Suck It Up and Die

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager feels like an outsider or is struggling with the pressure to conform to social expectations. It speaks to the teen who feels invisible or misunderstood, using a supernatural metaphor to explore the very real weight of identity and ethical choices during the high school years. The story follows a teenage boy who unexpectedly becomes a vampire, but rather than a typical horror story, it is a humorous and thoughtful look at what it means to be a good person when you feel like a monster. Parents will appreciate how the book tackles heavy themes of mortality and moral responsibility through a lens of wit and relatable adolescent angst. It is appropriate for middle to high schoolers who enjoy urban fantasy but want something deeper than a standard romance. By choosing this book, you are offering your child a way to discuss peer pressure and the courage it takes to define one's own values, even when the world (or your own nature) is pushing you in a different direction.