STILL SUCKS TO BE ME

A light mystery, plenty of teenspeak and lists delineating the frustrations of protagonist 17-year-old Mina are on offer in this supernatural comedy that features some bright points but is mostly forgettable. A sequel to Sucks to Be Me (2009), this opens as Mina and her bloodsucking family is being moved to rural Louisiana by the Vampire Relocation Agency, much to Mina’s chagrin. She quickly becomes entangled with Cameron, a gorgeous but secretive fellow vampire she fears may be part of a dark society that preys on humans. Mina’s dry wit will make many a reader smirk, but in some instances it doesn’t ring true, such as when she uses the tired, dated exclamation, “Not” to sarcastically negate a statement. The pacing, particularly in the middle section, is quite slow, serving to soften rather than sharpen the suspense in a plot that is already somewhat predictable. For a fresher, unique vampire comedy, teens might try Catherine Jinks’s The Reformed Vampire Support Group (2009), but the light romance on offer here will undoubtedly have its fans. (Supernatural comedy. 12 & up)