Josie Griffin Is Not a Vampire

Gr 7–9—Midway through this story, Tarren, a moody teenage faerie, sarcastically announces, "This isn't Scooby Doo and we aren't fighting crime." In actuality, this fluffy paranormal mystery reeks of Scooby snacks. Filled with pop-culture references and somewhat outdated slang and texting lingo, it's a sugary tale of Josie Griffin, a blogger and aspiring journalist who befriends a group of "paras" (vampires, shape-shifters, and even a Greek god) in an anger-management group after smashing her demon-hunter ex-boyfriend's windshield. It doesn't tread any deep waters, but it provides a fun read for both the lightweight fantasy and "Gossip Girl" fans. After getting over the shock of finding out that the other group members are more mythic than human, firm friendships, and even a little romance with Helios, the resident god, ensues. "It's like freakin' America's Next Top Zombie in there," quick-witted Josie proclaims after discovering that the girls from her community-services assignment, the Helping American Girls, or HAG for short, are mysteriously being turned into zombies. They also uncannily resemble the models on the billboards for Zombie Apparel that have started popping up all over town. With reluctant help from her newfound clique, Josie sets out to rescue the hollow-eyed girls from a lifetime of modeling mini skirts and ripped fishnets. A good read for reluctant readers, accommodating both those who fall into the "Twilight" and ttyl (Abrams, 2004) camps.—Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City