This was a light read and the characters were all straight forward, no complexities. As already mentioned Elena is incredibly self centered, it is pointed out to her in book, and shallow. Stefen who is supposed to be the good vampire, ie doesn't kill humans, in the end is just as selfish as Elena and goes on a killing spree. I agree that this is more of a horror-romance series than a straight romance. If you like the show you probably won't like the book, they are nothing alike. The show gives Elena many good qualities that are absent in the books.
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The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
(2009, Fiction - Horror, Written by L. J. Smith)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Sexually violent book is nothing like the TV show.
Themes in this book include: dating/crushes, friendship, growing up
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–18
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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What Parents Need to Know
About The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
Parents need to know that this book, first published in 1991, has been loosely made into a TV show. It bears no resemblance to the vampire sensation Twilight (other than that a vampire poses as a new high school student and a local girl falls for him). In fact the TV show and Twilight actually seem more similar. The book is very dated and pretty sexist. It is much more a horror story than a romance with graphic violence, including descriptions of the vampire murders of people and animals such as a pet dog. There is an attempted rape of the main character and a brutal rape of another girl. Main characters have sex, barely described.The female characters are not strong, independent, or otherwise positive characters. Unlike more recent depictions, these vampires have no remorse.
Read our full review by Debra Bogart
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about whether reading horror or scary stories helps readers to face fear in real life.
- How can you tell this book was written nearly 20 years ago?
- Are vampires criminals?
- Why do people let Elena treat them badly?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Elena=bad influence, but otherwise okay...
I personally liked the book myself, but there are quite a few things people should know. Elena is selfish and enlists the help of her friends to 'make' Stefan Salvatore fall for her. However there are some good things going on after the first trilogy. A personal favorite character of mine would be Bonnie McCullough. She may not be as strong-willed as some other characters, but she is kind and innocent. You should know in the first few books she romanticized having her blood sucked and dying in the arms of an evil, but handsome, Damon. She is truly kind and wishes to only help her friends. Another thing is she is the casual cute girl, aka she doesn't fight and is weak-hearted and constantly saved by the villain, Damon. She is meek, though, and always uses her psychic abilities to help her friends. Elena=bad influence, though.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Really good but a bit inappropriate.
I actually really like this book. Read it its way better than common sense makes it sound. Just because the characters are more complex, and have good and bad sides doesn't mean they are evil.
- I rate this title off for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
for teens and adults
BAD
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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