Dracula /

Though not as revelatory as Beowulf: A Tale of Blood, Heat, and Ashes (2007), Raven again successfully abridges a vaunted classic. His Count Dracula is mostly a noncharacter a blond-haired presence who utters but a few lines of dialogue. Bucking current trends, the focus is instead on the friends who band together to take out the vampire. Raven does a great job fleshing out characters that even in Stoker's original felt bloodless; blokes like Holmwood and Seward finally hold their own against the likes of Van Helsing (depicted as a head-shaved and bespectacled badass). The choice to abandon Stoker's dependence on journal entries is a smart one; in fact, the two times Raven employs the device, the font makes for uncomfortable reading. Gilbert's gothic drawings, the crosshatches of which often conceal layers of spooky elements, are a perfect fit for the somber tone. Today's teens will be hard-pressed to gasp at bat transformations and missing reflections, but this will certainly whet appetites for the full Bram and in fewer than 100 pages.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

This illustrated adaptation of Bram Stoker's work trades the epistolary nature of the original for a condensed, third-person narration, supplemented by selections from Jonathan Harker's journal entries and from John Seward's memoirs. Hitting the major plot points, like Jonathan's arrival at Dracula's castle and Lucy's frightening transformation, Raven retains much of the subtle terror of Jonathan's imprisonment, while providing Mina with more volition (" ‰Tonight we end this,' added Mina firmly"). Readers will likely be chilled by Gilbert's evocative ink and colored pencil images and drawn to the enigmatic Count, with his long, blond hair and violet eyes. A lavish and accessible retelling. Ages 12-up. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

This adaptation of the Bram Stoker classic seems targeted at Twilight fans, stressing the story's romantic and action-thriller aspects. A clear, concise text paired with effectively shadowy and crosshatched illustrations will bring new readers to the tale, drawn in by the story's suspense and immediacy. Illustrated diary entries and letters are also used to good effect. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.