Blood Orange Soda

Darius Hunter lives in a world where vampires live among normal humans. Young vampires like Darius are kept on a government-mandated medication that prevents them from becoming fully undead until they're 18. He's smart, sensitive and all-too human-a struggling outsider who's just trying to fit in, find a girlfriend and escape the attention of football bully Bao Wang. It's his humanity that often keeps him from his hopes and dreams, so Darius' "cool uncle" Jack, a vampire, introduces him to a substance called Blood Orange Soda. This strange analog of steroids can speed Darius' maturation into his full vampire state, but it can't guarantee that he'll avoid disrupting the lives of his mother and sister, win the love of Angel Martin or successfully face up to Bao. It also doesn't make him immune to heartbreak and loss. The author takes familiar themes of YA fiction-vampires and teen romance-and treats them with a surprising empathy and respect that gives them real weight.