Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series seems to have touched off a national hunger (pardon the expression) for vampires. Where the Muggles and wizards of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world once captivated our attention, now vampires and werewolves dominate pop culture.
But while
Twilight is relatively clean, some of the new books and TV series don't play it that safe. The romance of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan is tame compared to the vamped-up ways of so many other undead. Many, in fact, are downright creepy, gory, or sexually violent. And while some, like HBO's
True Blood, are intended for an older audience, some, like the YA book
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening, are targeted at the same audience as Twilight but have upped the ante.
From
Bram Stoker's Dracula to
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there's no denying that vampires make compelling subjects -- but how do you pick out the good stuff? Let us help. Here's a look at which vampires are OK for your kids and at what age they might take their first bite.
