Department 19

Book review by Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Department 19 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Suspenseful vampire horror really goes for the gore.

Will Hill Horror 2011
Rate book

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 13 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate book

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.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this gory book is the first of a planned series about a vampire-hunting organization. It starts with the memory a teen has of his father shooting himself as authorities close in on him and continues as a sadistic vampire kidnaps his mother and sends a message etched on a torso saying "tell the boy to come." Vampires kill mercilessly and sometimes ritualistically -- corpses are dismembered, victims bleed upside down in a circle -- and vampire hunters carry all kinds of weapons an M-rated video game would relish, like a stake in a hand-held cannon. Other mature content includes smoking and drinking by mortals and immortals getting high on a meth-and-blood mix called Bliss. Readers paying attention to the less bloody details will notice references to classic literature such as Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. They will also notice that the main character, Jamie is quite a hot-head. He's always angry and yelling about something. But he seems to have a good mentor and is grounded by his search for his kidnapped mother.

Community Reviews

jacobd1
jacobd1 Adult
May 11, 2015
age 13+

synopsys got it wrong

ignoring the violence as it is a strong theme in this book there is really nothing else negative about it. all the things that could be considered not for young children are discredited by the way it is looked at. the main character Jamie may not seem like the best role model but in hindsight he is being viewed at a time when he is in extreme distress from losing his mother. the most sexual thing in this book are a few kisses that happen between Larissa and jamie, and there is little swearing. there is however a fair amount of drinking and drug references but they are for the most part looked at very negatively as the vampires are mixing the drugs with blood and aside from that the only real mention of it is that it states that some of the older members of the department spend some time in a bar. also in the synopsys it states that jamie watches his father shoot himself. this is not true, his father is shot down when a group of dark figures notices he has a gun. so if you have an issue media regarding suicide you wont find problems here. also it states that the vampires are mixing meth with blood but that is incorrect, they are mixing it with heroin.
wog
wog Adult
April 9, 2013
age 12+

Grow up XD

I'm sorry but all those saying that it is gory book have clearly never watched the news before and i think the language used is effective as i was the same age as Jamie and if i was in the same situations as him i would have used similar language this helps not only the reader to relate to the book but also helps keep the reader thinking that this is real and what Jamie is going through!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Two years after Jamie Carpenter sees his father shoot himself as the authorities close in, his mother is kidnapped and Jamie is picked up by Department 19. The super-secret organization informs him that his mother is being held by a vampire -- the oldest and most sadistic one. They also tell him that his father worked for Department 19. In fact, the Carpenters were one of the founding families of the organization, guaranteeing Jamie a place there. Hoping to save his mother, he quickly trains and suits up in some pretty impressive vampire-hunter gear. But the vampire is always three steps ahead of him, even with the monster Frankenstein and an attractive teen vampire helping Jamie track him down.

Is It Any Good?

Horror fans are really in for a treat. Even those who think they've read too many vampire books in the last few years will enjoy visiting the undead in DEPARTMENT 19. It's got plenty of gore, but it's also smart with good twists that will keep teens guessing. The author adds depth by flashing back to classic characters from the genre, like the original vampire hunters who took down Count Dracula. Frankenstein's monster is also a character, which could have been hokey (see Young Frankenstein for proof), but instead readers will find him complex, funny, terribly loyal, and a born vampire hunter. Jamie's montage-like vampire hunter training session seems familiar (see The Matrix), but it's easily forgivable. In the end, readers will quickly drain Department 19 and be thirsty for more. This is going to be a riveting series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about horror, blood, and guts. Is there too much in this book, or is it just right for the subject matter?

  • Were you shocked by any of the gory scenes, or does it remind you of video games you've played or movies you've watched?

  • This is yet another vampire book. How is it different from what's been wildly popular the last couple years? How is it the same? What drew you to the book?

Book Details

  • Author: Will Hill
  • Genre: Horror
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Razorbill
  • Publication date: March 31, 2011
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 17
  • Number of pages: 480
  • Last updated: July 12, 2017

Our Editors Recommend

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