Defy all the Stereotypes!

Defying Stereotypes

By: Elias Dorsey

Authors Note: This writing piece is about how I think the theme of the book "Ninth Grade Slays" in the Vladimir Todd Series by Heather Brewer. Enjoy.

            Vladimir Todd in a freshman in high school, who is trying to keep his vampire secret from the public, while avoiding a vampire killing professional. Wow, sounds cool right? Anyway, every story or book has a theme, and I think the theme for the book “Ninth Grade Slays” in the Vladimir Todd series is defying stereotypes. I think the theme of the book in defying stereotypes because of all the symbolism in the book. Take Vlad for example. He is in fact a vampire. Now, when you think vampire what’s the first word that pops into your head? For me it was killer. That’s the thing though, he couldn’t hurt a fly. Sure he drinks blood, but its expired blood that they can’t use for transfusions at the hospital. I think that’s a couple stereotypes defied already.

            Although the main character of the book is different from what people think is normal, so are other people in the book. Take Henry for example. He’s one of the jock, pretty boy, and superstar kids so you would think that he only hangs with the other popular students. You know one of those people that would steal your lunch money, and bully you just to make you feel bad.  Well if you think that you’re wrong. He is more like one of those people that would give you lunch money if someone stole yours. He would stop a bully from bullying you. I know he would do this because Vlad gets bullied a lot in the book and Henry is always there to stop them. He doesn’t discriminate against you just because you’re from a different social group. That’s how he defies stereotypes.

            So I already have a whole bunch of arguments as to why the theme is indeed what I say it is, but get this. The main conflict of the story also involves defying stereotypes. The main conflict is a trained professional vampire hunter. This vampire hunter didn’t want that occupation at first. He came from a long line of vampire hunters and didn’t want to carry on the family tradition at first. Until his little sister died at the hands of a vampire. He became enraged and saw every vampire as the same.  Cold blooded killers. Vlad isn’t like that though. He even swore never to feed on a human being. That’s why he has asks his aunt (who is a nurse) to bring him expired blood packets.

            Another example in a different book is in “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton. Johnny, who was obviously a Greaser, defied the rebel tough guy attitude when he risked and sacrificed his life to save the kids in the burning church. That selfless act of courage and valor proves that the Soc’s were wrong in their way of thinking that the Greasers were selfish, law breaking outlaws. Even one of the Soc’s said they changed their way of seeing the Greasers after Johnny defied the stereotype the society and the Soc’s set for them.

            As you can see, I have many valid reasons for thinking that the theme for this particular book in the Vladimir Todd series. You may have a different opinion, but I think mine is logically correct. Either way the book is amazing and deserves more praise than it’s already getting. Especially because to some extent it is teaching you that not all stereotypes are true. I think that as long as there supporting that message, that’s what the theme is. All of this really teaches you something. Don’t be one of those people who believe something just because other ignorant people believe it. Just don’t.