Eighth Grade Bites
Encyclopedia
Eighth Grade Bites is a novel written by Heather Brewer
, centered on its main character Vladimir Tod, a vampire
from birth.
Vlad's mother's long time friend, Nelly, is raising him, and she understands his problems and helps him to hide the fact that he is a vampire and must have blood to survive. Vlad's best friend, Henry is the only other person who knows his secret, and Vlad bit Henry once when they were eight years old, making Henry his drudge (someone who is forced to the will of a vampire).
Vladimir has real rapport with one teacher, but that teacher has disappeared and no one knows where he is. Vlad and Henry are determined to find out what happened to him. But the substitute teacher begins to question Vlad too closely ... and there is just something strange about Mr. Otis Otis. Vlad worries that Otis might suspect the truth. Then when Otis assigns Vampires as Vlad's research project, and the teacher scribbles "I know your secret" across the bottom of his essay, he is really frightened. Vlad discovers his father's journal and is learning about the reality of being a vampire and the powers that he may possess. He also becomes convinced that there is a Vampire slayer in town, and that he is searching for Vlad. Things go from bad to worse when Nelly invites Otis to dinner and he confronts Vlad with what he knows.
Henry McMillan - Vlad's best friend, who is also in eighth grade. He is more popular than Vlad and is the most crushed on guy at school. Vlad thinks that Meredith has a crush on him. Henry is known for being funny and strange, but also the only human child Vlad's willing to trust with his secret.
Aunt Nelly - Vlad's guardian, although she is not Vlad's actual aunt. Nelly and Mellina were very good friends, so when Tomas and Mellina "died", Nelly stepped up. She knows and supports Vlad's vampire side, being a human herself. She works at the hospital and takes almost "expired" blood bags for Vlad. Vlad's cravings for blood do not make her grossed out, as they do with Henry.
Otis Otis - the new substitute English teacher when Mr. Craig goes missing. He teaches English through educating the children about mythology, a tactic which he uses to discover that, like Tomas, Vlad is a vampire. Later, he is revealed to be Tomas' half brother, therefore Vlad's uncle. He helps Vlad escape the Elysian prison, although he seems like one of the evil vampires.
D'Ablo - the president of the Elysian council. He is the antagonist of the story, but does not appear until he is heard talking to Mr. Otis halfway through the book. His major appearance isn't until about the last 30 pages. At the end, he is injured by Vlad with the Lucis.
Meredith Brookstone - Vlad's dream girl since the 3rd grade. She seems to like Henry, but throughout the book she flirts with Vlad too.
. Settings include the junior high, the old bell tower, Elysia the vampire world, and Vlad's house. The book begins around the time of Halloween
(October) in present day.
Eddie Poe - a reference to Edgar Allan Poe
, a gothic author and poet.
Melissa Hart - a reference to Melissa Joan Hart
, the actress who starred in the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Stokerton - Stoker is the last name of the author of "Dracula", Bram Stoker
.
Bathory - a reference to Elizabeth Báthory
, who is also known as "the Blood Countess".
Heather Brewer
Heather Brewer is an American writer of young adult fiction. Her debut series, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, was published by Dutton Juvenile.-Publications:The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod:*Eighth Grade Bites...
, centered on its main character Vladimir Tod, a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
from birth.
Plot
Life is not easy for any thirteen-year-old, but when your mother was a human and your father was a vampire, and they were both killed in a fire, it's especially hard. The school bullies harass Vlad, the principal seems to have it in for him, and his dream girl, Meredith, seems to prefer his friend, Henry.Vlad's mother's long time friend, Nelly, is raising him, and she understands his problems and helps him to hide the fact that he is a vampire and must have blood to survive. Vlad's best friend, Henry is the only other person who knows his secret, and Vlad bit Henry once when they were eight years old, making Henry his drudge (someone who is forced to the will of a vampire).
Vladimir has real rapport with one teacher, but that teacher has disappeared and no one knows where he is. Vlad and Henry are determined to find out what happened to him. But the substitute teacher begins to question Vlad too closely ... and there is just something strange about Mr. Otis Otis. Vlad worries that Otis might suspect the truth. Then when Otis assigns Vampires as Vlad's research project, and the teacher scribbles "I know your secret" across the bottom of his essay, he is really frightened. Vlad discovers his father's journal and is learning about the reality of being a vampire and the powers that he may possess. He also becomes convinced that there is a Vampire slayer in town, and that he is searching for Vlad. Things go from bad to worse when Nelly invites Otis to dinner and he confronts Vlad with what he knows.
Main Characters
Vladimir Tod - the main character of the series. Vlad is half vampire. Vlad often misses his parents and wonders about their mysterious deaths, which is the driving force behind most of the story.His parents had died three years ago in a fireHenry McMillan - Vlad's best friend, who is also in eighth grade. He is more popular than Vlad and is the most crushed on guy at school. Vlad thinks that Meredith has a crush on him. Henry is known for being funny and strange, but also the only human child Vlad's willing to trust with his secret.
Aunt Nelly - Vlad's guardian, although she is not Vlad's actual aunt. Nelly and Mellina were very good friends, so when Tomas and Mellina "died", Nelly stepped up. She knows and supports Vlad's vampire side, being a human herself. She works at the hospital and takes almost "expired" blood bags for Vlad. Vlad's cravings for blood do not make her grossed out, as they do with Henry.
Otis Otis - the new substitute English teacher when Mr. Craig goes missing. He teaches English through educating the children about mythology, a tactic which he uses to discover that, like Tomas, Vlad is a vampire. Later, he is revealed to be Tomas' half brother, therefore Vlad's uncle. He helps Vlad escape the Elysian prison, although he seems like one of the evil vampires.
D'Ablo - the president of the Elysian council. He is the antagonist of the story, but does not appear until he is heard talking to Mr. Otis halfway through the book. His major appearance isn't until about the last 30 pages. At the end, he is injured by Vlad with the Lucis.
Meredith Brookstone - Vlad's dream girl since the 3rd grade. She seems to like Henry, but throughout the book she flirts with Vlad too.
Setting
The book takes place in a small town named BathoryBáthory
The Báthory were a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary...
. Settings include the junior high, the old bell tower, Elysia the vampire world, and Vlad's house. The book begins around the time of Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
(October) in present day.
Media References
Lugosi Trail - the street where Vlad's home is, a reference to Bela LugosiBéla Lugosi
Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
Eddie Poe - a reference to Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, a gothic author and poet.
Melissa Hart - a reference to Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Catherine Hart is an American actress, writer, television director, television producer, singer and businesswoman...
, the actress who starred in the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
Stokerton - Stoker is the last name of the author of "Dracula", Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
.
Bathory - a reference to Elizabeth Báthory
Elizabeth Báthory
Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed was a countess from the renowned Báthory family of Hungarian nobility. Although in modern times she has been labelled the most prolific serial killer in history, the number of murders has been debated...
, who is also known as "the Blood Countess".
See also
- Ninth Grade SlaysNinth Grade SlaysNinth Grade Slays is a novel by Heather Brewer, and the second of five books in the The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod collection. It is a continuation of the first book: Eighth Grade Bites...
- Tenth Grade BleedsTenth Grade BleedsTenth Grade Bleeds is a novel by Heather Brewer, and the third of five books in the The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod collection. It features Vladimir Tod, his best friend Henry, his uncle Otis, his vampire mentor Vikas, and his guardian Aunt Nelly.-Plot:...
- Eleventh Grade BurnsEleventh Grade BurnsThe Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eleventh Grade Burns, by Heather Brewer, is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series. The book was published on February 9, 2010.- Summary :...
- Twelfth Grade KillsTwelfth Grade Kills-Plot:At the prologue of the book, D'Ablo is murdered by a mysterious person. The man was described as familiar, but lacked further information because D'Ablo died immediately afterward....