The Vanquishers
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Vanquishers is the middle-grade debut from New York Times-bestselling author Kalynn Bayron (This Poison Heart).Twelve-year-old Boog and her friends live in San Antonio, Texas, where vampires who previously threatened the town were eliminated by a group called the Vanquishers in an event known as the Reaping. But when one of their friends disappears, the kids try to figure out what happened -- and if there are new vampires to fear. There are some attacks by and on vampires, including arrows and stakes to the heart and slamming people into walls and on the ground using telekinesis (moving objects with your mind).
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What's the Story?
When THE VANQUISHERS begins, Boog, a 12-year-old Black girl, and her friends are feeling crimped by their parents' overprotectiveness. All the vampires were killed years ago by a fighting force known as the Vanquishers, in an event called the Reaping. But their parents are still buying silly products like vampire-repellent spray and keeping excessive amounts of garlic in their homes. When one of their friends disappears, the parents double down on the fear. The kids get creative and launch their own investigation into what happened to their friend and whether there are new vampires among them.
Is It Any Good?
This exciting, fun vampire tale is the kind of page-turner some readers will want to to consume in one sitting. In her first middle-grade novel, The Vanquishers, successful young-adult author Kalynn Bayron achieves a lively story that's suspenseful and creepy but not too gory or scary for younger readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of rules in The Vanquishers. What are some rules in your family? How are the rules different at some of your friends' homes?
Trust is important to supporting the teamwork in The Vanquishers. What are some ways you can build trust with others when you're playing sports or doing a project at school?
Vampire stories have a long history in novels, movies, and television. Why do you think they're so popular?
Book Details
- Author: Kalynn Bayron
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Middle School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Teamwork
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date: September 20, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 11
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: December 19, 2022
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