I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Attack of the Vampire Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales
by
Davie Lubar
fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Starscape on May 24, 2011 and has 224 pages.
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Thirty-three short — and I do mean short — tales about the creepy and unexpected. Be warned, almost all of these stories have seriously creepy endings.
My Take
It’s a little bit R.L. Stine and a little bit Roald Dahl. I think these could be great stories to read aloud with your kids and then talk about the weird thoughts they have. Encourage them to expand upon what crazy ideas they’ve had. A warped and creepy spur towards creative thinking…
Have fun with the names that Lubar comes up with as well. Mrs. Reaker and her stinky house, the Meander village…
The Stories
“Not Another Word” is a real switch and finds the protagonist baiting a mime. Only…who is baiting whom? Too funny.
“Get Out of Gym for Free” is about the universal hatred of gym class and the lengths kids will go to get out of it! The real “treat” is at the end of the story! It reminds me of Kim Donovan’s Riotous Rocket Ship Robbery with its twist on school.
“Ghost in the Well” is a tale of greed and lies. A much easier lesson for the reader than it is for the protagonist!
“It’s Only a Game” is a rather vague tale of video games and wanting to be up to the minute versus an invasion of earth.
“Attack of the Vampire Weenies” is funny and pointed when the little brother makes plans to intimidate and then rescue his big sister and her weenie of a boyfriend. Life isn’t always fair. And never plan to put someone down just to make yourself look good!
“Rapt Punzel” is a snark at what couch potatoes we’ve all become.
“In One Ear” is a lesson against theft, covetousness, and lying.
“Fourth and Inches” is an excellent example of walking in another person’s shoes!
“MutAnts” is an ant obsession that mutates into terrifying proportions! Eek!
“Cat Got Your Nose?” is a cheeky little girl who desperately wants a cat of her own. And the lengths she’ll go to for one. Watch out parents!
“The Ride of a Lifetime” is an example of the extremes of getting what you wish for, for this rude little boy.
“Chirp” is just sad for this young man enamored of his next door neighbor who has just moved in. It’s a good reminder to look before you leap.
“Bruja” is another sibling rivalry. Mind you, I don’t blame the sister for being mad, but there should be a time limit! Besides, she knew what her little brother was like, and I think she was very unreasonable. I just wish her brother hadn’t had to suffer, too.
“Elf Improvement” is just rude, although it does show that bad luck is an equal opportunist.
“Sun Damage” is an unexpected twist against a couple of bullies. And I have no pity for them.
“Sweet Soap” is just weird. And I can see where kids would adore the switch. I mean, who wants to take a bath anyway?
“Roadwork” is a bit of a laugh at city work crews and a nod at the old practice of burying a sacrifice to ensure the building doesn’t fall down. Ewww…
“Finders Losers” certainly puts a twist on those decals people put in windows so firefighters know where kids’ bedrooms are. What does happen to the stickers once kids get big?
“Cloudy with a Chance of Message” is an example of missing the message when it’s right in front of your face.
“Family Time” almost seems like a conspiracy. I kept waiting for the others to finally yell “gotcha”!
“Gee! Ography” was too funny. Oh, man, no way could this sorry kid keep it up. It’s that whole thing about becoming too confident and getting cocky.
“The Spider Shouter” is an example of live and let live. Sigh…if only…
“The Pyramid Man” is a graphic example of the pyramid scheme. Too funny.
“Walk the Dog” is a lovely example of consideration for others. Snicker, selfish little Priscilla certainly got a nice reminder! Great ending!
“Warm Rain” is an unexpected misadventure at the museum when one boy gets paired up with the class nerd.
“Last One Out” is definitely an eek when the pushy Chuck has his final first.
“Dragon Around” combines Mercedes Lackey’s Tradition from her Five Hundred Kingdoms series and the invention of football. Too funny. And such a whacky compromise.
“Lost and Found” proves that sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be nice. Or greedy.
“Cooties” is confusing for me. I can see where it would be interesting to see who “ended up” with the cooties, but I just don’t get the big deal he made of it. The ending is definitely a kid’s perspective.
“My Science Project” is one-up against the bad boys. Hopefully, that’ll be stinging lesson for ’em! Snicker…!
“The Blacker Cat” is a bit creepy with the Edgar Allan Poe story, The Black Cat. But it gets creepier with one of her other birthday presents, and all I can say is, thank god for black cats!
“Little Guys” is another story about bullies and their comeuppance. Makes me think of the end of the first Men in Black movie. Eek!
“A Cure for the Uncommon Vampire” is another comeuppance tale for a smart aleck, know-it-all. I could wish I felt sorry…but I won’t. Smarmy little git!
The Cover and Title
The cover has a gradient background of blue to green and is a total ‘toon with hot-doggin’ vampires converging on you, the reader. I do love the one hanging upside down from the limb of the bare tree.
The title is tellin’ it like it is from the title of one story to a synopsis of the rest — Attack of the Vampire Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales.
