lived in a number of states before she settled down in Austin, Texas (Smith, 2011). When she is not writing she enjoys spending time with her writer husband, Greg Leitich Smith, and their four cats.

Smith, C.L. (2011). About the author: Cynthia Leitich Smith. Retrieved from http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/CLS/about_cyn.html

Genre

Coming of Age, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Tags

Werebeasts, werewolves, vampires, transitioning, murder mystery, orphan, restaurant, make-over, Italian

Curriculum Ties

This book could be used in conjunction with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It could also be used to discuss how authors influence each other. In her Author’s Notes, Smith writes that there are multiple references to different authors made in her book (such as Maurice Sendak and Bob Kane) (p. 315). Teachers could then use Smith’s references as a way to introduce authorial influences.

Booktalk Ideas

--Talk a little about vampire lore and how Tantalize’s vampires differ from traditional vampires.

--Give the talk as a detective trying to determine the guilt and innocence of the characters.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Reading Level: 5^th grade

Interest Level: 9^th-12^th grade (14-18 yrs.)

AR BookFinder. (2010). Tantalize. Retrieved from http://www.arbookfind.com/bookdetail.aspx?q=114328&l=EN&slid=191263690

Challenge Issues

This book could potentially be challenged because it is sensual and contains multiple references to paranormal creatures. If challenged, librarians should direct would-be challengers to the library’s collection policy and should show how the book relates to school curriculums.

Favorite Quotes

This is not so much a favorite quote as a favorite part but I really enjoyed Bradley’s clever predator and prey menus.

Why Was This Included?

I decided to include this book because it was required reading for class. I also wanted to make sure to include some paranormal fiction in my blog.