Parents' Guide to

Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising

By Debra Bogart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

More violent and less romantic than Twilight but funnier.

Book Jason Henderson Horror 2010
Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

demusiks
demusiks Parent of 9 and 12-year-old
November 11, 2010
age 13+
Great new vampire slayer book. Easy read, good plot, some bad words, but not too bad. Contained some violence, but not too bad. Highly recommend to people who enjoy vampire-themed books.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Fourteen-year-old Alex Van Helsing just started school in a brand-new place: the Glenarvon Academy in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite the family name, his father has always insisted there was no such thing as vampires. Like the character Luce in Kate's The Fallen, Alex fears he is going insane until a vampire attacks him on his second day in Geneva. He quickly learns that vampires (and werewolves) do exist, he can "sense" vampires, that there is an actual vampire-fighting organization in Geneva called the Polidorium, and that his father was a former vampire hunter. When his new friends are kidnapped by a vampire clan lord known as the Icemaker, Alex must help the Polidorium find the vampires' hidden headquarters.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Male-bonding over manga, girls, and bullying, a sympathetic mentor/vampire fighter who rides a fast motorbike, and lots of humor make this novel rise above the standard vampire fare. Author James Henderson also writes comic books, which explains his ability to write humorous dialogue and action-packed scenes. Some readers may enjoy the first part of the story more as it focuses on Alex's adjustment to his new school and making new friends at the same time he discovers family secrets and the existence of vampires; others may prefer the more violent and creepy attack on the vampire school. Either way, there will be more Alex Van Helsing books to bite into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about horror and why some teens like to be scared. How does Vampire Rising compare to other vampire books you've read? More or less scary? Why do you think the vampire genre is so big right now?

  • What did you think of the violence in this book? Was it too intense? Was it necessary given the vampire storyline? Is it different to read about violence than experience it in a movie or video game?

Book Details

  • Author: Jason Henderson
  • Genre: Horror
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: HarperTeen
  • Publication date: May 1, 2010
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
  • Number of pages: 249
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate