Steven Banks

Have you met Tom the Vam-Wolf-Zom? No? Oh, I couldn’t imagine why not. I mean, he’s just your average middle school kid...who just so happened to be bitten by a vampire, a werewolf, AND a zombie before his first day of 6th grade...what’s so special about that? *cue the bulging eyes and dropped jaw * Yes, Tom is one special kid, and that very special “heritage” is what’ about to get him into a slew of trouble! Honestly, I hadn’t read the first novel, but even so…I found his show more adventures curious, interesting, and downright humorous! It’s not every day that you meet someone of his lineage and get unwittingly drawn into a battle that’s been raging for eons between these separate paranormal species. Take the time to get to know Tom, and you’ll see he’s just like the rest of us...trying to pick his way along the path of life while staying at a comfortable distance from those who might mean him harm!


**ARC received for review; opinions are my own show less

Reviewed by Long Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Tom Johnson is short, has a big nose, and even has frizzy hair to top it all off. Put quite simply, in Tom's own words, he's a Creep. Set against the immediate post-JFK assassination in 1963, Tom finds himself on his way to a local bridge to jump off following a traumatic Creep-related event. But on his way he finds himself staring across at a record of some folk singer that's short, has a big nose, and frizzy hair to top it all off -- Bob show more Dylan!

Inspired by his sudden revelation of his resemblance to the legendary folk singer, Tom decides to become a folk singer, too, and make something of himself. He buys a guitar and only has time to learn one chord before a number of things happen, one of which is his meeting Angelina: the groovy, deep poet who might actually be interested in him. Before Tom knows what has happened, he and his one-chord show have a chance to do something big, something important, something Tom doesn't know if even he wants to do.

In his fun and straight-ahead debut novel, Steven Banks tells the story of a new kind of protagonist who must decide for himself what the right thing to do is. KING OF THE CREEPS is a story of lame right-wing jokes, the New York folk scene in Greenwich Village, learning to speak up for yourself, getting the girl, and ultimately deciding your own fate -- and making it count. Banks himself knows twenty-eight guitar chords.

Cheers to S.B. show less

Most students are hesitant to start middle school. In addition, Tom was bitten by a werewolf, a vampire bat, and a zombie, which turned him into a combination of the three. Tom visits his grandma every summer just before returning to school. He gets bitten by everything around his grandma’s house in the woods. There is a list on the fridge to keep count of what little creatures get to Tom. The fantastical bites are something different, though, for Tom, it makes the start of middle school show more even more challenging. He doesn’t like the sun, is interested in the class mouse destined for the snake, and craves blood when he smells it. It turns out Tom’s biggest enemy is also in the same middle school, and it all creates the worst day of Tom’s life.
It’s an interesting take on school bullies and middle school life. It will appeal to those who do not want the scary part of zombies, werewolves, and vampires.
The first installment of this series, which is perfect for upper elementary and beginning middle school, features black-and-white illustrations.
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4th - 6th grade
Written show less

For me, the second it hits September 1, it's Halloween season. I start reading any sort of spooky, monsterish sort of book I can get my hands on. Scary, funny, cute....I don't care what sort. If it's Halloween-y in any way -- it's at the top of my TBR.

Since I just finished a pretty heavy adult horror novel, I decided to enjoy a middle grade audiobook to give my brain a bit of a break. Something cute, but still that touch of spooky :) Middle School Bites is perfect for a spooky read with a show more big dose of humor and cuteness!

Tom is just starting middle school. He's worried about the usual stuff -- bullies, being embarrassed, etc. But just before school starts, Tom gets bitten.....not once....but three times. How can a kid survive middle school if he's a Vam-Wolf-Zom?? It's a trifecta that Tom could never have planned for.....

What a cute book! It reminds me a lot of the Last Kids on Earth Series...but there is a reason for that. Robbie Daymond narrates the audiobooks for both series! I love his voice acting in the Last Kids books....and he was great on this one too!

Fun series! I have the second book Middle School Bites: Tom Bites Back on hold at my public library. Can't wait to listen to it! There's a bit of a waiting list....but that just means other people are loving this series too!

*I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Holiday House Publishing, and listened to an audio book copy from my public library. All opinions expressed are totally my own.** show less