The Vampire Hound - Softcover

Kraft, Jim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0816773157 ISBN 13: 9780816773152

Publisher: Troll Communications Llc, 2001

Synopsis

Barksdale, a dog who is also a vampire, lives peacefully in Victorian London helping those less fortunate, until a famous vampire hunter comes to town and sets out to find the vampire dog.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-6-An unusual cast of characters comes to the aid of Barksdale, a vampire hound, as he is pursued by a relentless vampire hunter. Kraft creates a microcosm of society with good and bad, funny and sad, people and situations. With just enough suspense to keep readers engaged, the plot moves at a steady pace while the characters develop and deliver their messages through clever and funny dialogue. Barksdale is portrayed as a responsible, likable, if somewhat lonely, vampire, using his talents only to save himself and others. Tilney Potts, his devoted rat servant, is the pivotal character who moves the plot along to a satisfying climax. But it is Slatkin, a ferret, and Chuggers, a bear, who are the stars of this book. Like The Lion King's Timon and Pumbaa, they are the comic relief as well as the deliverers of important messages. It is through them that readers see that people can change, situations can't always be judged in black and white, and that it is possible to be good and bad at the same time. While this isn't James Howe's Bunnicula (Atheneum, 1979), the steadiness of the story line and the witty, if oh-so-very British, dialogue, and wacky characters will make Vampire Hound popular with children looking for books in this genre. Its charm is in the lack of bloody violence, the controlled suspense, and the satisfying ending.
Molly S. Kinney, Peach Public Libraries, Fort Valley, GA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Troll Communications Llc
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0816773157
• ISBN 13: 9780816773152
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192