Synopses & Reviews
A devil is a bad influence . . . There was a time when geeky, squeaky-clean Max Kilgore would never lie or steal or even think about murder.Then he accidentally unearths a devil, and Max’s choices are no longer his own. The big red guy has a penchant for couch surfing and junk food—and you should never underestimate evil on a sugar high. With the help of Lore, a former goth girl who knows a thing or two about the dark side, Max is races against the clock to get rid of the houseguest from hell before time, and all the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos this side of the fiery abyss, run out.Gina Damico, author of the Croak series, once again delivers all the horror, hilarity, and high-stakes drama that any kid in high school or hell could ever handle.
Review
* "Damico, who explored the lives of teenage grim reapers in her Croak trilogy, writes with wry wit and constant dark humor. She mixes in a bit of possible romance . . . also to great comic effect. Hilarious—all the way through."
—Kirkus, starred review
"Damico draws readers into this quirky novel with well-written prose, believable characters, and an evenly plotted story line. . . . It will appeal to teens who enjoy literary works with some humor and an exploration of the nature of evil."
—School Library Journal
"Damico's blend of bleak humor and harsh reality lends itself well to Max's social awkwardness and Lore's biting cynicism, while Burg is outrageously appalling."
—Publishers Weekly
"This novel is unapologetically funny. The snarky Burg (impeccably developed as a narcissistic ass with a tiny sliver’s worth of heart of gold), Max’s tendency to catch things one step too late but with wry humor, and the absurd piling on of events all work to make a quite amusing, if very dark, novel. Fans of Damico’s Croak trilogy will be right at home with the author’s emphasis on grim topics made sardonic, and horror buffs in general will find plenty of scary undertones to this multilayered plot."
—Bulletin
"The right blend of black humor and action."
—VOYA
Review
"Jinkss signature facility with plot and character development is intact as she turns to the topic of vampires . . . Throwing in delicious details and aperçus, the author works her way from the murder of one of the vampires to suspense and adventure of the sinister yet daffy variety beloved by readers of Evil Genius. The plot twists, more ornate than in previous works, ramp up the giddiness—and, perhaps, camouflage the corpses, blood and other byproducts of the genre." —
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Support Group is truly like no other vampire story. It is witty, cunning, and humorous, with numerous plot twists and turns. Jinks has conjured up an eccentric but believable cast of characters in a story full of action and adventure." —School Library Journal
"Jinks offers some wry vampire-centric twists on mystery conventions . . . laugh-out-loud funny."
—Booklist
"Jinks's quirky sense of humor will appeal to fans of her Evil Genius series. Those tired of torrid bloodsucker stories or looking for a comic riff on the trend will feel refreshed by the vomitous, guinea-pig-drinking accidental heroics of Nina and her pals." —Kirkus Reviews
"Jinks draws her characters and their unique challenges in great detail . . . theres plenty of blood and guts (both types) to go around. One part problem novel, one part comedy, and one part murder-mystery, this alternative vampire story is for outsiders of all kinds, underground or otherwise." —Horn Book
“Jinks takes readers on a wild ride, poking wicked fun at vampire enthusiasts of all stripes with her wryly clinical take . . . a first-rate comedy with equal appeal for avid vampire fans and those who wouldnt be caught dead with a copy of Twilight.” —The Bulletin
"With this budding heroine in her own right at the forefront, this ensemble of eccentric characters gives a wry spin to the ever-popular vampire tales." —BookPage
Praise for Evil Genius:
"Jinks fills out the cast with brilliantly conceived friends and adversaries." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Praise for Genius Squad:
"Gripping, devilish and wonderfully dark" —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[Jinks's] ability to craft vivid characters and engrossing action scenes continues unabated." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
* "Hilarious—all the way through."
—Kirkus, starred review
"Damico draws readers into this quirky novel with well-written prose, believable characters, and an evenly plotted story line."
—School Library Journal
"Damico's blend of bleak humor and harsh reality lends itself well to Max's social awkwardness and Lore's biting cynicism, while Burg is outrageously appalling."
—Publishers Weekly
"The snarky Burg, Max's tendency to catch things one step too late but with wry humor, and the absurd piling on of events all work to make a quite amusing, if very dark, novel."
—Bulletin
Synopsis
Max Kilgore has accidentally unleashed a devil—and now the big, evil oaf is living in his basement. If Max doesn't meet the devil's demands (which include providing unlimited junk food and a hot tub), everyone and everything he holds dear could go up in smoke. Beetlejuice meets Hellboy in this hilarious YA novel from the author of Croak.
Synopsis
Think vampires are romantic, sexy, and powerful? Think again. Vampires are dead. And unless they want to end up staked, they have to give up fanging people, admit their addiction, join a support group, and reform themselves.
Nina Harrison, fanged at fifteen and still living with her mother, hates the Reformed Vampire Support Group meetings every Tuesday night. Even if she does appreciate Dave, who was in a punk band when he was alive, nothing exciting ever happens. That is, until one of group members is mysteriously destroyed by a silver bullet. With Nina (determined to prove that vamps aren't useless or weak) and Dave (secretly in love with Nina) at the helm, the misfit vampires soon band together to track down the hunter, save a werewolf, and keep the world safe from the likes of themselves.
The perfect anecdote to slick vampire novels, this murder-mystery comedy of errors will thrill fans of Evil Genius.
About the Author
Catherine Jinks, author of more than thirty books for children and adults, is a three-time winner of the Childrens Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award. She has received many American accolades such as Publishers' Weekly Best Book of the Year and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year for Evil Genius, which was also a Book Sense Children's Pick and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. In 2001 she was presented with a Centenary Medal for her contribution to Australian childrens literature. Catherine lives in Leura, Australia. www.catherinejinks.com