Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(39)
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3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

At the end of Mina Hamilton's junior year in high school, she is faced with the biggest decision of her life: whether or not to become a vampire. To make it worse, the only guidance she has comes from her slightly crazy uncle Mortie and a vampire class taught by good old Grandma Wolfington (okay, her real name is Ms. Riley) that Mina is forced to take. And just because she is named after a character from Bram Stoker's Dracula doesn't make this enormous decision any easier.

This novel opens with an allusion to Stephenie Meyer, queen of all vampire novels, so I knew that Sucks to Be Me would be a fantastic read, which it was. Sucks to Be Me was a truly witty and original debut novel that I completely enjoyed. It was filled with many laugh-out-loud funny moments from the beginning to end and very rarely was repetitive. In a way, Kimberly Pauley's funny writing reminded me of Shakespeare's comedies, because they both used comedy to mask important themes. I also really liked how each chapter started out with a myth and fact of vampires, especially because Mina usually inserted a sarcastic comment. Mina's character is very lovable, and it was fun to read along as Mina dealt with her confusion regarding the vampire and boy issues in her life.

Anyone who is looking for a lighthearted and witty read should definitely check out Sucks to be Me in September when it hits shelves. I was very impressed with Kimberly Pauley's debut novel, and I hope she plans to turn Sucks to Be Me into a series or at least write another fantastic and witty novel in the near future.

Mina Hamilton has known her parents were vampires for her as long as she can remember. Her dad was turned by a plump Uncle Mortie who became upset and bit him. Her mom turned after Mina was born since she didn't want to lose her baby and knew they wouldn't be able to have any after Mina's mom turned. Mina has now been discovered by the Vampire Council after the Vampire Tax Authority reported her. See, vampires are not allowed to tell humans that vampires exist. (Sound familiar?) Her parents lie and say they just told Mina who is now 16 years old. Mina is then sent to a 5 week introduction course where she will learn about becoming a vampire. Since she grew up knowing her parents were vampires, she finds the classes very boring save for a gorgeous boy whose looks and butt she obsesses over - Aubrey. George (a teen who was raised in and out of foster care), Lorelei (your typical cheerleader), Raven (your usual nemesis with an attitude who likes the same guy as Mina) and Linda (the quiet girl) all are in classes with her and interact throughout the book - George being an important character for later in the book. At school, she can't tell her best friend, Serena, what she is becoming. So, they talk about Mina's crush at school - Nathan.
Ironically, Mina has to write a report on the character Mina and her fiance Hamilton in Bram Stoker's "Dracula" with her crush Nathan. Nathan is this ultra cool rich kid who Mina sees as gorgeous - again with a great butt. Nathan invites Mina to attend a party and she brings Serena along. Since Mina and Serena are usually in the "out" crowd, a few of the "in crowd" girls get upset. We then find out why Nathan is inviting the girls to his parties.
Written from a 16 year old, over-sexed and selfish girl's perspective, this story takes you on a tour of her life - what she likes, what she doesn't like, what she obsesses about 24/7, etc. There is absolutely no action in the book. The plot is two-fold - 1. becoming a vampire - what it's like and what will happen to her friends and life as she knows it when she turns. 2. will she or won't she be with the guys she has crushes on and who will take her to her prom.
If you pick up this book and consider it as someone's diary, you might enjoy it. Add in a few written out text messages, email and hand written notes and you've got Mina's life in one book with a perfect title. Parents of impressionable tweens will be interested to know that sexuality, teen drinking, cussing and adult language are found throughout this book.

So, you think your life sucks? Try being Mina Hamilton. Her parents are vampires, which would sound cool if they weren't so bo-ring and parent-like. And now Mina has to decide whether or not she wants to be one too...in a month. As if high school wasn't bad enough, now she's got to go to vampire classes with a bunch of freaks who actually want to drink blood (Gross! As if sushi wasn't bad enough.). And she can't even tell her best friend about any of it, not with a bunch of red-tape-loving vampire bureaucrats breathing down her neck. How's a girl supposed to find a prom date and get through school with all this blood-sucking drama going on?


You are sucked into this book from page one. Mina's voice is original, funny and truly engaging. She felt real and seemed like a teenage girl you might know.The little facts and truth about some vampire myths over each chapter were pure genius and each myth had something to do with that chapter. The book made you laugh a lot and the spin added to this vampire book was great. Pauley writes like an experienced author and I had trouble believing that this was her debut novel. The plot was great and fun to read. This was a fast read that had you laughing at every page. The romance, humor,normal teenage problems, and vampires incorporated into this book makes Sucks to be Me a perfect summer read that everyone should read.
-Carol
www.bookluver-carol.blogspot.com

Mina has a life changing or is that death changing decision to make. This comes on top of deciding what to wear, the cute boy in her class, who will she go to prom with, and dealing with her weird uncle.


Besides being a fun read written in a quirky manner Sucks to be Me goes hand in hand with the major decisions that high school student make every year. Who they date, grades, what to major in at the college they choose, all are life changing decisions.

This would be an excellent book to use in a classroom in middle or high school. With so many possible scenarios of decision making it would get students thinking about what they do today and how it affects the future.

Mina Hamilton has a major life (or death) decision to make, and only a few weeks in which to decide. Should she, or should she not, become a vampire? It seems like a no-brainer. I mean, Buffy would know in, like, a split second. But, having vampire parents sort of complicates matters.

This highly humorous novel puts a new spin on the teen vampire tale. Mina is a typical high school student whose extra-curricular activities are no more exciting than hanging at the mall or pizza place, until her undead parents break the news that she has to start attending vampire information classes twice a week. Apparently, they never told the Regional Vampire Council that they had a child, and the situation has caused major drama. Now, Mina must make a decision about her future (and exactly how long that future will last) pronto!

This light read is worth five stars just because it literally made me snort lemonade through my nose. Pauley dares to go there again and again, with topical references and jabs at modern-day vampire lore. Her main character is a self-described closet girly-girl who has kick-butt tendencies and an attitude that readers will love.

Totally entertaining, with a top-of-the-line teen voice!

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

What a fun read! Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, slapstick humor and laugh-out-loud humor, this book had me giggling at every turn.

Pauley gives a new twist to the traditional vampire genre with a delightfully witty main character (Mina) who has to choose whether she wants to be a vampire like her parents or remain human. Complete with teen angst, love interests (both human and vampire-wanna-be), best friend issues, and other teen situations, this book was a great read.

I especially love that Kimberly mentioned Stephenie Meyer on the first page! ha

Mina, yes, the same name as from the Dracula novel, has known for years that her parents are vampires, but it's not until they get a unexpected visit, that the vampire community learns of Mina. This means that in a month, Mina has to make her final decision on whether or not she wants to be a vampire. Mina also has to take a class on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help her make the decision. She meets a bunch of different people in her class and a boy, George, even goes to her school.

The only thing that bothers Mina, besides the whole blood thing, is that she can't even talk to her best friend about what she's going through. The vampire community is very strict about who finds out and how they take care of the problem. And, speaking of being human, there's also the massive crush that Mina has on the popular guy at school, Nathan, and what will she do if they start dating? Ah, the many reasons that it sucks to be Mina.

Sucks To Me is a very enjoyable first novel from Ms. Pauley. I love how at the top of the chapter headings it lists myths and facts of being a vampire. It made me laugh often. Mina is also an entertaining character who is very insightful and not to mention funny. All the characters in the book are very memorable and add to the story. I'm glad to say I read that Ms. Pauley is writing a follow up novel to this one, even though she's not sure when it's going to be out. But, I for one will be looking for it at my local bookstore.

Being a high school student is stressful all by itself. Crushes, friendships, homework, the list goes on and on, but for Mina Hamilton life just got a little more complicated. You see, Mina's parents are vampires. Her dad was accidently turned by her Uncle Mortie and since her mother was pregnant with her at the time, she waited to become a vampire until after Mina was born. The problem?? Mina's parents never told The Council about having a baby and humans are NEVER supposed to find out about vampires and since Mina is human, she isn't supposed to know. Once The Council finds out, Mina is told she must make the biggest decision of her life. To become a vampire or not.

Pros
She'd be able to continue seeing her mom and dad.

Cons
She'd lose her best friend Serena
She wouldn't sleep anymore (and she LOVES a good nap)
She'd never be able to have children
She'd always look sixteen
She'd have to move around every 10 years or so

Mina is forced to take vampire classes for a month prior to making her decision. There she meets other kids her age contemplating the same decision and some information about vampires she never learned from her parents. In the beginning, she doesn't see much good to becoming a vampire.

Follow Mina's thought process through her witty narrative and frequent lists she includes in the story. Lists like, "Why It Sucks To Be Me," and "Why It Really Sucks To Be Me."

Mina is a strong female character that you can't help but like. She stands up to the resident "mean girl" at school, she is nice to most everyone, and she is struggling in the romance department like most teenage girls. What more could you ask for in a young adult book?

The author, Kimberly Pauley, is the creator of YA Books Central.
Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe)

I love STBM. when I first got the book, my mom told me "maybe you can give the book to your friend for her birthday and we can always just buy another one." So I started reading immediately and I loved the book! Towards the end of the book, I was reading on the couch and I looked at the time and realized I had been reading for and hour and a half (okay, I'm not a bookworm, but thats a lonnnggg time... for anyone!!!). I'm not a lightning-fast reader, so truthfully I can't say I read it all in one day... (heehee) but the friend I gave it to did! I love this book and I definitely recommend it.......... can't wait until the next one!!!
oh yeah, I forgot the summary..................
summary:
Mina is a high-school girl who has vampires for parents. One day, she discovers that she has to decide to become a vampire or not..... Mina is forced to take "vampire lessons" to learn about becoming a vampire and to decide whether or not she wants to become one... She deals with boy problems and prom, weird parents, and funny situations =). I hope you enjoy the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As if high school isn't hard enough, now Mina also has to decide whether she wants to become a vampire. Both of her parents happen to be vampires and they've kept Mina a secret from the Vampire Council, until recently. Now that the council knows Mina is in on their secret she has to decide whether she wants to join her parents in immortality. That means leaving behind her best friend Serena and the crush of her life Nathan.

What a great debut novel that is sure to stand out amongst the sea of other vampire books! You might think the main premises for this book is vampires, but I found that the story is more about a teenager finding herself than anything else. Even non-vampire fans will like this book. It is a funny and fresh look into the typical vampire myth. Pauley's vampires aren't glamorous or irresistible, Mina's dad is an accountant, you can't get much more unglamourous! They are just regular "people" and I think that is what gives this book it's edge. It is also delightfully funny and well written. Mina is a great female protagonist; funny, smart, sarcastic, and insecure. This is a Story Siren recommended book!