Shan, Darren. Cirque Du Freak, A Living Nightmare. London, England: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. 2002. ISBN 0316607107
AWARDS:
ALA Notable Books for Children
ALA Top 10 Best Books for YA
ALA Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers
BCCB Blue Ribbons
Booklist Editors' Choice
Boston Globe - Hornbook
Publishers Weekly Best Books
School Library Journal's Best Books
SUMMARY: Darren Shan and his friend Steve obtain tickets to a Freak Show. After the show, Darren steals one of the act’s trained spider. The spider bites Steve and the only way Darren can save him is to find the spider’s true owner. The owner, Larten Crepsley, just happens to be a vampire. He knows how to save Steve, but he will only give Darren the serum if Darren agrees to become his assistant. Darren agrees. The serum saves Steve, and Mr. Crepsley turns Darren into a half vampire. They fake Darren’s death and he leaves his friends and family behind for this other life. Before they leave, Darren sees his friend Steve once more, and Steve vows to destroy Darren.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS: The story is told by protagonist, Darren Shan. Darren is not a saint, but he does exhibit most of the qualities your typical 12 year old boy possesses. He steals a spider, yet he gives up his life for his friend. He never comes clean about why Steve is dying, but he agrees to alter his life with a terribly brave act to save him. These are the kind of contradictions that make Darren believable.
Darren’s family is minor to the story. Steve, Darren’s best friend, seems like a true friend, but we see that he is evil by the end of the story. Mr. Crepsley is scary, as the vampire stalking the thief of his precious spider. His intentions are questionable, but in the end, he is one of the good guys.
The setting is not really important to the story. The story takes place in a town not specified, in the present. I enjoyed this quote from the book about this story being true, “In books, the heroes can make as many mistakes as they like. It doesn't matter what they do, because everything works out in the end. They'll beat the bad guys and put things right and everything ends up cool...Real life's nasty. It's cruel. It doesn't care about happy endings and the way things should be. In real life, bad things happen. People die. Fights are lost. Evil often wins."(Shan 2002)
The plot is suspenceful, exciting, and eerie. The deadly spider, a freak show, and a vampire, make this story a great read. This is my second time to read this book, and I still couldn’t put it down. The ending leaves you wanting more, and luckily there is a second book.
I have shared this book with my students since it was published in 2002. If I ever had a student that was a reluctant reader or one that just couldn’t find the right book, I always recommended this book. I have had very few students that didn’t end up reading this whole series. They always come back wanting the next book. Parents may not like the violence and a few cuss words, but kids love it.
REVIEWS:
From School Library Journal:
“Gr 4-8-In his introduction, 12-year-old Darren claims that this is a true story, though the names have been changed and the country (obviously England) kept secret. When a bizarre-sounding freak show comes to town, he and his friend Steve sneak out to attend, and Steve recognizes one of the performers-as a centuries-old vampire. Darren decides he must steal the vampire's performing, poisonous spider. The theft is successful, and he learns to control Madam Octa with a combination of flute music and ESP-until she bites Steve. Darren must then sell himself into vampire slavery to get the cure to the spider's poison. This volume is neither as well written nor as compulsively readable as the "Harry Potter" books (Scholastic), though surely J. K. Rowling's endorsement on the cover will win it a few fans. Most of the characters aren't developed much beyond their names and a brief description. The slowness of the plot in the beginning might turn some readers off, but once the supernatural enters, they will be hooked. The fun here is in the details and in the uniqueness of the non-evil vampire monster. Several volumes of the series are already out in England, and the movie rights have already been purchased, ensuring that this title and probably its sequels will be in demand.”
Booklist Review:
“Gr. 5-8. When Cirque Du Freak comes to town, Darren and his friends are obsessed with seeing the acts, which include a performing spider; spiders are a particular fascination of Darren's. It is a marvelously creepy show that lives up to their expectations. After the show, Darren's rowdy pal, Steve, stays behind and confronts the man with the spider--who turns out to be a vampire. Hidden in the shadows, Darren listens, horrified, as Steve begs Mr. Crepsley to make him a vampire, too. Steve's request is denied, but through a series of mishaps, Darren becomes the vampire. The unresolved ending will leave readers begging for more. The gripping plot moves forward at a lightning pace, and Darren's fascination with the grotesque will ring true for many. Though originally published in England, there are no off-putting Briticisms, just a rip-roaring story full of oddities, low-key horror, and occasional, unexpected poignancy. “
RESOURCES:
Shan, Darren. Cirque Du Freak, A Living Nightmare. London, England: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. 2002. ISBN 0316607107
Darren Shan website.
Kids Reads website.
Darren Shan’s blog.
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