Brooke C. (brookereviews) reviewed Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Bk 1) on + 50 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Vladimir Tod is a vampire. After his parents died in a mysterious fire in their home, all Vlad has left is his best friend Henry and his "Aunt" Nelly, who has been raising him since the accident. His thirst for blood is strong, and he's been trained since he was a baby to act like the humans and not bite people. The only way Vlad quenches his hunger is by Aunt Nelly bringing home bags of blood from the hospital where she works. When Vlad's English teacher disappears, and is replaced by a creepy substitute with an obsession for monsters, Vlad becomes suspicious that he is being hunted and possibly by the same people that murdered his parents.
I always enjoy reading YA vampire books. It's fun to read the vampire from a teen perspective, but this was definitely geared toward a younger audience. I would say 5th grade and up could read this. It's along the lines of the first book in the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Vlad is a smart kid, and has a very understanding best friend in Henry. He also keeps Vlad's secret of being a vampire to himself, which shows Vlad just how lucky he is to have Henry in his life. They even joke about it on Halloween when they get dressed up in their costumes. Vlad's past is interesting, and I love the substitute teacher that takes over Vlad's class. I thought this was a really cute kind of spooky book, and think it's the start of a great vampire series for younger readers.
I always enjoy reading YA vampire books. It's fun to read the vampire from a teen perspective, but this was definitely geared toward a younger audience. I would say 5th grade and up could read this. It's along the lines of the first book in the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Vlad is a smart kid, and has a very understanding best friend in Henry. He also keeps Vlad's secret of being a vampire to himself, which shows Vlad just how lucky he is to have Henry in his life. They even joke about it on Halloween when they get dressed up in their costumes. Vlad's past is interesting, and I love the substitute teacher that takes over Vlad's class. I thought this was a really cute kind of spooky book, and think it's the start of a great vampire series for younger readers.
Jennifer M. (Kaydence) reviewed Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Bk 1) on + 380 more book reviews
My thoughts:
Positives:
* He really reminded me of an average 8th grade boy. He deals with being picked on, hangs out with his friend, and generally dislikes school.
* There is a bit of a mystery to finding out who the killer is throughout the book.
* The setting is fairly elaborate and you get a good look at the town of Bathory.
* There are many references to other famous Dracula type books, including the name of the town
* It's a quick read.
Negatives:
* There really isn't much that is gripping. I never felt like I had to keep guessing what was going to happen
* The characters are not developed well. I'm not sure if I should care about any of the dead people, the substitute teacher, or Vlad for that matter. I really only understood the character because I work with boys his age. There was no real description given and very little emotion involved.
* I still have no idea what the point of the symbols are or what they mean. Why add them in if they are just to annoy the main character.
Positives:
* He really reminded me of an average 8th grade boy. He deals with being picked on, hangs out with his friend, and generally dislikes school.
* There is a bit of a mystery to finding out who the killer is throughout the book.
* The setting is fairly elaborate and you get a good look at the town of Bathory.
* There are many references to other famous Dracula type books, including the name of the town
* It's a quick read.
Negatives:
* There really isn't much that is gripping. I never felt like I had to keep guessing what was going to happen
* The characters are not developed well. I'm not sure if I should care about any of the dead people, the substitute teacher, or Vlad for that matter. I really only understood the character because I work with boys his age. There was no real description given and very little emotion involved.
* I still have no idea what the point of the symbols are or what they mean. Why add them in if they are just to annoy the main character.
Jennifer W. (GeniusJen) reviewed Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod is being raised by "Aunt" Nelly, his mother's best friend. His human mother and vampire father were both killed in a fire, leaving their young vampire son an orphan. Life is not easy for Vlad...the school bullies harass him, the principal seems to have it in for him, and the girl he likes best and wants to ask to the dance seems to prefer his friend, Henry.
Aunt Nelly understands his problems and helps him to hide the fact that he is a vampire and must have fresh blood to survive. Vlad's best friend, Henry, is the only other person who knows his secret, although Vlad did bite Henry once when they were eight years old.
The one teacher that Vlad had real rapport with has disappeared and no one knows where he is. Vlad and Henry are determined to find out what happened to him. The substitute teacher begins to question Vlad too closely -- and there is just something strange about Mr. Otis Otis (yep...first name and last name are the same.) Vlad worries that Otis might suspect the truth, and then when Otis assigns vampires as Vlad's research project, and the teacher scribbles "I know your secret" across the bottom of his essay, he is really frightened.
Vlad discovers his father's journal in the attic and is learning about the reality of being a vampire and the powers that he may possess. Vlad also becomes convinced that there is a vampire killer in town, and that he is next on the killer's list. Things go from bad to worse when Aunt Nelly invites Otis to dinner and he confronts Vlad with what he knows.
There is some gross-out vampire stuff in this story. How about chocolate chip cookies dipped in blood? The gripping confrontation with the vampire horde at the climax of the novel is electrifying in this well plotted, exciting, supernatural adventure. I loved the great characters, and the fast action kept me reading most of the night, with my door firmly locked.
Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod is being raised by "Aunt" Nelly, his mother's best friend. His human mother and vampire father were both killed in a fire, leaving their young vampire son an orphan. Life is not easy for Vlad...the school bullies harass him, the principal seems to have it in for him, and the girl he likes best and wants to ask to the dance seems to prefer his friend, Henry.
Aunt Nelly understands his problems and helps him to hide the fact that he is a vampire and must have fresh blood to survive. Vlad's best friend, Henry, is the only other person who knows his secret, although Vlad did bite Henry once when they were eight years old.
The one teacher that Vlad had real rapport with has disappeared and no one knows where he is. Vlad and Henry are determined to find out what happened to him. The substitute teacher begins to question Vlad too closely -- and there is just something strange about Mr. Otis Otis (yep...first name and last name are the same.) Vlad worries that Otis might suspect the truth, and then when Otis assigns vampires as Vlad's research project, and the teacher scribbles "I know your secret" across the bottom of his essay, he is really frightened.
Vlad discovers his father's journal in the attic and is learning about the reality of being a vampire and the powers that he may possess. Vlad also becomes convinced that there is a vampire killer in town, and that he is next on the killer's list. Things go from bad to worse when Aunt Nelly invites Otis to dinner and he confronts Vlad with what he knows.
There is some gross-out vampire stuff in this story. How about chocolate chip cookies dipped in blood? The gripping confrontation with the vampire horde at the climax of the novel is electrifying in this well plotted, exciting, supernatural adventure. I loved the great characters, and the fast action kept me reading most of the night, with my door firmly locked.
