Cirque du Freak: A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

Synopsis:
The arrival of a freak show to town turns young Darren’s life upside down as learns that vampires are real–and not necessarily evil.

Review:
I had to stop reading A Living Nightmare after a vampire called one of Darren’s young friends “evil.” (I’m a mom, I can’t help but be tender-hearted.)

Middle grade and YA horror have never been genres I enjoy, because I’m always uncomfortable with darkness being peddled to children. Additionally, I try to avoid books that call evil good and vice versa, and I think those moral inversions are especially confusing for children. But if you don’t share my theologically-based reservations, then you’ll enjoy the fun, witty writing and inventive plot.

Many thanks to Little, Brown for the review copy.