Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

  

   Vampire Academy is the first book in the amazing series by Richelle Mead.  It is a fictional book that also deals with real-life situations.  Friendship is one of those real-life situations that Rose and Lissa have to deal with.  A Moroi is a mortal-vampire that have "special" powers and feed on blood.  Strigoi are undead vampires.  They can either be humans turned against their will, or Moroi brought back from the dead.  Dhampirs are the children of a Moroi and a human.  They don't drink blood and they don't have powers.  They are, though, faster and stronger than anything.  (Dhampirs protect Moroi from Strigoi.)  


   Rose Hathaway and Lissa Dragomir both attend St. Vladimir's Academy, a boarding school for Moroi royalty and their future guardians.  Lissa is a Moroi Princess and Rose, a Dhampir, is her life long best friend and self-appointed guardian.  The story starts with Rose and Lissa living in hiding.  They had run away from St. Vladimir's two years earlier.  They are caught and forced to return to St. Vladimir's Academy.  There, Rose returns to her guardian training and Lissa goes back to learning more about the vampire powers she is supposed to have but doesn't.  Lissa seems to be the only one without any powers.  Rose's new private teacher is a very attractive Russian Dhampir named Dimitri.  Rose is getting very distracted by him and might not have the chance to graduate.  She must graduate if she wants to be Lissa's official guardian after graduation.  


   The author incorporates several real life situations in this book such as love, friendship and death. However, I think the main theme in this book is loyalty.  Rose and Lissa remain loyal to each other through out whole book.  Lissa is always there to help get Rose get out of trouble and vice versa.  Even when things might look better somewhere else, they ultimately stand together.  It gives a good example to the reader how friends should always stay loyal to each other. 


   This book is filled with a lot love, relationships, and friendship.  My favorite part of the book was Rose.  Her character is smart, tough and very well rounded, just like me.  She isn't afraid to express herself and can handle any situation that she needs to deal with.  This book is mostly for girls, but I know a few guys that liked it too.  Vampire Academy is a great book that keeps you in suspense and on the edge of your seat.   I give this book an A+.