Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting (Serwa Boateng, #1) by Roseanne A. Brown

Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting (Serwa Boateng, #1) Reviews

• 
  Rick Riordan

  Grab Your Sword and Your Spaghetti. We’re Going to War.
  
  You can only choose one. Would you rather:
  
  A) Live with your parents as they travel the world, hunting vampiric monsters called adze, learning to handle a battle ax and sword and drawing magical adinkra symbols, knowing that you could die any minute. Or:
  
  B) Go to middle school.
  
  
  If you chose ‘B,’ what are you thinking? B is clearly the more dangerous option.
  
  Serwa Boateng has the good life. She is full-on option ‘A.’ She has spent her life learning to slay vampires, accompanying her parents on dangerous missions wherever the ruling council of Okomfo sends them, and just waiting for the day when she will get her own adinkra tattoo that will mark her as a full member of the Abomofuo – the ancient and powerful Ghanaian order of vampire slayers.
  
  Then everything goes wrong. After an unthinkable attack, Serwa’s parents send her to her cousin’s house in the middle of nowhere to live like a normal kid and – THE HORROR – go to sixth grade. That’s right, vampire slayers. You think you’re tough? Wait until you meet Rocky Gorge Middle School. There will be cliques. There will be detention. There will be spaghetti fights.
  
  Just when Serwa thinks she might be able to handle all that, her old problems come back to haunt her too. There might actually be adze in Rocky Gorge -- but now Serwa is cut off from her parents and any possibility of magic assistance. She is on her own against blood-sucking fiends of both the monstrous and middle school variety.
  
  Humor. Heart. Mythology. Action. Tragedy. Triumph. Lovable characters. And a conclusion that will leave you screaming, “Where is the sequel?” With this book, you don’t have to choose only one option, because Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting has all of the above!
  
  I have always loved the folklore of Ghana. Adinkra symbols are a beautiful, powerful way of thinking about the world. The monsters are terrifying. The gods are magnificent. (Or sometimes the gods are terrifying and the monsters are magnificent.) The magic makes so much sense yet is absolutely revelatory. And the Abomofuo are top-notch, world-class vampire slayers that put Van Helsing to shame.
  
  This is a book I have been craving for at least thirty years, when I first learned about Ghanaian mythology and wished I had more adventure stories about it to share with my middle school students. Thank goodness Roseanne A. Brown has stepped up to the plate and delivered us this homerun of novel!
  
  She writes about living between worlds – Ghana and America, childhood and adulthood, the magical and the mundane – and about navigating the liminal spaces to find one’s own identity when one feels like they belong partly everywhere but completely nowhere. This is something many young readers (and many older ones) will relate to. Rosie writes her characters with such lyrical power, wit and empathy that you can’t help falling in love with Serwa Boateng, her family, her friends. You will want to be Serwa Boateng. I know I do. I would even agree to chill with the family mmoatia and watch reruns of The Bachelor if it meant I could learn to draw adinkra symbols and borrow Mom’s battle ax once in a while.
  
  So grab your sword. Grab a bowl of spaghetti. Grab whatever weapon you can find and gird yourself for battle, readers. We have some vampires to hunt.
  
  
  
• 
  megs_bookrack

  **4.5-stars rounded up**
  
  Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is the latest release from the fabulous Rick Riordan Presents imprint. It follows, you guessed it, a family of vampire hunters, or as they are commonly known, slayers.
  
  More specifically, Serwa's parents are the experienced slayers and Serwa is essentially a slayer-in-training.
  
  
  
  More importantly though, Serwa is just a 12-year old girl trying to make her way through Middle School. That sounds scarier, doesn't it?
  
  Serwa and her parents are originally from Ghana, although Serwa has lived in the United States since she was very, very young. They've sort of bounced around, going wherever her parents skills are needed.
  
  One day, seemingly out of nowhere an obayifo, or witch, from their past shows up at their house and attacks, allegedly searching for a magical artifact that Serwa has never heard of.
  
  
  
  Whatever it is, it must be serious business because their home is destroyed and before Serwa can even wrap her head around what is happening, her parents are ditching her in a remote town in Maryland with an Aunt and a cousin she barely knows.
  
  Serwa is shocked. Her parents have always included her in their adventures. She doesn't understand why they would abandon her now. She needs them.
  
  
  
  Making matter worse, Serwa must even attend school. After being home-schooled her whole life, this is bound to be a big adjustment. She's the new girl and doesn't quite fit in.
  
  Luckily, she has her cousin and is able to make a couple of new friends. When mysterious things begin happening at the school, though, Serwa is afraid there is a adze, or shape-shifting vampire, in their midst.
  
  Could this be related to the attack at their old house?
  
  
  
  When she tries to tell her parents about it over the phone, they don't believe her and then cut themselves off from her completely.
  
  Wow, that's harsh. Serwa can't tackle this very serious issue alone. Thus, she is forced to confide in her new friends. She'll just have to train them to be slayers as well. She can always wipe their memories after...
  
  
  
  What ensues is a wildly-magical romp following Serwa and friends as they try to solve the mystery, protect a magical artifact and save their school from evil forces.
  
  I absolutely adored my time reading this. I listened to the audiobook and definitely recommend it. The narrator did a phenomenal job breathing life into these characters. Oh my goodness, was it fun!!
  
  
  
  I loved the influence of Ghanaian culture and folklore felt throughout this story. I liked reading about how her family and culture impacted Serwa.
  
  That's really the beauty of this imprint. I've always learned from these books and find the different legends and folklore from around the world captivating to read about. This was certainly no exception.
  
  The fact that it incorporates vampire lore makes it that much more fun!
  
  
  
  I really enjoyed Serwa as a character. Her personality actually reminded me a bit of Aru Shah. I think that may have been because even though Serwa didn't quite fit in, it didn't stop her from being true to herself; a fun-loving, curious, determined young person.
  
  Not everyone can be the super popular kid, nor should they want, or need to be. I loved how Serwa's character was able to overcome being alienated from a lot of her peers. Once she found her friends, they became so close and really grew stronger together. It's quality over quantity, y'all.
  
  
  
  I also loved the mystery to this and the high stakes. Brown did an incredible job building the intensity as the story progressed. There wasn't a dull moment to be found.
  
  I did get super frustrated with Serwa's parents though. Oh my word, I wanted to reach through the pages and shake them at times. We can't expect adults to get everything right though, can we?
  
  
  
  There was a truly jaw-dropping revelation towards the end of this. It basically flipped what I thought I knew on its head. I loved that! It took me completely by surprise.
  
  Even though I found some scenes towards the end a tad confusing, I definitely think this concluded in a great spot to keep Readers drooling in anticipation of the sequel.
  
  I cannot believe I have to wait a year to see where this story is going to go from here. You got me, Roseanne A. Brown. You got me good!
  
  
  
  Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Another stellar addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint!!
• 
  Drew's ambitious reading

  This was so good! More thoughts to come once I have time to think about that ending?!
  Serwa boateng’ guide to vampire hunting book review!!
  Hello everyone and welcome or welcome back to my account! For todays post I am here to talk to u today about Serwa boateng’s guide to vampire hunting by Roseanne a brown!! This was a book I got sent to me to read and review thanks to Jamie from rockstar book tours and Disney books for sending me a finished copy all thoughts and opinions r my own!
  ——————————————
  So even though the tour is over I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on this amazing debut middle grade novel!! In this book there is a chosen one and found family trope in here which I love! Also the ending?!! Amazing! It’s so hard to talk about this book without spoiling but I loved learning this new mythology even though some of the words r hard to say lol!
  Anyways we follow our 12 year old main character who has an option of going on a huge quest with her parents or go to middle school! I cannot wait to read book 2 which won’t come out till next year sadly! Anyways this is a 5 star read for me and thank u again Jamie for putting me on the tour!!!
  Question of the day: if u could pick any weapon to fight against vampires what would it be?
  Answer of the day: for me I think a bow & arrow would be awesome to use!!!
  #serwaboatengguidetovampirehunting #rickriordanpresents #rockstarbooktour #serwaboateng #RoseanneABrown #disneybooks #rickriordan #booktour #disney #middlegradebooks #middlegrade #mglit #paranormal #vampire #bipocbookstagram #readingdiversely #diversebooks #igreads #bookstagram #booklover #bookish #read #bookstagrammer #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #booksofinstagram
• 
  mo

  My jaw is still on the floor and I’m stuck so I can’t collect it.
  
  This was WOW!
  It was so fun! I know it’s a Rick Riordan Presents book so this might go without saying but Percy Jackson fans (especially Black fans) you’re gonna eat this UP!
  
  This book is steeped in Ghanaian folklore and thanks to Serwa’s amazing, strong voice and Roseanne’s beautiful writing style, we learn a lot in an easily digestible manner. The lore is absolutely fantastic and I can tell there’s so much more we don’t know (yes! Book 2 is coming)
  
  This book is funny!!! but still filled with thought-provoking moments that many immigrants will relate to.
  
  At the core of this story is Serwa finding herself but along the way you meet a rag-tag group of 12 year olds that’ll make your heart bleed and will have you tearing up and rooting for them.
  
  I CANT wait for everyone to read and become as obsessed with my little darlings like I am.
  OUT SEPT 6th!!!
• 
  Renata

  the Rick Riordan Presents formula WORKS if you work it and this book WORKS. The snarky tone and young hero's quest format are familiar and functional and Serwa's Ghanaian specificity makes it interesting. Really fun addition to the RRP canon!
• 
  Sandra

  Check out me reading this in my ARC vlog:
  https://youtu.be/RfN1kpTWm1s
  
  This follows Serwa Boateng who grows up training as a vampire hunter! She is one day left in a humane town when her parents are going on a mission. However, turns out this town isn't so safe after all and there is a vampire to hunt!
  
  I loved this book a lot, the humor, the friendship, the Ghanaian mythlogy/legends woven in, the world building, the characteres... everything was done so well and I honestly had the best time reading this. However omg... the ending... LEFT ME SCREAMING. It was so unexpected and exactly what I love in an ending. When Rick introduced the book and said it was an ending that would leave you wanting he was not lying. If you don't like cliffhangers.... hehehehe. I literally cannot wait for the next book! This was a so splendid and I know I would recommened it whenever I have the chance. 4.5/5 stars.
• 
  Christine Piepmeier

  The first in a new series based on Ghanian folklore. Serwa is part of a family of vampire slayers, created to protect the world from adze (or vampires). Life for Serwa is mostly traveling with her parents, practicing for when she will pass her slayer test. One day though, things fall apart when their house, that should be protected, is attacked by a group of adzes. Even though they survive, Serwa's parents decide to leave her in Maryland with extended family while they go to find the culprit. Serwa is suddenly thrown into something new - middle school. Soon though, she realizes there is an adze somewhere in the school. She must enlist the help of some classmates and train them to be slayers as well so that she can keep her new home safe.
  
  I liked this book sooo much except for the ending, and that is mostly because it was a tragic cliffhanger!!! The ending wasn't bad at all - just devastating after reading this story where I got so invested in the characters. I loved the Ghanian folklore, something I knew nothing about before. I cannot wait to read the next installment of this series! This is a great read for not just middle grades but also for adults! So enjoyable.
  
  I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Karyn

  A great new addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint! Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting was just so FUN. I learned so much about Ghanian folklore and am hungry for more. Plus, there wasn't a single member of the GCC that I didn't like, and Serwa's character development was great to read (and made me so excited for the release of the next book). The little references to Tristan Strong were also really cute and made me feel like I was in some sort of RRP club.
  
  This last thing is something I am *incredibly* picky about, but I cringed every time the school librarians were referred to as the "media center ladies." Just call us librarians!
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Jennifer

  Serwa Boateng wants nothing more than to take the Initiation test and become an official Slayer like her parents. Sadly, they don't think she's ready, despite having accompanied them on ALL their hunts for her ENTIRE life.. When their home is invaded by an obayifo (witch), Serwa's parents decide, for the first time, that the hunt isn't safe and leave Serwa with an aunt and cousin that she barely knows. Now Serwa must navigate public school, new relatives, and keeping the supernatural world secret all at the same time. Oh, add in some microaggression and a little racism at her new school and life is just bliss, right? Without her parents to turn to, Serwa finally begins to get comfortable in the middle of nowhere Maryland, just in time to discover an adze (vampire) in her school - a school that's supposed to be supernatural-free! With the help of a few fellow classmates, Serwa must figure out who the adze is possessing and how to stop it, while still functioning in a normal way at school.
  
  The plot pacing is perfect and the characters are likeable. The racism makes the reader angry, but it totally believable. As the author says in the afterword, Ghana is made up of multiple ethnic and cultural groups with varying mythology, so the book is a mishmash of different traditions. But, it's totally easy to follow and entertaining the whole way through. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology, other books from the Rick Riordan imprint, middle grade adventure and fantasy, or is just looking for a fresh take on vampires. (The vampires in this book don't conform with any of the typical literary vampire tropes or traditions).
  
  4 solid stars!
  
  Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
• 
  kate

  A super fun, action packed, vampire hunting, monster fighting adventure steeped in Ghanaian folklore. With high stakes, magic, secrets and kickass kids, as well as wonderful discussions on history, prejudice, racism and the unjust treatment of minorities, this book is just as though-provoking and empowering as it is exciting and gripping.
  This was an epic start to a new series starring an endearing and badass heroine who I can't wait to see more from.
  
  TW: discussion of racism, instances of racist microagressions and racism
• 
  Carli

  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Ughhhh why do I have to wait for the sequel?? This was amazing. Serwa has grown up with her vampire-hunting parents, moving from safe house to safe house. When they are attacked at home, it is clear that her parents need to go into stealth mode on a dangerous mission. Serwa is sent to live with an aunt she hasn’t seen since her family moved from Ghana to the U.S. when she was five. Their town is supposed to be safe from black magic, but when Serwa spots a vampire (rather, the insect form it takes), she has to figure out how to protect the town, and fast. This had a great twist at the end. Hand to Tristan Strong fans in grades 5-8.
• 
  yayra

  can't remember the last time i loved a book like this!! esp a fantasy book! serwa is my child! roxy, gavin, eunju & mateo are also my children! i'm so jealous of all the kids that get books like this to read, seeing my culture in this way was soo amazing and honestly i learned a lot about ghanaian folklore that i genuinely didn't know. patiently waiting for the next one to be released 😭
• 
  Amber

  This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I was biting my nails reading it. Which is silly now because Roseanne A Brown does not disappoint. Seriously, a book with fireflies being shapeshifting vampires will be my favorite end of summer read.
  
  I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
  
  
• 
  Eileen

  Wow, talk about an ending spiraling out of control! That was quite a ride!
  
  For anyone who enjoys stories that incorporate the mythology and culture of a culture other than Greek/Roman/Norse, you have to check out this story. This story felt a little bit like a cross between Tristan Strong and Aru Shah, but it was definitely a story of its own. The book incorporates Ghanaian culture, history, and mythology, but it also addresses how dark bodies are treated in this country. As the author explains at the end, she draws from the folklore of many regions, and with her imagination has done a remix of old and new stories to create something unique and honestly, lots of fun. The majority of the story takes place in Rocky Gorge, Maryland, which isn't too far from where I live. Serwa Boateng is the only daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who came to this country when she was 5 (if I remember correctly). They have always homeschooled her as they travel from place to place because they are Vampire Hunters. When they are attacked by someone from her mother's past, her parents are sent to bring the attacker to justice, but for the first time, they decide to leave her behind to keep her safe. They end up leaving her with her "auntie and cousin" (in Ghana, everyone is an auntie, cousin, uncle, etc.) in the town of Rocky Gorge. This story ends up being about her navigating both the magical world and middle school. As she basically says at the beginning, she would much rather face vampires than middle school! I really liked Serwa and I enjoyed her interactions with grumpy Boulder, as well as with her friends. I loved Mr. Riley and hope to see more of him in future books.
  
  I think one of the things I really appreciated about this book, other than teaching me about West African folklore, is that the book directly addressed what it's like to be a dark body in this country. And while it acknowledges and absolutely does not dismiss what other non-whites have to deal with (Latinos and Asians, for example), it does make valid points about the extra injustice that people who look like Serwa have to deal with.
  
  As I implied, the ending was a wild ride and I was totally shouting in my mind what she should do. It definitely leaves you hanging so if you don't want to start a series that ends on a cliffhanger that has not yet been completed, you might want to wait a bit. I used to be that way, but I have no regrets. I loved this book and I will not mind rereading it when the second book comes out.
  
  This book and series is a wonderful addition to the Riordan Presents imprint and I can't wait to read more!
  
  I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
  The book will be published on September 6.
• 
  Brenda

  Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting is the newest edition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. Serwa and her parents are Slayers who hunt the Adze, firefly creatures who can possess a person, and even morph into blood sucking Vampire's. Yep, sounds creepy right? All her life, Serwa has desperately wanted to get her tattoo that marks her as an official Slayer, and prove to her parents that she is ready for her Initiation Test. Despite her years of training and having fought alongside them, her parents have been overly cautious and have refused to allow her to take the test. Then her family is attacked by Adze, at what is supposed to be their safe house, hidden by protective wards. Outnumbered they're driven from their home by Boahinmaa, a Obayifo or witch who is seeking the Midnight Drum. Soon after the attack, Serwa and her parents are summoned to a meeting with the Gods and Serwa's parents are tasked with dealing with Boahinmaa.
  
  Serwa is sent to live with her Aunt Latricia and Cousin Roxy in Rocky Gorge, Maryland. Serwa is very unhappy to be left behind by her parents but tries to blend in at her new school, which turns out to be a struggle. The schoolwork may be a breeze, having learned a lot of the coursework in homeschool, but interacting with the teachers and students is where her difficulties lie. Serwa has a teacher who repeatedly pronounces her name incorrectly, Sarah for Serwa, despite Serwa's best efforts to correct her. She also discriminates against Serwa, accusing her of cheating and lumps her into "kids like you." Roxy tries really hard to reach out to Serwa, but she rebukes her efforts of kindness. Gotta love Roxy for trying.
  
  When Serwa has a misunderstanding with another student at school and a food fight ensues, she is forced to join Eunju, Gavin, Mateo and Roxy in a school detention program performing community service on the school grounds as a punishment. For me, this is the heart of the story, the interactions between these diverse characters. I just adored each and every one of them and the bonds that developed between them. Learning Gavin's story of how he came to live with two dads, and especially enjoyed Mateo who is super kind and Eunju. Serwa spent much of her life traveling with her parents and hunting Adze. She really didn't have the opportunity to interact with many other kids. I believe there is a part of her that didn't even know what she was missing until she was forced into detention and into completing the Where We're From collage. She has a strong independent streak and confidence I liked, but there is a huge vulnerable side to her too. For the first time she is surrounded by these other kids, who she needs help from to fight the adze at their school (needing help is a totally new experience for her), but who she's unsure of how to lead and train. I think it zaps her confidence for a while. There is so much growth within her in these chapters of them searching for who the adze's host is.
  
  The reader learns about the Ghanian mythology the story is based on, Serwa's history and culture and how these overlapped with the history of Rocky Gorge from the 1800's. At the same time, we see Serwa feeling stuck or displaced from her Ghanian and American roots. Not sure what to put into her part of the where she's from collage. Struggling with who she really is. And then to top it off learning of the secrets her parents have been keeping from her. There's so much weighing on Serwa and well it's part of the reason that this story is 400 pages long. The length was needed to set up the characters friendship, introduce the Ghanian mythology the story is based on and needed to setup the ending. And oh, what an ending, best cliffhanger ending! Or is it worst cause I certainly felt the need to read the next book in the series, like right now.
  
  I'd highly recommend this for a vampire hunting enthusiast interested in learning more about Ghanian mythology, history and culture. The story is adventurous, humorous and has plenty of action scenes of wielding an axe, fighting Adze, moments of utilizing elemental blessings, divine wisdoms and conjuring protective spells using Adinkra symbols, which the glossary at the back of the book was especially helpful for. There's also an element of dark magic which presents some moral questioning and gray areas to explore, questions like does the use of dark magic make someone entirely a bad person? Lastly, I really enjoyed the chapter headings beginning with sayings from Nwoma, a Twi Book. So yep, defiantly check this out. I'll be here waiting for, Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem. **I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review**
• 
  Alicia

  Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC from NetGalley for an honest review
  
  CWs: violence, minor injuries/injury detail, racism
  
  I liked this one a lot. I thought it was a really great middle grade fantasy, and it set up the series really well. The story in this one wrapped up, but there were underlying questions that were partially answered in the end which set up for the next book. I’m intrigued to see where the author goes with this series.
  Serwa was a fantastic character. She was strong, brave, and funny. I think readers will be able to relate to her, and I think that they’ll enjoy her voice in this story. Serwa thinks she knows who she is, but when she goes to middle school she begins to question things. She makes friends and they share some adventures together, and it was really good to see the group come together. I liked the different dynamics that the characters brought into the friend group. I liked Serwa’s internal thoughts of where she fits in as an immigrant and a Black girl in America. I also really liked Serwa the Slayer.
  The adze (Ghanaian vampires) were really interesting! The author described them really well and I was able to feel like I was with the characters as they were fighting and hunting the vampire. I liked the magic systems as well, and the gods and goddesses were really interesting.
  This was a really fun middle grade mythological fantasy and Serwa was a great character. Her voice was funny and authentic, and she really felt like a 12 year old. I think younger readers are going to devour this story.
• 
  Mrs_R_Librarian

  Serwa Boateng's parents are Ghanaian vampire slayers, members of the Abomofuo (ah-boh-noh-FWO) order.. As a slayer in training, Serwa usually goes on their missions with them.. It has always been the three of them against the adze (ah-DJEH), shapeshifting vampires who can possess a human and grow into giant monsters. But, after an obayifo (witch) brutally attacks their home, her parents are sent on a mission alone, and Serwa is left with her auntie and cousin (practically strangers) in Rocky Gorge, Maryland. Serwa is not happy when she finds out she has to attend the local middle school instead of being homeschooled. On her very first day she encounters a racist teacher, a "mean girl" , accidentally starts a food fight and gets detention. Oh - and in the town that is supposed to have no magic, she sees an adze.
  Now she must figure out how to find and defeat the adze before it wreaks havoc on this small town with only Boulder (a "smelly forest spirit"), Roxy (her cousin), Eunju, Gavin and Mateo (new friends?)
  This is a story of friendship and finding yourself. It is based in Ghanaian Folklore and mythology. There is a glossary in the back to help with the Ghanaian terms and pronunciations.
  
  I really enjoyed this book and an looking forward to the sequel.
• 
  Jackie

  I absolutely loved this book. It had my interest from the very beginning, with things happening almost immediately. This book was full of heart, humor, action, suspense, and important conversations. I really enjoyed learning about the Ghanaian folklore.
  
  Serwa was such a lovable character. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the story. I loved the unlikely friendships that she formed with some of her classmates, each of them bringing something different to the group.
  
  There were twists that I didn't see coming and I wasn't expecting that ending at all. I am so looking forward to the next book.
• 
  Rachel

  I do not have the capacity to review this book accurately and fully as I am no where near the storyteller Roseanne A Brown is. This series will be incredibly popular, even with the length, given the relatable and fast paced plot. It's silly and fun with just enough tension and threat, and not bogged down with lots of worldbuilding. It's the perfect mix for middle school readers to lose themselves in a fantasy without being bogged down with details and preaching. AND not so childish that a 9th grader would be put off. How did Brown do it? I cannot wait for the entire series. I loved reading it and I know so many young people will too.
• 
  Wendelle

  This book was so enjoyable and it exposed me to very interesting mythology, Ghanaian mythology. My only discontent is that I wish Serwa and her crew (not a spoiler, pictured in the cover) did not spend a lot of time just in middle school. I wish they spent a lot more time in adventures in supernatural settings. Instead, there was a lot of time in detention and training in very ordinary grounds. But this book was very enjoyable and I look forward to the sequel that will complete this book's cliffhanger conclusion.
• 
  FanArtGurl

  I am so freaking mad I absolutely love this book. It’s just so good.
  Sometimes I feel like I have troubles with books, but this one was an absolute amazing process to read. I just wanted to read it from the exact moment I got the book
  And it ends with such a cliffhanger I wish I could read the next one now
  But I have something I need to say.
  READ THE BOOK I bet you would love it
• 
  J Wells

  I love the stories that RR has enabled authors to tell with his imprint. This one is no exception and even better I didn't see the ending coming!
• 
  Kaitee Yaeko

  Adze are the only vampires I want to read about now.
  
  Roseanne Brown knocked this one out of the park! Vampire slayer + Ghanian folklore = YES!
  
  Serwa feels stranded between worlds: Ghana and American, her family and everyone else, her world of magic and monsters and then middle school. I loved that her answer to that feeling of displacement was to carve a space for herself AND to realize that she didn’t need to do it all on her own, even if she felt abandoned by her parents. Eunju, Roxie, Gavin, and Mateo all made me laugh. I loved the group dynamic, how they earned each other’s friendship and respect as they raced to save their school from the adze.
  
  I also really appreciated how this group — the kids of color at Rocky Gorge Middle School — had some hard conversations with each other and their teacher, Mr. Riley, about the realities of racism. They didn’t just talk about what was right or wrong, fair or unfair, but also how their experiences differ: Serwa, Roxie, and Gavin are all black. Eunju is Asian and Mateo is Latinx. Honestly, some of the teachers felt more monstrous than the adze.
  
  This book is an invitation into Ghanian folklore. Amidst the vampire-slaying adventure, Serwa discovers so much about her identity and what it means to belong somewhere. This vampire hunting guide is smart and funny and definitely proves that fighting monsters isn’t nearly as scary as being in middle school.
  
• 
  Emmanuella

  Action-packed beginning to the series!
• 
  Sammie

  You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den,
  here.
  
  I received a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
  
  Overall
  
  More Rick Riordan Presents? Why, don’t mind if I do! When I realized this book was by Roseanne A. Brown, I knew for sure I had to read it! Though I haven’t yet read A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (because I’m a slacker), I’ve continued to hear feedback about how awesome it is. So I had no doubt about this author’s writing ability. Plus, I actually don’t know a whole ton about Ghanaian folklore, other than a few of the gods, sort of in passing, so I was really curious to learn more!
  
  Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting gives a Ghanaian spin on vampires. The book—filled with diverse characters, a fun squad, unique folklore, and lots of action—is a super fun quest story with plenty of humor.
  
  I had a ton of fun with this book. It definitely didn’t disappoint (not that I thought it would). The overall story, in general, is fairly fast-paced, though the main focus of the danger varies. There’s a lot going on in this book, but it didn’t feel too crowded or like it was hard to keep up with all the loose ends as they came together. The magic and folklore in this is absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Creepy vampire insect thingies aside, this is definitely a world I’d like to visit!
  
  My Thoughts
  
  - If you aren’t familiar with Ghanaian folklore, you’re in for a treat! In true Rick Riordan Presents fashion, Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting has a bunch of really interesting folklore wrapped into the story. If, like me, you aren’t as well-versed with Ghanaian folklore, you’re in for a treat. Surprises around every corner! I knew enough going in to know that it would be rich and interesting, and I was right. One of the things I love so much about the Rick Riordan Presents imprint is the way it exposes young readers to new cultures and beliefs, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed on that front.
  
  Prepare to meet a new pantheon of gods, who are . . . well, about like you’d expect gods to be: haughty, distant, unpredictable. There’s magic, too, which is always fun. The magic in this book is based on adinkra, which is a concept I was aware of before going in. If you’re not, though, adinkra are symbols that have various meanings, and I highly recommend you look them up! They’re quite interesting, and I really enjoyed the way they were used with magic in this world.
  
  Also, in case you miss it, there’s also a nod to the Tristan Strong series by Kwame Mbalia, which is one of my favorite RRP series, so of course I was excited to see the reference!
  
  - Meet Serwa Boateng, who has trained to be a Slayer since she could walk. But now she has her toughest mission of all: learning how to be a normal kid. This includes going to public school (specifically, middle school) for the first time ever. So you can imagine the horror. A truly dangerous mission, right? As far as Serwa is concerned, she’d much rather be out facing vampires than other kids her age.
  
  Serwa suffers from the same overconfidence that gets a lot of kids at that age. She’s so sure that she’s ready to be a Slayer and travel the world fighting vampires that she doesn’t realize all the things she’s missed out on. As she starts school for the first time, she realizes that she’s maybe not as prepared as she first assumed she was, because she can’t even manage to get on with a group of her peers. How’s she gonna be a Slayer?!
  
  I loved this part, because middle school is hard. I’m sure middle grade readers who pick up this book can relate to that. Serwa is so incredibly competent and strong and well-trained, so to see her struggling just to make it through school is instantly relatable (and actually rather endearing).
  
  - The town Serwa finds herself in isn’t as safe as it first appears, but at least she’s not alone in facing the danger. She’s got a squad who can help her . . . if they don’t kill each other first, of course. This is not the squad Serwa would have chosen, but it’s the squad that she needs. They just . . . don’t exactly get along. Which is maybe a little bit of a problem? In fact, they’re only thrust together due to mutual detention . . . which Serwa is to blame for. Not a great way to start out making friends.
  
  Each member of the group has their own backstory and baggage they’re bringing to the table, of course. But as Serwa is finding out, everyone has their own unique talents, even if they don’t match up with the talents that Serwa herself values. I particularly enjoyed how this book made room for each of their unique personalities, like Mateo, who has a stutter and doesn’t actually want to hurt anything (but is also fiercely protective of his friends).
  
  - One of my favorites characters is actually a Mmoatia—a small forest dweller. He’s incredibly old and every bit as cranky as you might imagine someone would be after all those years. Which, of course, makes him delightful. You’d be cranky, too, if you were perpetually forced to watch children who never listen to your words of wisdom. Of course, after you hit a certain age, almost everyone feels like a child to you, I’m sure. So there’s that.
  
  Boulder, as he’s named, is a constant source of comedic relief . . . but also a voice of reason. Kids need one of those from time to time, am I right? Not that they often listen to him (see above). But hey, he’s there, and he’s snarky, and I am here for it.
  
  - Even though it’s not a huge focus of the book, there’s a small commentary about identity, racism, and finding a sense of belonging. Serwa’s identity is . . . complicated. She was born in Ghana, then moved to the United States when she was little, so she doesn’t actually remember her home country. Her parents are both Ghanaian, though, and that’s the culture she was raised with, so she’s not quite American, despite living in the United States (especially since she hasn’t become a citizen yet). So where exactly does that leave her? She’s still working on figuring that out.
  
  Serwa has also lived a fairly sheltered life, traveling with her parents and not interacting much with society. So she’s caught a bit off-guard when she encounters her first actual racist . . . made a bit more confusing by the fact that it’s not overt racism, either. It’s a steady stream of microaggressions that start with calling her by a different name and refusing to listen when Serwa tries to explain what her name actually is. At first, Serwa isn’t sure if she’s just being too sensitive, and she gives the person the benefit of the doubt, but as the story goes on, it’s pretty clear that she’s not the problem.
  
  Sticking Points
  
  - This isn’t really a sticking point, but it did bug the crap out of me, so of course I’m going to mention it. Serwa’s parents are really bad at parenting at the most convenient times. I mean, I get it. They’ve got a lot going on, and they’re doing their best. But still. If you’ve got a kid who basically never really lies who tells you they’re in a dangerous situation, wouldn’t you give them the benefit of the doubt? Especially since you know they’re in a dangerous situation in general, you just happen to believe they’re safe where they’re currently at. (Even though you’ve believed the same thing before and it ended up being false, of course.)
  
  I mean, Minion is far from a saint, but if she ran into my room and claimed a Chupacabra jumped out of her closet and started chewing her stuffed animals, I would give her the benefit of the doubt. Mostly because I don’t think she even knows what a Chupacabra is, nor how to pronounce it. But that’s not the point! Point is, it really irked me that these two otherwise very attentive, loving parents decided out of the blue that their kid was untrustworthy and immediately dismissed her concerns.
• 
  Joan

  Serwa has spent her life learning to fight adze, Ghanaian vampires, with the best fighters in the world, her parents. However, when Adze attack their own home, her parents leave her with a relative while they go after the worst of the adze. Serwa feels hurt she’s being left behind in this little town she’s never heard of for her protection. But then she discovers there’s an adze in this protected place and she’s pretty much on her own. What to do? Is it possible middle school is more dangerous than being with her parents? Is it possible she doesn’t know about her family history when she thought she did?
  
  I’ll warn you as Rick Riordan did for readers: this book ends on a cliffhanger and you’re going to have to wait for the next book! I HATE cliffhangers but I thought this book was so good, I’m even ok waiting for the next book! Definitely recommended!
  
  I ended up rereading this again. Serwa is a lovely person! While she’s confident in her skills, she is not confident in her ability to interact with humans. Her trust is fragile but when she does trust, it is complete faith. What will happen when she discovers the real history of Rocky Gorge? What will happen when she discovers her own real history? Power combined with adolescent fury and self hatred is an enormous combustion! I can’t wait to read the next book!
• 
  Dusty

  RATING:5 STARS
  
  Roseanne A. Brown’s middle grade debut, Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting, is a powerhouse that stands strong next to the other Rick Riordan Presents imprint titles. Ms. Brown mixes pieces of Ghanian myth and folklore with thoughtful social commentary and the trademark tween shenanigans that everyone loves at the middle grade level to kick off the series with a bang.
  
  Serwa is the latest in a long line of vampire slayers, sworn to protect humans from adze and others who practice black magic. She’s been training with her parents (some of the best Abomofuo in history), but when they are ambushed by a rival they thought long gone her parents leave her in the supposedly quiet town of Rocky Gorge ‘for her safety’. Once there, Serwa must quickly adjust to normal tween things like sleepovers and middle school. When an adze infiltrates the school she’s forced to team up with her new friends to stop it, and decide what she wants to do when secrets her parents thought long hidden come to light.
  
  One feature I’ve loved about every Rick Riordan Presents title is the invitation to learn more about different world cultures, and this book is no exception. Readers get to learn about the nefarious vampires, or “adze” (pronounced ah-DJEH) that live to terrorize humans. They also get to learn about the order of vampire slayers, Abomofuo (pronounced ah-boh-moh-FWO) that exist to protect humans from the adze and other practitioners of black magic. There are also references to gods like Anansi (I noticed the Tristan Strong reference!), mmoatia, and obafiyos. As a side note, for readers (like me) who have no idea how to properly pronounce some of the Twi words, the author has provided a convenient glossary (and pronunciation guide) at the back of the book for reference.
  
  “Some people don’t need a vampire playing around in their head to get them to do bad things. They just want to treat others however they like. And the only way to win against them is to live your life the way you want to, because nothing makes them madder than knowing they can’t get to you.”
  
  While this book undoubtedly serves as an introduction to Ghanian folklore, Ms. Brown also takes the time to bring up some relevant social issues (in a very middle grade friendly way). For example, she brings up some of the issues that Black people face in a predominantly white America. When Serwa goes to middle school for the first time, she has to deal with a very obviously racist teacher (who’s also very much in denial about her own racism). The teacher uses her kindness to one of the students (who is a person of color) to justify being unkind to everyone else, and unfortunately that’s not uncommon to see at any age. She also acknowledges that while everyone who is a person of color inevitably faces problems of this kind, Black people tend to have it worse. I appreciated the reminder that it’s an awkward conversation (and “not nearly as fun as talking about magic or battle strategy”) but still an important one to have at all ages. Some of the other commentary includes how the country has tried to cover up its darker past with shiny new things (Serwa’s school is built on the site of a former slave plantation), and how the existence of one religion doesn’t have to take away from all the other belief systems in the world.
  
  The humor and the heart in this book is evident. Ms. Brown’s ability to create characters (and a world) such that you can’t help but care about them is impressive. I was giggling to learn about Boulder’s obsession with reality TV, and quite amused when they used the ego of the goddesses' against them. There are other small features of the book, like using an abandoned theme park as a training ground (amazing choice) or enchanting Barbies to be training dummies that really helped tie the whole story together in my opinion.
  
  Overall, this was a fantastic middle grade debut for Roseanne A. Brown! If you love action-packed humorous fantasy novels that explore cultural mythology (and some more modern day social issues) than Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting (or really any book in the RRP imprint would be a great choice). After that painful cliffhanger (probably in my top five middle grade cliffhangers of all time, though not as heart wrenching as the cliffhanger in The Mark of Athena), I’m beyond excited to read the sequel Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem next year so I can figure out what happens next.
  
  Thank you to the author Roseanne A. Brown, the publisher Disney Books, Rick Riordan Presents, and Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with a complimentary review copy. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.
  
• 
  Emma

  I started reading Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting on September 28th. Now I've finished it on October 4th. Because Halloween is right around the corner it's the perfect time to read this book. As you can tell from the title, vampires do play a role in the plot. But they are different than the typical vampires most Americans can name. (Dracula, Nosferatu, Edward Cullen, etc.) These are vampires from Ghana called Adze. (The word is pronounced "Ad-jeh." I'm pointing that out, because the spelling is just like an English word for a specific type of woodworking tool. Also, there is a glossary/pronunciation guide at the back of the book that I kept referring to while reading, and it was a total lifesaver.)
  
  Serwa Boateng is a young girl who travel travels the world with her parents who are Abomofuo (Hunters) as they fight Adze and other supernatural creatures. Serwa's life is pretty sweet, if she does say so herself. But everything changes when a group of Adze led by an Obayifo (Witch) named Boahinmaa attacks and destroys Serwa's home. In the aftermath, Serwa's parents send her to live with her Aunt Latricia and cousin Roxy in Rocky Gorge, (Formerly Harristown) Maryland. Latricia and Roxy aren't actually related to Serwa by blood, but they are still family all the same. There's a subplot regarding Roxy's dad, Patrick, who was deported back to Ghana because of immigration issues.
  
  Serwa starts 7th grade at Rocky Gorge Middle School. This is the first time in her life she has ever been to a real school. Right away, things go right off the rails. Her teacher, Mrs. Dean, mispronounces her name as "Sarah Boating." And she is inadvertently involved with a food fight, that's actually more or less really started by a girl named Ashley. But Serwa, Roxy, a girl named Eunju, a boy named Mateo and a boy named Gavin are the ones that end up punished. As you may have figured out, Serwa and Roxy are Black, as is Gavin. Eunju is Korean-American and Mateo is Latino. The book does not shy away from the issues they face in a predominately White town. (Yes, Mrs. Dean and Ashley are White.)
  
  Serwa, Roxy, Gavin, Mateo and Eunju are sentenced to detention, which is presided over the school's art teacher, Mr. Riley, who is also Black. He gets the kids to preform community service acts as the Good Citizens Committee (GCC.) Serwa and Roxy don't get along with the othes at first. (In fact, Roxy used to be friends with Eunju and Ashley, until they all had a falling out.) But their differences get set aside when an Adze attacks Mr. Riley. He's ok, but the kids begin a hunt for the Adze.
  
  Serwa decides to train the others as Slayers, and the all start to become friends. They venture to a realm called Assamando, which is the Underworld, to find a sword for the Goddess Asaase Ya. They do, and Asaaae Ya bestows Roxy, Eun Ju, Gavin and Mateo with elemental powers. Serwa also learns more about Rocky Gorge/Harristown's past, including how the ancestors of Roxy and Mr. Riley are connected to it.
  
  For most of the book, it seems as if Mrs. Dean is the Adze. After all, she's had it out for Serwa since Day One. And at one point, she reveals that she knows that Serwa is a Slayer. But the Adze actually ends up being Ashley. Now that I've finished the book, in hindsight, that should have been obvious. Still, it was an excellent twist. The Adze is defeated. The book should have ended right there. But Serwa discovers a shocking truth about her family. Let's just say that Serwa, Boahinmaa and another Obayifo called Nana Bekoe are more closely connected than Serwa could have ever known. Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting doesn't end on the happiest note. In fact, there's a major cliffhanger involved. But that just makes me all the more eager to read its sequel, Serwa Boateng's Guide to Witchcraft and Mayhem.
  
  P.S., Fairly early on in the book, a character named Tano, who is the God of War, says that Anansi, the Trickster God who often assumes the form of a spider, is hanging out with some kid from Chicago. This is a nod to the Tristan Strong trilogy, by Kwame Mbalia. So, according to a throwaway line, the Serwa Boateng series and Tristan Strong series, in addition to starring Black children as protagonists, and featuring aspects of West African folklore, take place within the same universe. And I think that's awesome!
  
  
• 
  Bonnie (A Backwards Story)

  “When you've been alive as long as I have, you encounter all sorts of people — good people, bad people, mostly somewhere-in-between people — but in all that time, I've never met anyone like you, Serwa. That alone makes it worth seeing what you're capable of.”
  ~SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING
  
  
  I didn't know too much going into SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING other than it was the latest new series in the Rick Riordan Presents Line and the author had written the amazing YA duology A SONG OF WRAITHS AND RUIN. And something to do with vampires? Only, not what you might traditionally think of as a vampire. These are the Adze, and rather than being able to transform into bats, they instead shapeshift as fireflies.
  
  In the Author's Note at the book's conclusion, Brown talks about growing up in Ghana and the "more than one hundred tribes" and the various beliefs and histories and customs spread throughout the country. She herself is calling the novel more of a "remix" of folklore rather than a be-all-and-end all, integrating "the foklore and customs of the Akan ethnic group, of which the Ashanti and the Kwahu (my mom's tribe!) are both a part, among many others...the adze is a creature from Ewe folklore (my maternal grandmother's tribe), and even the Adinkra themselves were created by the Bono people of a region now split between Ivory Coast and Ghana before the symbols were adopted by other groups."
  
  The novel kicks off with a look at Serwa Boateng's life. She is homeschooled and training to becoming a Abomofuo, the Twi word for Hunters, and become a Slayer. Her parents are two of the most powerful Abomofuo in history, and she's hoping to surpass them both. However, she's not yet allowed to take the test that would finally let her step into the roll for good. When the Adze, fireflies who can shapeshift into vampires, attack the family's safe house, her parents are blessed by the gods and go on a quest while Serwa is dropped off with a family friend in a town that is safe and has never had a magical disturbance...
  
  ...until now. Serwa discovers that there is an Adze here as well, and now that she's cut off from all communication with her family or other Abomofuo, must put together her own motley crew, train them, and defeat the evil before the destroys the town. Along the way, she uncovers dangerous secrets that will change her life forever...
  
  As with many books in the RRP lineup, SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING feels like it could be in the same world and time. There is even a brief reference to the Tristan Strong series! There are quests bestowed by the gods, blessings when they succeed, and unlikely otherwise ordinary places where magic is strongest -- in this case, diners such as IHOP. And of course, what is a RRP title without falling in with a motley crew of soon-to-be friends that may have never otherwise given one another the time of day? Each of the kids has history and a story of their own, and while some get more backstory than others, later books will hopefully flesh everyone out further.
  
  There is also a focus on the town and how it was built over the sight of a deadly plantation uprising, where the enslaved rose up against their colonizers and won. The school largely overlooks this horror and doesn't even teach it in school. Many of the teachers are racist and penalize only students of color, forcing five of them to be the Good Citizens Committee and clean up trash, better the school, etc. The only good thing to come of it is that the group begins working together to save the town and ultimately becomes friends along the way. The book also gives an unflinching look at how families are torn apart when a member is deported and also gets into the foster care system a bit. Many kids have never been taught these things and will be able to learn a little history through the series that is often tucked under the rug -- or see their own history on the pages like never before. It deepens the story, raises the stakes, and even contributes to some spoilery things I won't mention here.
  
  If you or someone you know is a fan of the Rick Riordan Presents Line, you won't be disappointed with this latest series to the imprint. I am already excited for the sequel myself!