The Good Girls’ Ghouls’ Guide to Getting Even

by Julie Kenner

Penguin, 247 pages, $9.99

From the back cover: “Beth Fraiser’s ticked off. Her junior year of high school was going fine. Amazing grades. Early admission to college. And a date with the star quarterback. But no. Thanks to a bunch of jerkwad vampire jocks, she ended up dead. Or rather undead, and with a thirst that a thousand Diet Cokes couldn’t quench.

Now she’s out for blood - and revenge. She knows exactly what to do. Beth’s read Salem’s Lot. Just wipe out the crowd that did her in. But with so many creeps in high school it’s hard to separate the good vamps from the bad. On top of that, she’s got to figure out how to be mortal again. Unless universities start accepting dead girls...”

This is Julie Kenner’s first young adult book and it is a delight. It perfectly captures the woes of being smart, but not popular, in high school and the pitfalls it leads to, though most won’t find themselves joining the ranks of the undead because they join the cheerleading squad. Her method of revenge is wonderfully devious.

Recommended for teens and anyone looking for a quick fun read. Book two in the series will be out in October. - Stephanie L Bannon