Thirsty by M. T. Anderson

(Ages 12+) Approaching adolescence, Chris is aware of some changes in himself. His friends and family are all too aware that he is fractious, argumentative and moody. Paul, his brother, notices that he is off his food, losing weight and spending many hours simply staring into space. But what is actually happening shocks Chris and if known to the others would result in his death. He is becoming a vampire.
In this society where the tracking of vampires is almost a sport, Chris and his friends, Jerk and Tom go off one night with Jerk's dog looking in the woods for any sign of the creatures. Here they meet up with Chet, the Celestial Being who first acquainted Chris with his future. Chet has been off procuring the Arm of Moriator, which Chris has promised he would set off in the vampires den, making the return of their leader, Tch'muchgar impossible, so saving the world from his machinations.
A more original story in the current crop of vampire novels, Thirsty is well written, surprising and unpredictable. The hero, Chris, strives against his future, opting, he thinks, to help the Celestial Being to keep the monster confined. Funny and irreverent, the jokes are more subtle than the 'fangs for meeting me' or 'fangs for the memory', and so on, that proliferate the vampire books published recently. First published in 1997, this vampire book will be eagerly sought after by readers once the word gets around.
Fran Knight