Cracked Classics #1: Trapped in Transylvania: Dracula (Cracked Classics)

Rating:
Summary: Depressingly Anti-Literate
Review: Although I picked up this book expecting a laugh, I put it down in sadness. I truly regret giving my money to Volo publishers for this 'book.' The intended audience for this work appears to be kids who do not enjoy reading. It's good to give such tykes literary counterparts whom they can relate to. Yet "Trapped in Transylvania" would discourage even the most voracious of readers. The narration, characters, and expecially the dialogue are tired, hackneyed, and trite. The starring kids speak in nothing but antiquated slang. This is the type of book/preachy-after-school-special that has always made me very uphappy, ever since I started reading. Everything is dumbed down, the kids are expected to act like brainless fools, and the story itself is unrewarding. I was not surprised to learn that this series' publisher is owned by Disney. "Cracked Classics" appear to be another tool used to encourage kids to enjoy tv, movies and bad music more than literature. Young'uns may not be ready for the actual "Dracula" yet, but their minds (our socio-cultural future) deserve far better than this.

Rating:
Summary: Depressingly Anti-Literate
Review: Although I picked up this book expecting a laugh, I put it down in sadness. I truly regret giving my money to Volo publishers for this 'book.' The intended audience for this work appears to be kids who do not enjoy reading. It's good to give such tykes literary counterparts whom they can relate to. Yet "Trapped in Transylvania" would discourage even the most voracious of readers. The narration, characters, and expecially the dialogue are tired, hackneyed, and trite. The starring kids speak in nothing but antiquated slang. This is the type of book/preachy-after-school-special that has always made me very uphappy, ever since I started reading. Everything is dumbed down, the kids are expected to act like brainless fools, and the story itself is unrewarding. I was not surprised to learn that this series' publisher is owned by Disney. "Cracked Classics" appear to be another tool used to encourage kids to enjoy tv, movies and bad music more than literature. Young'uns may not be ready for the actual "Dracula" yet, but their minds (our socio-cultural future) deserve far better than this.

Rating:
Summary: avid reader loves Cracked Classics
Review: My nine year old is an avid reader and loves these books. He's even asked for and read Around the World in 80 days after reading What a Trip. I have also read Trapped in Transylvania and while I might cringe reading that the main characters hate school and reading, they are still appealing and funny and it is great to see them learn to love books--without being preachy about it.

Rating:
Summary: Funny being to "Cracked Classics"
Review: Sixth graders Devin Bundy and his pal Frankie Lang are your two tradition class troublemakers. After their teacher finds out they haven't read the book assigned to them in class, she punishes them by telling them to write a report on the book "Dracula" and get sentenced to library duty and work with the funny Mrs. Figglehopper(what a name!) Soon they are sent off by Mrs. Figglehopper to repair the damaged library books and before they know what is happening they are zapped by the library's secruity system to 1897 Translyvania and right into Bram Stoker's vampire classic "Dracula"(Yes, we are talking the real thing here!) To their horror, the two mischiveous trouble makers find out that the only way to leave is to...READ!! I recommend all kids to read this hilirous book. It is perfect for kids just starting to get into chapter books!