If you are looking for the typical dark, dramatic, romance-filled vampire novel, you won’t find it here.  Instead, you will find a refreshingly witty story of an average teenage girl named Mina who is faced with a rather extraordinary decision.  Does she become a vampire like her parents or say good-bye and live the life of a normal human?

What I loved about this book was how shockingly honest and witty Mina is.  She has a great sense of humor, tosses in some sarcasm, and faces the world as the average teenager would.  The conversations and inner dialogue are quite true to life while she deals with a supernatural crisis. She worries about boys, losing/offending her best friend; she struggles with keeping secrets and wants to know the down and dirty truth about the consequences of making a decision to become a vampire one way or the other.

Especially interesting is the way the author addresses myths and facts regarding vampirism (in fictionalized format) by placing a myth/truth at the beginning of each chapter.  As Mina comes to terms with the decision she must make, the boy she really does like, and bringing her best friend into her confidence against the rules, you’ll find yourself rooting for her to get everything she wants.  A great light-hearted read for young adults and young at heart.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  11 religious exclamations, 3 mild obscenities, 3 derogatory names, 6 scatological words, 8 anatomical terms.

Violence/Gore:  Numerous references to blood drinking, biting and methods to obtaining blood; character kicks another character without injury, few references to daggers/stakes to the heart; scene where adult character cuts his own wrists; character threatens violence to another character without detail.

Sex/Nudity:  Minor-aged characters of opposite sex kiss three times; hand-holding by minor characters; several references to minor characters being “sexy” or “hot”; adult character describes himself as being “love-slave” to another adult; mom and daughter discuss sex (no graphic detail); inner monologue by character as to whether another character is homosexual; minor character looks at another minor’s crotch while clothed; inner dialogue of character regarding body image while swimsuit shopping.

Mature Subject Matter:

Supernatural (vampires), death, foster care.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Character reports parents being killed by drunk driver; drinking of mixed alcoholic drinks by adults at bar/party; drinking by minors at house party.