EVEN MORE Vampire books for a 5th grader? (Thanks, but I need more!)

[Mickey'snewestfan]

A little more than a week ago I posted the following, and got lots of good suggestions! My son and I went on Amazon, read the first chapters they had posted there, and he selected "Suck it Up", "Dark Runner" and "Eigth Grade Bites", bought them with his gift card and read them all, in a week! We went back and he got the Ninth grade (finished) and Tenth Grade (half way through) books from Vladimir Tod, and the first book in the new Rick Riordan series (as of yet, unread), and he's moving fast.

This is a kid who used to read, maybe, one unassigned book a year, so I'd love to keep this momentum up. But we need more suggestions! He told me "Mom, go ask those Disney people!"

I'm doing this by bumping the orginal thread so you can see what was suggested.


"My 11 year old son loves to read about vampires. He's been a reluctant reader since the beginning, until last spring when he discovered a series called Oliver Nocturne, which he loved. Since then he's read the Twilight books (I know, other people make different choices as parents), the Cirque du Freak series, and is now finishing the last book in the Vampirates series -- all without any nagging from me!

He's read some other things voluntarily, Percy Jackson, Ranger's Apprentice were both hits, but his favorites are vampire books. Any suggestions for new titles?"

 

[padams]

Obviously, he needs to read the original Dracula.

 

[Jennasis]

Cirque du Freak!

 

[AshleyW]

My 11 year old son loves to read about vampires. He's been a reluctant reader since the beginning, until last spring when he discovered a series called Oliver Nocturne, which he loved. Since then he's read the Twilight books (I know, other people make different choices as parents), the Cirque du Freak series, and is now finishing the last book in the Vampirates series -- all without any nagging from me!

He's read some other things voluntarily, Percy Jackson, Ranger's Apprentice were both hits, but his favorites are vampire books. Any suggestions for new titles?

Night Runner by Max Turner
Suck it Up By Brian Meehl

and I agree with the PP about Bram Stoker's Dracula, but it might be too sexual for an 11 year old.

 

[Tinkmom75]

Bunnicula would probably be a little young for him. I can't remember. It's about a vampire bunny.

There is a book series my DS likes "Tunnels" I believe and he also like the Michele Paver books I think "Wolf Brother" is the first. Not vampire though.

 

[Darsa]

First let me say I applaud your decision to allow your boy to read the Twilight Series. I'm a huge fan of people allowing their kids to experience things through literature, and I can't really think of anything that would be too shocking for today's 11 year olds in those books My very naive 13YO (at the time) daughter read these books and she LOVED them.

I might suggest Eighth Grade Bites, I haven't read it myself, but I plan to get it for my DD to try; she's 14 now so I'm concerned it might be a bit "young" for her, but anything to get her to read voluntarily!

 

[jen0610]

My 11 year old son loves to read about vampires. He's been a reluctant reader since the beginning, until last spring when he discovered a series called Oliver Nocturne, which he loved. Since then he's read the Twilight books (I know, other people make different choices as parents), the Cirque du Freak series, and is now finishing the last book in the Vampirates series -- all without any nagging from me!

He's read some other things voluntarily, Percy Jackson, Ranger's Apprentice were both hits, but his favorites are vampire books. Any suggestions for new titles?

My 15 year old has read Ranger's Apprentice, as well as the Vampirate books. While not vampire in nature, if he likes the fantasy/sci-fi books, you can always try these series, he may like them until he can find another vampire series.

The Last Dargon Chronicles by Chris D'Lacey
Stoneheart Trilogy by Charlie Fletcher
The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

Once DS hit 13, he started reading the Morganville Vampire series, which DD now enjoys as well. Those I would gear more to a teen, then an 11 year old. I had the 1st book, he was bored and needed something to read, so he picked this up and read it. Wanted to keep reading them, so we got them for him.

 

[mthr2boys]

Your son sounds like mine! He read the Cirque du freak and then we stumbled upon the Chronicals of Vladamir Tod. Cool books, I have read them as well. Cant wait for the last one to come out! My son doesnt normally like to sit down to read, BUT if he has a book that grabs his attention that is all he wants to do and I just love it! He also liked the Stoneheart Trilogy. Not vampires but still good.

 

[Disneyluvr]

another series he might enjoy, even thought they are not vampires, more like Harry Potter if he like those, is the Charlie Bones series. They are about a boy who discovers he has powers.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Mthr2boys,

It does sound like we have the same kid! My son has always loved to be read to, and later loved audiobooks, but reading took a while to click for him. I think it frustrated him that he wanted books like Harry Potter and the Inheritance Cycle (Eragon) both of which he's listened to on CD many times, but his "reading level" was more Junie B. Jones.

That gap finally began to close at the beginning of 4th, and now if he finds a series he likes he'll be into them for a time. However, once it runs out he doesn't search for the next book, he just goes back to his non-literary self. Since I'm the one who cares whether or not his reading improves, I'm still the one seeking out books for him.

As far as your suggestions, lots of good ideas here, I have a few questions.

Dracula -- I don't worry about sexual stuff, mainly because he has zero interest. I do worry that it will be too adult, and too slow paced and he'll lose interest. I'd hate for him to try it and dislike it because I know if he waits a few years he'll love it. What do people think?

Cirque du Freak, Bunnicula, and Charlie Bone are all series he's loved (he read the first, the other two on tape).

The Vlaimir Tod books, Night Runner, and Suck it Up soun perfect -- we'll definitely check those out.

I'll definitely check out all the suggestions!

 

[Sparx]

Dracula definitely.

Do you think Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire would be too heavy? Its definitely a good read.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Dracula, what about the part where the brides seduce Jonathan?

Maybe Steven King's Salem's Lot, I don't think there is anything intimate in that book but can't be certain.

I went through an Ann Rice period and she is very sensual moving into even explicit on occasion. I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near her stuff until they are legal to vote.

I would tend to think any books based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series might be geared towards the young adult audience.

I will ask my DS12 when he come in if he has any ideas.

 

[Sparx]

Dracula, what about the part where the brides seduce Jonathan?

Maybe Steven King's Salem's Lot, I don't think there is anything intimate in that book but can't be certain.

I went through an Ann Rice period and she is very sensual moving into even explicit on occasion. I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near her stuff until they are legal to vote.

I would tend to think any books based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series might be geared towards the young adult audience.

I will ask my DS12 when he come in if he has any ideas.

I'm a big buffy fan, and I've only read one of the books (it had Spike and Drusilla on it, but I can't remember the title) and it was pretty sexually explicit. Probably worse than Anne Rice.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

considering the OP mentioned all the other books her son has read, i don't think any of the Anne Rice books OR Dracula would interest him.


i was actually GOING to say the Percy Jackson books, but the OP said he already read them lol.

 

[Sparx]

I know the last time I was in a book store there was a Twilight Table with a lot of similar books on it. When it rains-it pours and vampires are the new cool thing. Maybe you should take him to a book store and look for one of these? There were 10-15 books I'd never heard of but they all seemed to be about vampires and all geared towards the twilight audience.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think that Anne Rice books are still too old for him. He's still relatively new at reading for pleasure, and things like long passages of description, or sexual scenes are likely to make him give up on the book. I should mentioned that when he read the Twilight books he asked me to read and summarize the sex scenes because they were too boring to read. He still needs something faster paced, aimed at a younger audience.

I wonder if we'll have the same issue with Dracula. Maybe I'll buy it and read it, and if it seems accessible I'll have him try. The sex doesn't bother me, unless it makes him put down the book and give up on something I know he'll love in the future, that would make me sad.

The problem with the Twilight table is that it's really romance heavy, and he's just not interested in that. He's still very much a preteen boy.

 

[design_mom]

I don't have any vampire-specific suggestions, but... My 9 year old likes many of the books you mentioned. He also liked the The Last Dargon Chronicles by Chris D'Lacey (a previous poster mentioned, too.)

Right now, he's reading "The Red Pyramid," the new one by Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson series. He seems to think it's pretty good. He also likes the 39 Clues series.

 

[Miz Diz]

I might suggest Eighth Grade Bites, I haven't read it myself, but I plan to get it for my DD to try; she's 14 now so I'm concerned it might be a bit "young" for her, but anything to get her to read voluntarily!

My nephew read all of Heather Brewer's books. He is not one who likes to read and loves these. I read Eight Grade Bites and liked it.

Heather is also a disser.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Definately check out the Vladimir Tod Series - DD loves these.

He might like The Mortal Instruments Series - the first book is called City of Bones. It is not about vampires but there are vamps in it. It is about a young group of kids called ShadowHunters. It is recommended for ages 14+ so you might want to check it out before he reads it but I don't recall if there was anything too bad in it.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Thank you guys so much!

I showed him this thread and we went and read the first chapters of a bunch of books from Amazon last night. He really liked Suck It Up, Night Runners, and Eighth Grade Bites, so we ordered them from our local book store with a gift card he got for his birthday.

That should keep him busy for a while, but I'd love to get more suggestions.