THE LAST HOPE IN HOPETOWN

A middle schooler will do whatever it takes to save her moms and keep her family together.

Human Sophie Dawes lives in Hopetown, Pennsylvania, with her adoptive vampire moms, Mama and the Duke. Vampires made their existence known nearly two decades ago and have since lived peacefully beside ordinary mortals. However, in the past few years, random vampires have gone rogue, so that means curfews and regular visits from Child Protective Services for Sophie’s family. Sophie’s best friend, Delphine, a 300-year-old vampire who will forever appear 12, believes there’s a government conspiracy that’s causing the vampires to change. When Mama goes rogue, they must act quickly before the whole family is taken away, so Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands and uncover the truth. This energetic, action-filled story is rounded out with an exploration of what makes a family and Sophie’s realistic emotions about being adopted. She knows her moms love her, but she has a deep-seated fear of being abandoned, and she’s conflicted about whether she should agree to meet her birth mom. Her upbringing is contrasted with other characters’ experiences with their parents, showcasing different types of family relationships. Worldbuilding and paranormal elements are naturally incorporated, and small hints lead to exciting reveals. Sophie’s thoughts about prejudice against vampires may get readers thinking about real-world examples of bias. Characters are cued White.

A suspenseful supernatural story about belonging and inclusion.