Vampires and Beyond

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

If we go by my very unscientific poll of asking people who have read the books what their vote is, Edward the Vampire took the lead by at least two to one over Jacob the Werewolf. (My poll was of people who had actually read the books, not simply seen the movies, for who could vote Edward if one has seen Jacob on the big screen without his shirt on?)

What gives vampires such a big draw – and not just with the teen set? (The Sookie Stackhouse series is my case in point for the appeal to the older crowd.) Book series abound, and the TV shows and movies based on those books attract the attention of teens and adults alike. And not just with the girls; although, they definitely seem to be the most interested gender.

So what does make vampires so interesting to teens?

• Vampires are mysterious, sexy, and exciting. They can do the forbidden, yet they want to love and be loved, just like teens.
• Vampires are immortal. Who doesn’t want to live forever?
• Vampires have power beyond ordinary human beings. They can control and give eternal life.
• Vampires are different. They live on the margins of society, misunderstood and often wrongfully persecuted, as many teens feel they experience as well.
• Vampires provide horror and the thrill of fear. They get revenge and venture into the dark unknown with fearlessness adolescents only wish they could emulate. *

The exterior and interior changes which happen to vampires mirror the changes happening in adolescents. The vampire can provide a way to live out the inconsistencies of life vicariously. They represent a mixture of vengeance, control, sexiness, and danger all while maintaining their charm and sophistication.

So what was your first encounter with a vampire? Mine was Barnabas Collins in Dark Shadows (the original TV soap in 1967, not the Johnny Depp version of 2012). But no matter when young people get introduced to vampires, or with whom they have their first encounter, it is not really a mystery why vampires hold such appeal. And given that every author puts their own spin on the traditions of the vampire, each novel or series presents vampires in a fresh new light. So who is my favorite vampire – for I have loved many?

Go, Team Edward!

*[List adapted from DeMarco, J.  (1997).  Vampire literature:  Something young adults can really sink their teeth into.  Emergency Librarian  24(5)]

So when it comes to books to recommend, I have a matched set to bring.  There is a new trend to combine classic stories with creepy characters and plot twists.  The result of this "mash-up" are stories that you will recognize, but not.  They are usually injected with humor and offer unique takes on the classics many have loved over the years.  Here are some examples.

Alcott, Louisa May, and Messina, Lynn  (2010)  Little Vampire Women
The March women are back, but as vampires, of course.  Still the humanitarians that we know and love, the girls have been taught by their mother to be good little vampire women.  So they do not feed on human blood, but on animal blood.  The story has elements you'll recognize if you have read the original (Laurie is still dying to be part of the family, only this time, to get in he must really die!).  For those who have not, the plot is funny enough to keep the reader reading in most cases.

Alcott, Louisa May, and Grand, Porter (2010)  Little Women and Werewolves
While the previous book is more of a spoof, this particular spin on the March clan does not have the same feel of a satire or spoof.  This book reads as a much more serious book.  I agree with some of the readers who rated this book that it feels a bit chopped up and the storyline has little continuity.  However, it is interesting.  Werewolves were a popular topic of the time that Little Women was originally written, but I didn't like this version as much as Little Vampire Women which felt much less serious.

Twain, Mark, and Borchert, Don  (2010)  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead 
If you're a lover of the scene where Tom cons his friends into whitewashing Aunt Polly's fence, you won't find that in this version.  What you will find is Tom getting the guys to sharpen fence posts into pointy spikes to attack Zombies with.  Zombies are taking over, and Tom and Huck become Zombie hunters.  This volume has the comedy and fun I was hoping for.  My only problem with it is I have absolutely no interest in zombie stories - just don't see the draw to this character.  However, Zombies are big business these days, and for those who don't feel as I do, this might be the book to add to your collection.


Just for fun, there are lots more in case you find the mash-ups to your liking:
The Late Gatsby
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Emma and the Vampires
Wuthering Bites
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters