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| The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer (Speak) ISBN: 978-0-14-241342 |
Plot Summary
Vlad is much like any other kid entering 9th grade. He spends time playing video games and going to movies with his best friend Henry. He has a crush on Meredith Brookstone. And Vlad has just made a new friend in Henry's cousin Joss. Of course, Vlad happens to be half vampire, half human. And Henry isn't simply his best friend but also his drudge (Renfeild to Vlad's Dracula). The book has four main strains: Vlad has kissed Meredith (apparently in the previous book) and is trying to decide how to make the next move, A new slayer is in town out to kill Vlad, Eddie Poe is trying to prove to the whole school that Vlad is a vampire, and Vlad's uncle Otis has promised to take him to Siberia to train him in the art of mind control. Vlad soon discovers that his arch enemy D'Ablo isn't as dead as he seemed. His friendship with Henry becomes strained, and finding out the identity of the slayer makes Vlad re-examine his friendship with Joss.Critical Evaluation
The book is little more than a cheeky, Harry Potter clone. It's twist is that instead of a wizard, we are presented with a vampire. Like Potter he is believed to be the "chosen one" referenced in prophecy. This is the second book in the series. Clearly the author likes to make keen references: Vladimir being the name of Vlad the Impaler, one of the inspirations for Dracula; Tod being the German for “dead.” More puns-menship: Stokerville, the villain is D’Ablo (Diablo being Spanish for devil), Joss is the name of the slayer (Joss Whedon wrote the original screenplay for the film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and later created the television series of the same name), Eddie Poe is the loner outcast named after Edgar A, Tod’s hometown is Bathory for Elizabeth Bathory (rumored to have bathed in the blood of young girls). Like Potter, the book is a fast paced, easy read heavy on supernatural abilities: mind reading, mind control, levitation. Also, like Potter, the subplot is how Vlad deals with being a high school freshman: being bullied, having a crush, making friends, having friends break trust, loneliness (both Potter and Tod are orphans, which seems to be ideal for capturing the extreme isolation that teens feel, but rendering them totally alone. Sometimes we all feel like our parents don’t understand or aren’t there for us.) The book’s depiction of teen behavior and emotional angst rang fairly true for me; I think they’d still be universal. It’s got all the creepshow, without being actually creepy. It’s not Clive Barker or Steven King; it’s gothy not gory.Reader’s Annotation
9th grade isn't easy: dealing with crushes, classes, bullies, and struggling to make friends. It's even harder when you're a half vampire. You have to avoid Eddie Poe and his camera, come to terms with your ability to read and control the minds of others, and avoid the brand new slayer who's arrived in town.Information about the author
From her webpage:Heather Brewer was not your typical teen growing up. She wore black, danced under full moons and devoured every book in sight.
She hasn’t changed much.
Today, Heather can be found wandering cemeteries, lounging on her coffin couch, devouring every book in sight, and attending renaissance faire in costume (and in character).
When Heather's not writing, dressing up, or reading, she's hanging out with her Minions, whom she adores right down to their lil black hearts.
Heather is the author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, The Slayer Chronicles, and The Legacy of Tril series. She's penned several short stories, consumes entirely too much caffeine, and will not stop until she has achieved world domination in the name of her Minion Horde. (Brewer, 2013).
Genre
Supernatural Fantasy/VampireCurriculum Ties
The book doesn't have explicit curricular ties, but might be a good book for encouraging a student who loved Harry Potter to keep reading. The plot and language are very straightforward and probably below 9th grade level.Booktalking Ideas
1) Pointing out the similarities to Harry Potter may be helpful. The book is certainly lesser than Potter, but many of the tropes are repeated.2) Reading chapter three as Vlad gets ready for school will easily introduce the main themes of the book -- the chapter introduces or mentions almost all of the important characters in the book and sets up Tod as both a supernatural creature and a regular high school kid.
Reading Level/Interest Age
6th grade and upChallenge Issues
While the book never shows any gore, the main character -- a vampire -- is obssessed with gory movies and video games. Some parents will object simply because it's a vampire book.I would openly greet any patron who presented a challenge to the work, giving them ample time to detail their complaint. I would listen attentively. To respond to these challenges I would have some reviews of the work on hand. I would be prepared to explain that as a public institution libraries "cannot limit access on the basis of age or other characteristics" (ALA, 1999). I would have copies of the library's collection policy on hand. I would be prepared to politely discuss that parents can control what their children are exposed to by coming to the library with them and examining books they check out. If the Teen Advisory Group had written reviews of the book I'd have them handy. While it may be of little comfort to certain parents, I would also be prepared to discuss my staunch support of intellectual freedom and abhorrence of censorship. As a last resort, I would be sure to keep copies or a reconsideration form on hand.
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