Suck It Up by Brian Meehl

From the Publisher

★ “A refreshing take on the vampire romance.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

Are you up to your neck in bloodsucking vampire stories?

Tired of those tales about dentally enhanced dark lords?

Before I wrote this book I thought all vampires were night-stalking, fangpopping, bloodsucking fiends. Then I met Morning McCobb. He’s a vegan vampire who drinks a soy-blood substitute called Blood Lite. He believes staking should be a hate crime. And someday he hopes to march in a Vampire Pride Parade. He was also the first vampire to out himself and try to show people of mortality, like you and me, that vampires are just another minority with special needs. Trust me—this is like no other vampire book you’ll ever feed on.

So, as my buddy Morning says, “Pop the lid, and suck it up.”

“Appealing characters and an original vampire world. Delightful for those who like their romance vaguely paranormal, their adventure romantic and their vampires defanged.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A flawed and affable protagonist . . . snarky humor, outsider-looking-in perspective, and fresh new takes on the familiar.”—School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

Meehl's (Out of Patience) contribution to the growing subgenre of YA vampire novels is very, very funny—similar to M.T. Anderson's Thirsty, but less twisted and heavier on the humor. Morning McCobb, a recent graduate of the IV (International Vampire) League, is the vampire as superhero, geek and lonely boy all rolled into one. His first postgraduation assignment is to tell the world that yes, vampires do exist. Becoming the first out—and therefore most famous—vampire isn't easy (cue the media frenzy). Being around this unlikely heartbreaker is difficult, too, as Portia Dredful finds out when her PR agent mom's highest-profile client moves in with them. The author is especially clever with names (Penny Dredful, Merder Sink), his prose engaging, smart and fast-paced. Witty one-liners pile up while Meehl exploits every known vampire cliché to great comic effect (Morning not only refuses human blood, he's vegan, subsisting on a protein blood substitute called Blood Lite made from soy). A refreshing take on the brooding vampire romance, with a misfit vampire protagonist readers are certain to love. Ages 12—up. (May)

VOYA

Morning McCobb is an average, sixteen-year-old nerd with a secret fantasy to be a superhero. In addition, he is a vampire, although he has never tasted human blood, instead subsisting on a soy-based substitute called Blood Lite. Recently graduated from Leaguer Academy, Morning is now a member of the International Vampire League, vampires who have evolved beyond the need for human blood. Tapped for a special assignment, he is to be the first vampire to go public and show the world that Leaguer vampires are not monsters like the few remaining Loner vampires, the traditional blood-draining kind. Public relations maven, Penny Dredful along with her teenaged photojournalist daughter attempt to aid Morning with his assignment while a renegade Loner does his best to stop him. Naturally things do not go smoothly, and Morning is horrified to discover that a little blood lust lingers in every Leaguer when confronted with the right-or wrong-circumstances. Meehl crafts an entertaining story of adventure and romance with more than a little humor. Morning is so sympathetically drawn that the reader will at times forget that he is a vampire and easily relate to him. The plot's pace will keep teen readers engaged, and the characters have depth and personality. Most readers will find this tale a welcome addition to the growing list of vampire titles. Reviewer: Debbie Clifford

KLIATT

Sixteen-year-old Morning McCobb is an unlikely vampire. For one thing, he's a vegan who uses a soy blood substitute. He was "turned" by accident, and he's a gawky geek, not beautiful like the other vampires. So Morning is startled but flattered when he's chosen by the head of the International Vampire League to be the first vampire to out himself to humans, who the immortal vampires call "Lifers." He sees it as a chance to become the superhero he's always dreaming of becoming. A determined human publicist named Penny Dredful takes on the task of presenting Morning and his cause to the world; meanwhile, Morning finds himself falling hard for her teenage daughter Portia, a would-be documentary filmmaker. This fun romp, full of humor and details of modern vampire culture—they maintain a website, for example—is a pleasant change from the usual dark tales of bites in the night. The eye-catching cover (a happy face icon with fangs, sucking up blood-like letters through a straw) will help attract readers to this offbeat tale. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up

Morning McCobb is graduating from the IVLeague (International Vampire League) Academy, where students are schooled to be Leaguers (vampires who live peacefully though secretly among mortals and subsist on animal blood) instead of Loners (those who follow the old ways). A forever-16-year-old misfit among his perfect classmates-the slightly older "hunks and hotties" usually chosen to become vampires-Morning is a SangFU (blood flub up); he accidentally received the "virus" while being bled dry by a Loner. He's also a vegan who drinks only a soy blood substitute. When he's offered the opportunity to be the first Leaguer to come out of the closet to the world and show mortals that vampires are just another special-needs minority, he jumps at the chance to end his outcast status and perhaps fulfill his one-time dream of becoming a firefighter. Things are going well until he becomes attracted to Portia, his PR specialist's outspoken daughter, and begins to experience true bloodlust for the first time. Meanwhile, a menacing Loner is determined to stop Morning from succeeding. Not quite as dark as most vampire novels, Meehl's story is filled with humor, quirky characters, light romance, mild suspense, and a lot of fun. A strong addition to a very popular genre.-Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA

Kirkus Reviews

Another title in the growing category of such non-traditional vampire novels. Meehl's vampires (called Leaguers) walk in the sunlight after conquering "solar phobia," adhere to the motto, "Drink culture, not life," and seek recognition as a minority group. To test whether the world is ready for them to come out, they've chosen spokesvamp Morning McCobb, an accidental vampire who only drinks "BloodLite" (a soy substitute) and whose vampirism can't hide his inner geek. Under the guidance of the Leaguer leader, Morning joins forces with PR whiz Penny Dredful-but her filmmaker daughter awakens Morning's bloodlust. Meanwhile, a loner vamp tries to bring Morning down. After an exposition-heavy start, this settles into an enjoyable romp. Morning references comic-book heroes and wants to be a firefighter (inspired by 9/11); he also struggles with remaining himself in the face of fame. The text sometimes relies too much on wordplay but delivers with appealing characters and an original vampire world. Delightful for those who like their romance vaguely paranormal, their adventure romantic and their vampires defanged. (Fantasy/humor. 12 & up)

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