Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
- By Heather Brewer
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Exciting vampire tale sucks in reluctant readers.
- By Heather Brewer
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know there is a fair amount of blood in this story, though most of it comes from the blood bank. Three people are shown being killed, though it's not particularly gory.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's the story?
Eighth grade is no picnic. Like the average outsider Vlad's got bullies and a crush on his mind. But being a vampire, and one recently orphaned in mysterious circumstances, adds a whole new level of suckiness. Vlad has to hide blood in his school lunches, slather on the sunscreen, and keep his fangs under control.
Is it any good?
QUALITY
EIGHTH GRADE BITES is a yummy treat. The book's cover sets the tone: dark, cool, creepy, and exciting. Many books and movies have already explored teens turning into supernatural beings -- witches, wizards, werewolves, even superheroes. Heather Brewer makes Vlad a known vampire from birth. Instead of wrapping up the challenges of growing into an adult with the challenges of becoming a vampire, Vlad has always been an outsider, though we are beginning to explore the vampire world as Vlad is being slowly exposed to it. Another difference -- most stories have the teens becoming cooler as they realize they have powers, whereas Vlad is still pretty uncool, at least to the kids in his school. Brewer also includes positive adult figures -- yet another departure from most teen novels.
This fun read was named an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. And tapping into the MySpace crowd, Brewer and Vampire Island author Adele Griffin teamed up to launch a popular MySpace page with their lead characters.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about standing up to bullies. Have you ever been bullied? Why is it important to stand up to someone who is harassing you? Who can you talk to if you need help?
Book details
| Author: | Heather Brewer |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | Dutton Children's Books |
| Publication date: | August 16, 2007 |
| Number of pages: | 182 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 8 - 12 |
| Award: | ALA Best and Notable Books |
For kids who love supernatural stuff
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QUALITY
great for tweens, teens, and young adults.
Vladimir Tod tried to have a normal life as a normal teen in the town of Barthory . He went to school, hung out with his friends, and tried not to let the whole world know he’s half vampire. His mother was human but his father was vampire. Both his parents were killed in a house fire. So he lived with his “Aunt” Nelly, who really isn’t his Aunt but a close friend of his mother. Up until eight grade ( *Eight Grade Bites*) when a vampire called D’Ablo, the president of the Elysia council, is out to kill him, he finds out that his friend , Henry, is his drudge (human slave) for life and his Uncle Otis becomes his teacher. The reason Vladimir and his parents are wanted dead is because it is a crime for vampires and humans to be married and have children. Only the vampires don’t know that his parents are dead. Vladimir is able to beat him a weapon that was his fathers, called a Lucis, and escapes with his life. Although D’Ablo didn’t die, which Vladimir find out in ninth grade (*Ninth Grade Slays*). Only D’Ablo hires a vampire slayer to go after Vladimir this time. Only this time D’Ablo is testing Vladimir to see if he’s the pravus. Only the slayer is Vladimir’s new friend and his best friend’s ,Henry’s, cousin, but he still tries to kill Vladimir. Amazingly Vladimir is able to live through it. Now as Vladimir enters tenth grade (*Tenth Grade Bleeds*) he has new problems. D’Ablo kidnapped his Uncle, Henry doesn’t want to be his drudge anymore, he almost bit his girlfriend Meredith, and he bites of a girl named Snow outside a club named Crypt. Not to mention that now that D’Ablo knows he’s the Pravus he’s wants to take his power of invincibility. Now Vladimir must save his Uncle, take down D’Ablo, make up with Henry, apologize to Snow (who is now Vladimir’s drudge), and keep Meredith away from him to protect her. It really was “ Another sucky year at Barthory High for Vladimir Tod”.
Foot note:
(* *) = the name of the book
All books by Heather Brewer
What other families should know
Great role models
QUALITY
One of my absolute favorite books.
QUALITY
Pretty good!
I actually just finished the book and I really liked it! Throughout the book there is suspense and mystery and at times, its hard to even put the book down! I never really found any parts were I got a little bored while reading the book and I read it in one night.
