Mock Printz 2010: The Reformed Vampire Support Group

Title: The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Author: Catherine Jinks
Publisher: Harcourt
ISBN-13: 978-0152066093


Summary:
We are all used to the image of the vampire as a powerful, sexy creature of the night.
Nothing could be further from the truth in Catherine Jinks’ story “The Reformed Vampire Support Group”. Jinks’ vampires are sickly creatures hiding in the shadows and feeding on guinea pigs. The main character is Nina Harrison who was turned into a vampire in 1973 and has spent the last 30+ years as a wan, petite, fifteen year old teenager with a bad haircut. To make it through the trying days Nina and her fellow vampires meet once a week in a support group founded by group member Sanderson. They would like nothing more than to stay under the radar but to their horror they discover they’ve been exposed somehow when one of their members is staked.
The support group has to find the killer before someone else gets staked.

Review:
It seems like vampire books are being published left and right in YA literature so it’s refreshing to read this book by Catherine Jinks with it’s unusual cast of characters. Her vampires are flawed people who can be whiny and selfish but also brave and resourceful. This book is for the teen who is interested in a book where the vampire genre is turned on its head. It even has a touch of romance as well as the requisite werewolf if you just have to have that in your supernatural reading. There are many characters some of whom get barely any “air time”. In fact there is one member missing from the cover art. It is an interesting read and the author does give the back story as to how the support group members were turned. Recommend to those looking for a different kind of vampire book.