2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ah, but could a vampire beat a computer in chess?, May 12, 2005
With stunning regularity, the like of which I could have never have hoped to predict, I (as a children's librarian in New York City) have been approached more times than I'd care to recall by eight-year-old girls desperately wanting good vampire fiction. I kid you not. And, to be perfectly frank, this is a segment of the population showing a great need but without anything to fill that void. Oh sure, I can recommend James Howe's, "Bunnicula" until the cows come home, but vampire rabbits aren't what the ladies look for. And at eight I'm loathe to lower myself by mentioning Anne Rice's name. Thank goodness we've Elizabeth Levy instead. Now I'm not going to say that, "Vampire State Building" is the greatest book ever written. Quite frankly, it's repetitive and not particularly well thought out at times. Just the same, though it obviously owes quite a bit to the aforementioned James Howe, the book is an amusing mystery for young readers that have just grown comfortable reading chapter books on their own, but still need the occasional picture and potentially spooky premise to help them along.
The perils of online chatrooms are no stranger to anyone. But who would've thought that chess-loving Robert would've come into direct contact with a vampire because of it? At least that's what Robert's little brother Sam and cousin Mabel think has occurred. Vlad Clinciu is a Romanian chess wiz, and over the last few months he's been enjoying playing (and mostly beating) Robert. When a huge chess tournament is announced in New York, Robert discovers that Vlad's coming to visit. But why is it that Vlad has such pointy incisors? Why does he avoid garlic bagels? And what's the gigantic secret he's been hiding from Robert all this time? By the time the tournament is over, it's clear that there may be more to sweet Vlad than anyone really suspected.
The book is a step up from such similar kids-in-a-mystery-having-fun series like "The Magic Schoolhouse" or the "Droon" chronicles. Levy's writing, while not about to blow anyone away with its wit and wisdom, has enough jolts of cleverness to get one's attention. For example, when Robert shows Vlad his living breathing gerbil and his once living and now stuff gerbil, their names are Terminator and Exterminator. You can guess which is which. The plot is interesting without ever becoming scary. And I was intrigued by the relationships between the characters. Sadly, the girls in this book don't break out of the broadest of stereotypical devices (shopping seems to be their number one concern). Otherwise, all is well.
If a child runs up to you and insists on a vampire title, I still think "Bunnicula" is the way to go. But if they've already read through all the vampire bunny tales in the world, kindly switch their attention to Elizabeth Levy's Sam and Robert Bamford series. It has the added benefit of (if they live in New York and like their home town) a whole heaping helpful of pro-NYC information. A fun title. Not deep. But fun.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
online friends beware!, December 27, 2004
This book is about a boy named Sam who plays chess on the internet as part of a school project. He has a friend named Vlad who lives in Romanina. Sam's brother and cousin think that Vlad is a vampire. Vlad likes to stay up late and dislikes garlic. Could he really be a vampire? Find out with Sam when Vlad comes to the United States to play in a chess tournament!
With simple vocabulary, even the lowest reader can read and enjoy this book.
I recommend this book to any student who enjoys or wants to start reading mystery books.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING, January 14, 2003
A Kid's Review
I read VAMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
I thought it was a really good book because it has chess in it.
It is about a kid named Sam and he plays chess on the internet with a boy named Vlad , who lives in Romania. But Sam does not no that Vlad is a Vampire!
I think every body would enjoy this book!
I recommend this book because it sounds like a good book.
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