Still Sucks to Be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Smith, Teen Vampire
#2 in Sucks To Be Me Series
on Goodreads (2,174)
What’s inside...
Mina, a teenage vampire, is forced to fake her death and move to a small town in Louisiana due to her parents' demands and the Vampire Council's rules. She struggles with leaving her best friend Serena and her boyfriend George behind. Mina tries to navigate her new life, dealing with typical high school challenges and complicated relationships, including a persistent admirer named Grady and another vampire teen, Cameron Carter. Meanwhile, Mina's ex-boyfriend George is reconnecting with his parents in Brazil, and her friend Serena might be getting stalked by someone named Raven. As Mina grapples with the limitations set by her parents and her own supernatural powers, she realizes that her afterlife is just as complex as her life was.
Character compass
Mina Smith
Discussion points
How do you think Mina feels about being a vampire and how does it affect her daily life?
What challenges does Mina face in balancing her human friendships and her vampire identity?
How do Mina's relationships with her parents and friends change throughout the story? What causes these changes?
What would you do if you were in Mina’s shoes when making decisions about her future?
How does Mina's story help us understand and accept people who are different from us?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings about Mina’s unique challenges. Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding towards others' differences. Draw parallels between Mina's fictional experiences and real-life scenarios to make the conversation relatable. Ask open-ended questions to help your child explore the themes of identity, friendship, and choices in a deeper context. Use examples from the book to discuss the significance of support and acceptance from family and friends.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Mina, the protagonist, navigates the complex world of being a teenage vampire, which metaphorically represents feeling different or misunderstood. Her experiences teach readers about the internal struggles of others.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to be more understanding and accepting of peers who may seem different from them, promoting inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Throughout the book, Mina learns to accept and manage the responsibilities that come with her vampire abilities. Her growth in handling these unique challenges reflects the importance of responsibility.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to take responsibility for their actions and duties, whether it's in school tasks or in maintaining friendships.
Example Lesson: Coping with Change
Explanation: Mina deals with significant life changes after becoming a vampire. Her journey highlights how to adapt to and embrace life's uncertainties and changes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to remain resilient and positive through personal changes such as moving to a new school, or changes within the family.
Example Lesson: Importance of Honesty
Explanation: Mina faces situations where she must choose between the easy way out through lies or the harder, more honest approach. The outcomes underscore the value of honesty.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the long-term benefits of honesty in building trust and integrity in relationships.
Example Lesson: Self-Acceptance
Explanation: As Mina grows into her identity as a vampire, she learns the importance of accepting herself, despite the differences that set her apart from her peers.
Real-World Application: This lesson is crucial for children in developing healthy self-esteem and a positive self-image, encouraging them to embrace their unique qualities.