Maggie and her family have just moved to their new home, a rundown house in a town called Goreway on the Yorkshire coast. The town is in the middle of nowhere and the house is on its own on the edge of Skeleton Woods, a place full of history and legends and a place no-one is allowed to go. Maggie begins her new school rather warily as she didn't have many friends in her previous school: she was known as the weird child after her classmates discovered her love of spooky legends. Here, however, she makes friends with Ari and Miles. One day, when venturing into the forest, Maggie stumbles across a castle which is supposed to be enchanted against humans where she discovers a host of vampires, including Sharptooth, a vegetarian vampire who is desperate to be her friend. Meanwhile, in town, Mayor Collyfleur is determined to persuade the locals that the forest should be destroyed in favour of a luxury golf course. Can Maggie and her friends persuade the locals that the mayor is wrong whilst also persuading everyone that their neighbourly vampires need protecting instead.
Maggie is a fearless young lady who clearly isn't afraid of anything, especially not spooky stories and anything that would send many of us running for the safety of our bed! She's different and I like that (I also know several children at school who will appreciate this). I also like the fact that she is accepted for who she is by Ari and Miles. The trio complement each other wonderfully: Ari is bouncy and care-free, whereas Miles is more studious and sensible; together the three of them are people I would love to get to know. I also need to mention Sharptooth who is quite the opposite of any vampire you may have met before! She is happy, friendly, curious and vegetarian!
I'm building quite the collection of spooky books for Hallowe'en so I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn't disappointed! This book is funny and perfect for those who want a great Hallowe'en read without being spooked!
The book has all the ingredients of a great Hallowe'en read: isolated house on the edge of a forest; mysterious legends of vanishing people; a hidden, creepy castle; vampires galore! But it also has humour and friendship, messages about not judging people ... and beetroot juice and ketchup! How Not To Be A Vampire Slayer will make a wonderful addition to my spooky books collection and I know that it will go down well in school.
No comments:
Post a Comment