Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 16))
Another toothless vampire novel. Mina's vampire parents (they turned right after her birth) have been busted by the Northwest Regional Vampire Council. Now 16-year-old Mina must attend teen vampire classes and decide (immediately) if she, too, wants to "turn." Plot flaws like why the Council would want permanently adolescent vampires, who would presumably be harder to place via the VRA (Vampire Relocation Agency), are par for the course in this fluffy, "fact"-filled read (sunlight doesn't kill; vampires never sleep). There are three guys to deal withùhandsome would-be vampire Aubrey, sweet George, also considering turning, and longtime crush Nathan, whom readers will soon realize crushes Mina's BFF, Serenaùand prom to prepare for. Mina's inconsistencies grate (she's a girly-girl with no fashion sense; she's smart enough to get upset at the sexism in Dracula but too dumb to see the obvious even as she narrates it) and the ending is telegraphed a mile away. Still, vampire stories always have readers, and this is pure wish fulfillmentùa vampire romance with no biting. 2008, Mirrorstone/Wizards of the Coast, 304p, $14.95. Category: Fantasy. Ages 12 to 16. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

April Spisak (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, October 2008 (Vol. 62, No. 2))
Sixteen-year-old Mina obviously knows that her parents are vampires, but she wasn’t expecting to be forced to make her own choice between staying a mortal or following in their footsteps for awhile. Unfortunately, she’s just been alerted that she needs to choose soon, and that she’s been signed up for a vampire information class to help with her decision. The boy-watching, at least, has as much potential in vampire school as regular school, but unfortunately the lessons themselves are equally uninspiring and confusing; there’s therefore not much help for Mina, who was previously concerned primarily with school projects or finding new ways to be near her crush, and who suddenly faces a decision that will literally have an eternal impact on her life. Chick lit meets light horror fare in this frothy glimpse into the mind of a pre-vampire girl. Mina, inveterate list writer, is both humorous and endearing as she struggles to please her parents, her best friend, her numerous crushes, and herself all while inventorying the ways in which it sucks to be her. If the writing is a bit over-the-top perky on occasion, Mina has enough intelligence and creativity to match her exuberance, and readers will likely find her appealing enough to forgive her occasional narrowly focused obsession with hotties. The lively pace, amusing tone, and accessibly non-gory vampire plot make this an ideal summer beach read, particularly for horror fans who may appreciate a lighter look at the path toward immortal bloodsucker Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, Mirrorstone, 304p.; Reviewed from galleys, $14.95. Grades 7-9.

Amy Luedtke (VOYA, October 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 4))
In this light-hearted romance, sixteen-year-old Mina struggles with the unusual choice of whether she should "turn" and become a vampire like her parents. Mina's parents are pretty normal and boring, so she has never really given the whole vampire world much thought. Mina's happy complacency abruptly ends when her existence is discovered by the Vampire Council. She realizes that her parents have been hiding her from the Council because it is against the rules for vampires to live with human relatives. Now that the Council is aware of Mina, she is forced to go to weekly vampire classes so that she can make an informed decision by her seventeenth birthday. Although having vampire parents may suck, Mina is having unusually good luck in her love life. Surprisingly Mina meets two promising boys in vampire school, and finally starts a friendship with popular Nathan, on whom she has had a crush for as long as she can remember. Luckily Mina has her best friend, Serena, to help her deal, although she cannot tell Serena the truth about her vampire problem. Mina is an appealing character with a humorous voice, and this story focuses on friendship and romance rather than vampires. The most unbelievable element is not the existence of vampires but how wonderful and kind Mina's family and friends are. This breezy book will be more satisfying to chick-lit fans looking for a quick, fun read than to teens looking for a rich and atmospheric vampire story. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2008, Mirrorstone, 304p., $14.95. Ages 11 to 15.