Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2010) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“Grahame-Smith, Seth. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Narr. Scott Holst.BBC Audiobooks America, 2010. Overdrive. Web. 25 December 2012. Bibliomation.lib.com.

Summary: This is an historical novel with a twist. A vampire twist that is. Grahame-Smith writes this biography of Abraham Lincoln using vampires as the negative forces in Lincoln’s life. Vampires, especially Southern vampires are basically the cause of all evil. They caused his mother’s death as well as his first love. Lincoln has been summoned to fight these evil forces as a young man. Henry Sturges is the vampire who enlists Lincoln in this quest. Lincoln discovers that Southerners are giving slaves to vampires in order to satisfy their need for human blood. Except for the vampires, the facts seem so historically correct that one questions the story. This novel is actually a bit funny and you have to read it with tongue in cheek. You can tell, though, that Grahame-Smith did extensive research about Abraham Lincoln and the history surrounding the Civil War. I recommend this book to high school students who enjoy reading historical fiction…and about vampires.
Ridiculously Simple Synopsis: Abraham Lincoln saves the U.S. from vampires.
Curriculum Connection: Civil War history.
Reading Level: High School
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Characters: (There are way too many characters to describe, but here are some.)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire hunter and protagonist of this novel. Also the 16th president of the United States.
Mr. Henry Sturges: Vampire who enlists Abraham Lincoln to hunt and slay the Southern and “bad” vampires.
Mary Todd Lincoln: Abe Lincoln’s wife.
Thomas Lincoln: Abe Lincoln’s father. He saw his father killed by vampires.
Jack Armstrong: Fellow vampire hunter and friend of Abe’s.
Ward Hill Lamon: Lincoln’s bodyguard.
Dr. Joseph Nash McDowell: Vampire and Dean of medicine at Kemper College.
Thomas Crowley: Vampire who was responsible for the deaths at Roanoke Colony. He also made Henry Sturges a vampire.
Sarah Bush Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln’s stepmother.
Ann Mayes Rutledge: Abe’s first love who died from sickness given to her by a vampire.
William H. Seward: Senator and later Lincoln’s Secretary of State. Seward was also a vampire hunter
Jack Barts: Vampire who killed Abe’s mother. The first vampire that Abe killed.
Mr. John MacNamar: Vampire who was Ann Rutledge’s fiancé. He killed her.
Nancy Hanks Lincoln: Abe's mother who was killed by Jack Barts.
Sarah Lincoln Gringsly: Abe's sister.
Joshua Fry Speed: A fellow vampire hunter and friend of Abe’s.”

• Rated 0 stars

“After reading Carnegie's "Lincoln the Unknown" and watching Spielberg's "Lincoln", I figured I'd twist it up a bit. ”

• Rated 2 stars

“This got good reviews and this "new genre" was interesting mixing fiction and non-fiction, but for me, it's blended so well together that I don't really like it. Maybe the others based on classics and not a famous person would be better. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“Better and more interesting than it sounds.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I genuinely enjoyed this book.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Very entertaining book that correlates very well with historical events, kind of like giving a behind-the-scenes to lincoln's presidency”

• Rated 1 stars

“I am giving up on this book halfway into the story. I don't like the way that it is written and I feel like the story can't make up its mind whether it is a biography or a fiction novel. It just isn't my cup of tea.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Not great literature by any means, but a fun little diversion. Finished it in less than 24 hours. Skip the movie, read the book.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Pretty darn good, didn't think I would like it. ”

• Rated 3 stars

“Parts of the book were confusing- particularly how it begins with no resolution to the one gaining the journals. I found the movie WAY BETTER than the book. Way Better!”