Vampyre

by Margaret Wild

Picture books with themes suitable for older children approx.10+ yrs. Strong themes about being who you want to be and moral choice.

Genres: Picture Books

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Margaret Wild is one of Australia's most highly respected picture-book creators whose award-winning children's books are loved by children all over the world. Margaret has published over seventy picture books for young children and she has been the recipient of the Nan Chauncy Award and the Lady Cutler Award for her contributions to Australian children's literature.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see this review and to learn more about Margaret Wild please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com

Vampyre by Margaret Wild is a children's picture book about a boy who just wants to be himself.

I love Margaret Wild. She's undoubtedly one of my favorite children's authors, so when I saw this scary looking children's storybook, I had to grab it. The story is told in first person and the boy has basically been born a vampire and isn't accepting of it. He has to make a choice.

I am Vampyre.
Feared.
Despised.
I sleep in darkness.
I long for light.



This book is very creepy with dark images and can really pack a powerful punch. The boy deals with being rejected because he wants to be something else. The reader is left to contemplate about what you can do when you don't feel like you belong, and how you can express yourself when what others want for you isn't your dream. You long for a different direction-a different life.

I was really surprised at how dark this story was and it's probably best for older children grade 7 and up. It's also a super expensive book and hard to find.

5*****

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: I can't believe I have to put a content warning on a picture book! The young vampire doesn't want to be feared and hated so he ends up climbing out into the light whilst his body is in agony and feels on fire (firey feeling in body not depicted). He would rather be dead than be a vampire that other creatures are scared of

I am Vampyre.
Feared.
Despised.
I live in darkness.
I long for light.

Well that was another moving sophisticated picture book. It is definitely for older children (early middle school) and up. The young Vampyre rejects his natural instincts and longs to walk among other creatures without being feared. I am a bit choked up thinking about it to be honest.

[Khrys ♡《TheWaffleGirl》 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to choose a picture book for an English Visual Literacy assignment and I have to say I made a fantastic random decision to pick Vampyre. I actually enjoyed reading it, even if it took me less than 5 minutes. The artwork and everything really got into me. It left some sort of impression, though I can’t exactly say what.

”I am Vampyre. Feared. Despised. I live in darkness. I long for light.”

It’s pretty dark and sad. I’m more surprised this is a children’s picture book. It’s short story is about a boy, struggling to find his sense of belonging and connectedness when he’s different from everyone else, including his family. He wants to deny his identity of not being human but he can’t and it’s torturing him. I don’t think young children would have understood the message it sends. The meaning is hidden deep between the words and the images despite its stunning importance.

”I emerge, scorched, bone bleached. Every muscle, every nerve screams.”

It was overall stunning and beautiful. I’m glad to have come across this book.

[Mary Refalo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and challenging book by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Andrew Yeo, this is definitely a picture book for adolescent readers. Wild and Yeo have considered their teenage audience in this story. The narrative is inspired by the recent popularity of vampire fiction and the images inspired by gothic architecture. The story is compelling. Although simply written and in first person, the reader engages in the implications of the protagonist's birth-right as a vampire, but really, this is a story about identity and growing up. Both the visual and written language are carefully crafted and evocative, giving at or above Stage 4 readers a rich text for study.

[Siddha Malilang · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought that this picture book would be 'cheap', as in surfing through the vampire wave brought about by the infamous Twilight Saga. Is this basically the twilight-ification of children's picture books? However, I found something deeper than just a 'cheap' story of vampire. Unlike my prejudiced 'vampire for dummy - children's edition', this is more like a vampiric Bildungsroman. Unfortunately, this book still retains the stereotypes for twilight-like stories, and thus some initial spreads are basically redundant.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous fabulous book. A surprise from Margaret Wild, in that this is a book suitable more for older children. This is a story about a young vampire who realises he is considered a monster to all other living things, and with all his heart, and against the expectation and beliefs of his family, he refuses to accept his destiny. With strength and determination he sets off to find another life for himself, a move which could cost him his life.

[Lyn Battersby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.

I will be reviewing and rating this once the AAs are announced.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautify Illustrations.
I've been reading Margret Wilde's book since I was little and I always enjoyed them.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this at the Lifeline Booksale today and, although I love Wild's books was very disappointed in it. I left it there but have regretted it since. While it did not originally appeal to me, the story has stayed with me and my understanding of it has developed through the day. It is dark but it is a story of being who you want to be. I do hope it went to a good home.