Thirsting for more Vlad

 Eighth grade bites! Most people, young and old, would agree that it most certainly does.  And in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Heather Brewer flawlessly captures the unique awkwardness and humiliation plaguing all teens during those trying adolescent years. When thinking about eighth and ninth grade, most people will recall the horrors or braces, glasses, or acne. Add a pair of fangs and a craving for blood and you’ve got Vlad Tod. In Eighth Grade Bites and Ninth Grade Slays, Vlad Tod, an orphaned half-vampire, half-human one-of-a-kind teen, winds up battling more than just the bullies in the hallway. In fact, Vlad has spent years keeping his secret from humans, fearing their reactions to him, and all the while he should have been wary of vampires, too. After discovering the truth behind his family, Vlad discovers that the relationship between his vampire father and his human mother was forbidden by vampire law. Now, years after their tragic deaths, Vlad must suffer the consequences of his parents’ love for one another.

This series has a wonderful plot line and is filled with action that will grab the interest of any teen reader (or adult reader, for that matter), but I won’t ruin the books for you. I will, however, tell you what I love about this series. Diversity and open-mindedness.  First of all, Vlad Tod is awesome, and if I ever have a child, I would be proud for him to act like Vlad, who is far from the average teen. Most teens merely deal with braces, glasses, or non-label clothes, which is typically enough to demote their status in the ridiculous social hierarchy in every American middle or high school. Vlad, however, must exercise self-control and self-discipline to overcome his cravings for blood and the knowledge that he will never be the same as everyone else.

Despite his extreme obstacles,  Vlad is grounded in who he is and what he believes, refreshingly guided by his own moral compass in the midst of everyday students who herd themselves together and follow the latest trends. And while Vlad has his share of emotional moments due sometimes to his unfair treatment, he does not waver or compromise his beliefs, thus setting a wonderful example for readers. Furthermore, through confrontations with both humans and vampires, Vlad discovers  in weeks what it takes years for many to learn. Regardless of race, sex, color, or creed, there are good people and there are bad people, as well as all those in between.  I love that Vlad is open to that which he does not understand, especially when considering that most teens fall into the horrid trap of labeling and stereotyping from a young age. Even though people might lock him in a boiler room or push him against a locker, Vlad endeavors to rise above the ridicule he is subjected to due to his unique style and shy, quiet demeanor. And I would just love to add that in a world of stereo-typical males (on television or in books),  Vlad serves as a wonderful departure from the egotistical, womanizing idiots so popular in today’s media. In fact, Vlad is sensitive, caring, and not without a sense of humor.  

Vlad is one of the most admirable, heroic, and refreshing characters I have had the pleasure to meet in a book in a long time, and Heather Brewer has gained a loyal fan in me with her clever prose and flawless illustration of the vulnerability of adolescence. I highly recommend the Vlad Tod series to teens of all ages, and if you haven’t read Eighth Grade Bites or Ninth Grade Slays, I urge you to catch up in time for Tenth Grade Bleeds, which is set to debut in June. I know I can’t wait!