Still Sucks to Be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Smith, Teen Vampire »

Kimberly Pauley would like to state for the record that she is not really a vampire.
(Or perhaps the Vampire Relocation Agency is just forcing her to say that?) As her alter-ego, the Young Adult Books Goddess of yabookscentral.com, she has been reviewing books for teens since 1998. She lives in Illinois with her son Max and her husband Tony, who is also not a vampire (maybe).

From the Trade Paperback edition.

With vampire boyfriend George and best friend Serena by her side, Mina thought she had her whole life—or rather afterlife—ahead of her. But then Mina’s parents drop a bomb. They’re moving. To Louisiana. And not somewhere cool like New Orleans, but some teeny, tiny town where cheerleaders and jocks rule the school. Mina has to fake her death, change her name, and leave everything behind, including George and Serena. Not even the Vampire Council’s shape-shifting classes can cheer her up. Then Serena shows up on Mina’s doorstep with some news that sends Mina reeling. Mina may look a lot better with fangs, but her afterlife isn’t any less complicated!
 
In this eagerly awaited sequel to the popular Sucks to Be Me, Kimberly Pauley addresses many of her fans’ most pressing questions (Will Serena become a vampire? What happened to Raven? What’s next for Mina and George?) with signature humor and breezy bloodsucking style.

VOYA

Everything has changed for Mina: her last name, her home, her family (her dad is now her "brother," making her mom her "sister-in-law"), and her status (from alive to dead . . . or rather, undead.) Since last seen in Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Mirrorstone, 2009/VOYA October 2008), Mina has been busy dealing with the Vampire Relocation Agency, which has declared that her family must stage their own deaths and move to a very rural town in the South. Once there, she has to blend in with the living, make new friends, not blow her family's cover, and try to not get sucked up into an ancient feud between clans of much older vampires. Mina also has to balance learning how to shapeshift against getting her homework done and juggling the interests of her boyfriend, a schoolmate who insists on taking her to homecoming, and the mysterious Cameron, who also happens to be a vampire. As if that weren't enough, Mina must also figure out how to keep her BFF Serena safe from the off-balanced Raven, who is most likely stalking her. Pauley's breezy writing makes this book a real page turner, rife with action and wit. The author strikes just the right note of teen angst without sounding whiny. The action is exciting, with lots of plot twists, but the gore and feedings are kept to a minimum, making this book a good choice for those who want to get in on the vampire craze without having to deal with a lot of dead bodies. The adorable sketches and delightful quips at the beginning of each chapter also make this one well worth handing over to more upbeat teens (or goths who secretly smile!). Reviewer: Spring Lea Henry