Parents' Guide to

Bram Stoker's Dracula

By Rhiannon Bruni, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Classic vampire tale is sexier and darker than you remember.

Book Bram Stoker Horror 1969
Bram Stoker's Dracula Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Ethan R.
Ethan R. Adult
May 27, 2021
age 14+

Classis horror story build great suspense

This book gives depth to characters, and builds great suspense. The story is written not as a modern horror story but it goes a bit deeper into the story and characters. it is not a cheaply written nothing book. Good story for teens, it is about a vampire so there is blood and creepy-ghostly scares throughout.

This title has:

Too much violence
tkcomte
tkcomte Adult
December 12, 2019
age 15+

Great novel

It may be a bit confusing with shifting POVs, but overall a great book

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When Jonthan Harker is sent to Transylvania to conduct some business for an enigmatic nobleman, he's warned by the villagers that Count Dracula has evil powers and diabolical ambitions. When Jonathon attempts to leave he discovers that the villagers are right; He is held captive by the count and barely escapes, badly injured. Meanwhile back in England, his beautiful wife-to-be, Mina, joins her friend Lucy in Whitby to wait for Jonathon to return. Lucy falls ill and begins acting very strangely and it becomes apparent that Lucy's illness is related to the evil count. With the help of two of Lucy's suitors, a brilliant old professor, and a new-found incentive to protect Mina, Jonathon sets off back to Transylvania to destroy the monster.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (14 ):

DRACULA has all the necessary requirements to keep it read by each generation of horror fans. As well as being an excellent time capsule to turn-of-the-century England, it's a scary, intriguing under-the-covers read. With great horror staples like spooky howling wolves, damsels in distress, evil monsters, and a quest to destroy them it's not surprising that this is the novel that kicked off the vampire craze. While the myths about vampires may be familiar, don't be too shocked when this vampire is more monster and ghoul than romantic hero.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the vampire myth. How are the vampires in the Twilight series different? Which vampire lore do you prefer?

  • Why, when Count Dracula is such a cruel creature in this novel, has he become such an iconic character?

  • How does the novel itself live up to the hype of all the movies? Were you disappointed to find that Dracula isn't the romantic hero he is on screen?

Book Details

  • Author: Bram Stoker
  • Genre: Horror
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Publication date: December 31, 1969
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 15
  • Number of pages: 560
  • 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