Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe)

Pauley, Kimberly, Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe), Wizards of the Coast, 2008, 297 pgs.

Summary: Mina has parents who are vampires, this does not make her a vampire, but it does mean that Mina has to decide whether she is going to be a vampire or else she gets taken away from her parents. This is only the hilarious beginning to a very funny book about Mina and her journey to deciding whether she wants to be a vampire or not. Yet another take on a vampire book, this novel does a great job in putting a humors twist on the subject rather than the dramatic one so many of the other vampire novels have taken. As Mina attends Vampire school and learns more about her choice, we as the reader also begin to see the common themes of coming of age struggle that are so popular in so many young adult books. There are still the dramas of high school with the twist of vampire school and experiences with her mentor uncle.

Evaluation: Overall I enjoyed the humor in this novel and many times found myself laughing out loud as Mina said or did yet another funny thing. The lighthearted air of the book is a great break from so many problem novel teen books, but tough issues are still addressed in this novel. I think this a fun young adult book with an edge that will attract many teens and other young readers.

Annotation: My parents are vampires and now I have to choose. To be a vampire or not to be a vampire, that is the question.

Significance of Book: This is a new look at vampires and is the trend that some books are going in. Vampires living among us naturally.

Genre/subject: fiction, paranormal, high school, family

Awards:

National:

• ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2009

Why I selected the book: The catchy title urged me to grab this title. I was also interested to see how this take on vampires would look.

Price: $ 8.95