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reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
A few years ago, I was sitting in church listening to a boring (err...fascinating) talk, when I noticed the kid in the pew in front of me was reading a book. He was holding it at an angle where I couldn't see the title. I spent the better part of five minutes craning my neck and ignoring what I'm sure was fabulous spiritual insight to figure out what book the kid was reading. I never did catch the title, but once I saw the words "Vlad" and "Vampire," I guessed it wasn't a religious book.
Fast forward a few years...I assume the kid was reading one of the Vladimir Tod books. I finally picked the first book up after having it on my TBR list for a long time. It did not disappoint.
Vladimir Tod is half-human, half-vampire. His parents died mysteriously a few years ago. Now he lives with his aunt who sneaks blood for him from the hospital blood bank. The only other person who knows that Vlad is a vampire is his best friend Henry. Being a vampire isn't that big a deal for Vlad. Drinking blood at meals is natural to him. He's just a kid with a dietary difference. He hangs out with his friend Henry drinking a blood bag when Henry has Capri Sun. His vampiric nature definitely creates some awkward situations, but for the most part his life is like any other eighth graders.
This starts to change when a favorite teacher disappears and is replaced by an odd man who shows too much interest in Vlad and his uniqueness.
I loved the friendship between Vlad and Henry in this book. In a literary genre overrun by romance, it is refreshing to read a book that focuses on two buddies. Vlad and Henry work together to figure out what's going on with the disappearances. Henry has the tendency to follow Vlad around like a puppy dog, but Vlad is basically unaware of the inequities in their relationship (actually he wonders why cool Henry even bothers with him). They have a great banter throughout the book - typical boy talk.
This book bills itself as a light, humorous read, which it was. I was surprised, however, that it got as dark and dangerous as it did. Nothing too scary, but the danger was more intense than I expected it to be. I like the contrast of a sarcastic narrator and banter among friends with life-threatening situations and even a few heartfelt, touching moments.
Vladimir Tod is a fun start to a series. Definitely something for middle grade and early high school boys. And everyone else.
Rating: 4 / 5
Fast forward a few years...I assume the kid was reading one of the Vladimir Tod books. I finally picked the first book up after having it on my TBR list for a long time. It did not disappoint.
Vladimir Tod is half-human, half-vampire. His parents died mysteriously a few years ago. Now he lives with his aunt who sneaks blood for him from the hospital blood bank. The only other person who knows that Vlad is a vampire is his best friend Henry. Being a vampire isn't that big a deal for Vlad. Drinking blood at meals is natural to him. He's just a kid with a dietary difference. He hangs out with his friend Henry drinking a blood bag when Henry has Capri Sun. His vampiric nature definitely creates some awkward situations, but for the most part his life is like any other eighth graders.
This starts to change when a favorite teacher disappears and is replaced by an odd man who shows too much interest in Vlad and his uniqueness.
I loved the friendship between Vlad and Henry in this book. In a literary genre overrun by romance, it is refreshing to read a book that focuses on two buddies. Vlad and Henry work together to figure out what's going on with the disappearances. Henry has the tendency to follow Vlad around like a puppy dog, but Vlad is basically unaware of the inequities in their relationship (actually he wonders why cool Henry even bothers with him). They have a great banter throughout the book - typical boy talk.
This book bills itself as a light, humorous read, which it was. I was surprised, however, that it got as dark and dangerous as it did. Nothing too scary, but the danger was more intense than I expected it to be. I like the contrast of a sarcastic narrator and banter among friends with life-threatening situations and even a few heartfelt, touching moments.
Vladimir Tod is a fun start to a series. Definitely something for middle grade and early high school boys. And everyone else.
Rating: 4 / 5
lannthacker's review against another edition
2.0
YA Brewer - vampires, death of parents, social issues, 13 year old main character, a few violent moments.
Vlad Tod is a normal 8th grader - plays video games with his best friend, Henry, crushes on a girl he's too afraid to talk to, gets picked on at school, drinks blood for lunch?
Being a vampire isn't his biggest problem though. His mother and father died in a mysterious fire 3 years ago and after Vlad's favorites teacher goes missing, some unexpected answers to who did it and why surface. But each answer uncovers even more questions. Maybe he isn't the last vampire alive.
Vlad Tod is a normal 8th grader - plays video games with his best friend, Henry, crushes on a girl he's too afraid to talk to, gets picked on at school, drinks blood for lunch?
Being a vampire isn't his biggest problem though. His mother and father died in a mysterious fire 3 years ago and after Vlad's favorites teacher goes missing, some unexpected answers to who did it and why surface. But each answer uncovers even more questions. Maybe he isn't the last vampire alive.
gg1213's review against another edition
3.0
Watch my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1APFRCTIXrk
kristenremenar's review against another edition
3.0
"Twilight" minus romance - for middleschoolers, especially boys, who dig vampires but don't want the love story. The cover is cool enough to get the reluctant ones to pick it up, and the story has enough twists to keep kids reading. First in a series.
charlestonmes's review against another edition
3.0
** 3.5 stars
This was a quick entertaining read even though it was geared towards a younger audience. Although I don't feel compelled to read the remaining books in the series, I still found this book enjoyable.
This was a quick entertaining read even though it was geared towards a younger audience. Although I don't feel compelled to read the remaining books in the series, I still found this book enjoyable.
mfumarolo's review against another edition
3.0
There are so many different things about this book that I enjoyed. I liked that we got to see everything the way Vlad does - it was so interesting to see things from the vampire's point of view. I think it also helped that there's still so much he has to learn about being a vampire, so we're learning right along with him. I loved the character of Aunt Nelly and showing how much of a difference having love and support at home can help even when things feel awful. I loved the story, the twists on vampire legends, the pop-culture references to other vampire media, and the fact that the book actually covers a lot of issues that any human can relate to. Though I wasn't bullied to the extent that Vlad is, junior high was hardly a picnic for me either. Everything about that time in life just feels Awkward and messed up and getting through a mundane day can even be exhausting. Brewer does a fantastic job at tapping into those years that some of us would rather forget and I for the exception of the whole blood-drinking thing, I was able to identify with Vlad pager after page after page.
atmorrell's review against another edition
1.0
Obviously not for anyone older than eighth grade. I bought this book for $7 because it came with a free t-shirt and the logo is pretty cool, but the writing is horrible and the concept is pretty cookie-cutter of more popular contemporary YA vampire novels. I would not recommend this book for anyone regardless of age. Heck, even Twilight is better than this, and I'm no Twihard. There has been much better YA vampire fiction, given the gratuitous amount of it there is, and this is something that is on par with them at all.
fishgirl182's review against another edition
4.0
Vladimir Tod’s just like any other normal eighth grader. Well, a normal eighth grader who also happens to be a vampire. Born to a human mother and vampire father, Vlad must navigate the minefield of adolescence while maintaining his cover as a human. Only his best friend Henry and his caretaker, Nelly, know his secret.
Then Vlad’s favorite teacher, Mr. Craig disappears, and Vlad has a bad feeling about the new sub. Mr. Otis is a little too interested in Vlad and he starts to suspect that he may have had something to do with Mr. Craig’s disappearance. When Vlad finds his father’s journal, he uncovers information about a secret society of vampires--one that his father fled and hid his family from. Was the fire that killed Vlad’s parents really an accident, or are the same people he suspects of murdering them also after him now?
This was a really fun book and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The plot is original and has a good mix of horror and humor. Vlad is an extremely likable protagonist. He struggles with the things that most boys his age struggle with; bullies, homework, girls--but also has to deal with hiding his fangs, eating blood at lunch and making sure he wears his sunscreen so he doesn’t burst into flames.
Brewer’s descriptions of Vlad’s eating habits manage to be both gory and mundane. I love the ingenious method Nelly has of packing his lunch and it’s nice to know that vampires like chocolate chip cookies, too. Henry is an awesome best friend. He takes everything in stride, even when things get really crazy. His confusion about being called a drudge is one of my favorite parts of the book (and made want a drudge of my own). Once I got started, this book was hard to put down. You could easily devour (ha!) it in one sitting.
Though Eighth Grade Bites is aimed at middle grade readers, the story will appeal to all ages. I know I am hooked and can’t wait to read the next one!
Then Vlad’s favorite teacher, Mr. Craig disappears, and Vlad has a bad feeling about the new sub. Mr. Otis is a little too interested in Vlad and he starts to suspect that he may have had something to do with Mr. Craig’s disappearance. When Vlad finds his father’s journal, he uncovers information about a secret society of vampires--one that his father fled and hid his family from. Was the fire that killed Vlad’s parents really an accident, or are the same people he suspects of murdering them also after him now?
This was a really fun book and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The plot is original and has a good mix of horror and humor. Vlad is an extremely likable protagonist. He struggles with the things that most boys his age struggle with; bullies, homework, girls--but also has to deal with hiding his fangs, eating blood at lunch and making sure he wears his sunscreen so he doesn’t burst into flames.
Brewer’s descriptions of Vlad’s eating habits manage to be both gory and mundane. I love the ingenious method Nelly has of packing his lunch and it’s nice to know that vampires like chocolate chip cookies, too. Henry is an awesome best friend. He takes everything in stride, even when things get really crazy. His confusion about being called a drudge is one of my favorite parts of the book (and made want a drudge of my own). Once I got started, this book was hard to put down. You could easily devour (ha!) it in one sitting.
Though Eighth Grade Bites is aimed at middle grade readers, the story will appeal to all ages. I know I am hooked and can’t wait to read the next one!
uhhlora's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
rickus90's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Full review over here: https://rickusbookshelf.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/eighth-grade-bites-by-heather-brewer-the-chronicles-of-vladimir-tod-1/