Reality Bites: Tales of a Half-Vampire

by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger

Mackenzie may be half-vampire and therefore half-dead, but she knows how to grab life by the horns and do her best to fit in. For her, fitting in has always meant keeping her family of vampires, witches, and other monsters a secret. When a family reunion conflicts with her plans for meeting the boy of her dreams at the Halloween ball, Mackenzie finds herself battling for her own destiny. If she succeeds in proving she doesn't want to be another vampire, will Mackenzie uncover a new magic that surrounds what (and who) she will become?

A humorous novel suitable for young readers in search of their own destiny.

2012 Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalist!

"A fun read that young people will relish with their own struggles of fitting in." -- The Midwest Book Review Bookwatch

"Would I recommend this read? Oh, oh so definitely." -- Andrea Kurian, Mommy Adventures With Ravina

OTHER WORKS by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger

The Ghost in Me, a 2013 Indie B.R.A.G Medallion Book

Little Red Riding Hood, Into the Forest Again, a 2011 KART Book List winner and 2012 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention

The Book Lover's Cookbook, Recipes From Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages That Feature Them

From Rivets and Rails, Recipes of a Railroad Boarding House Cookbook

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

206 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2012

About the author

Shaunda Kennedy Wenger is co-author with Janet Kay Jensen of The Book Lover's Cookbook, Recipes of Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages That Feature Them, which was featured as a 2003 Holiday Gift Pick on National Public Radio. Her niche cookbook, From Rivets and Rails, Recipes of a Railroad Boarding House Cookbook, is based on her great grandmother's 1900s cookery journal. Her self-published books include two middle grade novels, The Ghost in Me and Reality Bites, Tales of a Half-Vampire, as well as a chapter book, Little Red Riding Hood: Into the Forest Again, which earned the 2011 KART Kids Book List Award and the 2012 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Award. Her other work includes stories, poems, and articles with educational publishers and magazines. When she is not writing, she is either teaching, spending time with family and friends, or seeking outdoor adventure. She can be visited online at her blog, www.shaundawenger.blogspot.com.

Reviews

[Bunny]

** originally posted at www.bunnycates.com **



I actually hadn’t planned on reading this book yet. I just popped it open to see if it was signed, since the author sent it to me directly, and somehow…I got sucked in. Before I realized what I was doing I was on page 30. haha. (My reading updates on GOODREADS)

This story follows Mackenzie, a seventh grader, who also happens to be half vampire. All she wants to do is be “normal” and go to her schools Halloween Ball. Unfortunately, her family has some strong traditions for Halloween, being as they are all vampires, werewolves, and MORE. =D We follow Mackenzie as she tries to scheme a way to get to her Halloween Ball in a Princess costume rather than something dead or some other scary thing.

I enjoyed the characters, they were all very likeable. Reading from Mackenzie’s perspective actually brought back a lot of memories and feelings from my own school days. I think a lot of kids will relate to feeling like they don’t fit in or are “different”. Queen MV, the mom in this story and coincidently a vampire, was great. My favorite of the entire cast had to be Aunt Wilma, with her one snaggletoof. haha.

Story wise, I thought this was a fun read. To me this book was like the Adams Family meets Dear Dumb Diary.

In Conclusion:

I enjoyed this book. It was a super quick read, and would definitely recommend to middle grade readers.

*Just a note: the edition I read did contain a few typos, but the author is doing a revision. They should be taken care of by the time you read this post.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a normal girl growing up in a very abnormal family. Not too preachy, and with a likably unlikeable main character - Mackenzie is precisely as whiny and self-centered as a junior high girl should be, and with the right amount of distaste for what's normal in her family and pining for a "normal" life. That's what made the story most enjoyable - the utter verisimilitude of the pre-teen main character. It's a bit of a fluffy little froth otherwise, but the idea of a vampire's daughter pining to be a normal kid, dressed up as a mermaid princess for Hallowe'en, is a delight.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It came today! I am SO excited to read this this weekend! I just LOVE Miss Shaunda's books!
MUST DO
A.S.A.P....oh my gosh!!! Already LOVE IT!
I love how she sucks me in before I get to Chapter 1!
Soon as I get my computer to cooperate I'll finish this! Poof!


Chapter 1. Oh no, I've licked one of my cuts...now I'm worried about me!
I love how kids are "almost" to their birthday, the day AFTER their birthday.
2. How does she put lipstick on if she doesn't have a reflection?!
So how will this play out? Will Mackenzie turn into a vampire or not? And seriously...who marries a vampire?! How did she tell him she was one?! Does Mom wear mascara? With no reflection that'd be interesting to pull off. Especially eye liner.
3. The silver bullet thing is not common knowledge ...got it.
6. Spf 298...Awesome, where can I get it??? I burn to a crisp if I use anything under 75! Now I'm really wondering about me :/
4-10. I know she's a 7th grader and all but ...I really hate Susie Q. I hope she comes to Mackenzie's haunted house and falls into a vat of worms.
Did Mackenzie's parents switch her and Kristy at birth because her mom secretly wants a "normal child"?!
11. "Dad always drinks coffee at night. It helps him stay up with mom." I can not be the only one that finds that incredibly romantic, can I?
13. Boy can she spin a story! Stupid principal blaming her. Jerk.
16. Mackenzie has big what?! Please don't make me wait to find out what & why the girls...!
18. Ew.
20. "Unexplainably invaded by loons". Loons...in THAT house?! I wouldn't give it a second thought...if they were dead. Maybe Wilma can make them into a casserole? I still cant believe Jason ate that. Ew.
22. Kissing the mummy cousin is worse than the toilet. Double ew.
27. Dad covers the baby's eyes so he isn't tarnished by seeing his sister dressed as a beautiful MERMAID! Too funny! Too hilarious!
28. I KNEW IT!
29. Awesome! Can't blame her, I would have done the same thing, fish lips.
31. Wow! Really NOT how I saw this ending! I can't believe that...wait...I'm not one to ruin the endings in books. You'll just have to read it for yourself!
Poof.

I always try to guess the ending with Shaunda's books...and I'm ALWAYS WRONG! I hope there's a sequel!

This book is a teen book, but I as a very immature adult, I absolutely loved it. Once I read the first page, I couldn't put it down until I was on Chapter 18 and realized I was starving to death! I read straight through and hadn't taken a moment to eat!
I love the font chosen for this book. It makes it fun and a bit easier to read than "normal" font that's most commonly used in books.
This book took me a bit more time to figure out than The Ghost In Me, but I still never had it completely figured out. The ending was such a suprise! Excellent! But a surprise!
I hope for a sequel! Or maybe a Prequel even...explain how Mom and Dad met, fell in love, got together...

**Author mailed me this book for review. It was not a Goodreads giveaway but it is an ARC.

[Mimi Barbour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mackenzie is a half vampire with a whole problem...her wacky family. The 12 year old is planning to go to her school's Halloween Ball as a pretty mermaid princess. Except that her family have an unbreakable rule, costumes for this holiday must be gruesome, bloody and represent the macabre side of the festival. Her crazy family includes an evil witch called Aunt Wilma, creepy cousin Drake, and Albert, a fully functional skeleton who interacts with them all year and hangs from their porch every Oct 31st. Oh yeah - don't forget Uncle Earl a vampire who refuses to leave his crypt because he suffers from Anthrophobia, a fear of others.
Because this year is an anniversary of sorts for her family, her mom is planning a Haunted House theme and has decided to invite everyone they know. Horrified, she needs to stop this from happening. Mackenzie's extended family, a "decrepit gaggle of goons and ghouls" will be a freak show and if they come, it'll put paid to her plans for sure.
Not only did I enjoy this light-hearted story; I felt it was well written and easy to understand. And the medley of characters was a real plus. This is a fun book and a great gift for any youngster.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Difficulties of Being Half Vampire"
This is truly a vibrant story written by Author Shaunda Kennedy Wenger. It is a perfect young-adult novel that teens will thoroughly enjoy. Mackenzie, almost 13 years old, and in the 7th Grade, is the daughter of Queen Mother Vampire...a true vampire who always inspires her daughter to dress appropriately for Halloween. Mom's definition of 'cute' is blood, missing body parts, skeletons, and even a dead Minnie Mouse! Mackenzie thinks of herself as a mutant since she has no fangs and no inclination to fly or taste blood. She appears to be no different from her school classmates. She often wonders how and why her father, who is not a vampire, would marry one. Mackenzie truly believes her mom is the weird one--not her! Trouble comes when Mom plans a true haunted house comprised of many weird vampire relatives, open to the public. It will conflict with Mackenzie's plans of attending the school's Halloween ball. This story is a fun read, ideal for young teen-aged girls. The writing style is easy to read and well edited, with the dialog popular for teens today.

[Moon Shine Art Spot ~ Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ****
Reality Bites by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger is so funny, & the fact that most teen girls feel like a freak at times, just as the main character, makes the book totally believable with a fun twist. This opinion packed book from 12 year old Mackenzie's point of view is smash up crazy with vampires, witches, skeletal relatives hanging around plus the horrors of puberty lingering.

Mackenzie is half vampire/ half human & her vamp mother won't allow her to dress in a beautiful "girlie" costume for an upcoming Halloween party, but requires her to dress gross & gory. Mackenzie is tired if being a freak. Of course this about the time girls want to attract boys rather than scare them away. Lots of laughs & frustration from a headstrong preteen just trying to fit in despite her monster family. I loved the story and think many teens will be able to relate to the very real circumstances. Heart warming and loving in appropriate places, and packed with fun and laughs.

Wenger has taken the oddest of circumstances & made them a reality of laughs.

[SuperHeroQwimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this for free from Goodreads First Reads*

Entertaining YA read about a teenage girl in a family of witches, vampires, and various other unnatural beings. She just wants to be a normal girl but her family isn't about to allow that. It's Halloween time and her school is having a Halloween ball and all she wants is to dress like a pretty mermaid and talk to her crush without looking like a fool. The problem is her family has a very strict rule regarding Halloween costumes, and her mother especially wants her to look gruesome and evil like a true Halloween ghoul. An easy read but definitely a cute story =)

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an awesome YA read. I can't wait for my daughter to read it. I had to laugh out loud several times. Or at least smile. I hope I don't embrass her, but I know that is my job, as is every mothers job. But I can't imagine being Queen MV and not embrassing your daugther. I really enjoyed this book and suggest it to all young readers.

[Linda Barger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is definitely geared toward the middle school crowd. A light, fun read, worth the read for those adults who want to take a stroll down memory lane and remember the angst of not quite fitting in, with a paranormal twist thrown in.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Looking to read more by this author.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Reminds me of the Adams family.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably middle-grade fiction more than young adult fiction. The writing is very young and full of attitude. It's from the perspective of a 7th grade girl who's mom is a vampire, dad a human, and all her relatives are various magical creatures and beings. She's living in suburban America, terribly put-upon by her family's goulish preferences. She just wants to dress up as a princess for Halloween - not a dead zombie princess or any thing else disgusting. Eventually, she comes into her powers and figures out her place in the family. It's a cute story for really young readers - 3rd to 8th grade, I'd say.

[Jen]

Mackenzie may be half-vampire and therefore half-dead, but she knows how grab life by the horns and do her best to fit in. For her, fitting in has always meant turning away from her family. When a family reunion conflicts with her plans for meeting the boy of her dreams at the school's Halloween ball, Mackenzie finds herself battling for her own destiny. While trying to prove she doesn't want to be another vampire, will Mackenzie uncover the magic that surrounds what (and who) she will become?

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, easy read with all sorts of mythical/paranormal beings: vampires, werewolves, witches, mermaids, live-mummies, ghost, etc.

Very straightforward and simple read, as long as you can keep track of the family members. Relationships are fairly realistic for middle school-res (my guess at their ages).

[Diana Ault · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet book with a wacky cast of characters. Great for the intended middle school (middle grade) audience!

[Dennese Fulmer-link · Rating 1 out of 5]

so totally didn't enjoy

[Crystal Warmkessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book

This book is the best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That I could read at this time! People need to read this book