Cirque Du Freak

Cirque Du Freak

Cirque Du Freak tells the story Darren Shan's transformation from high school kid to vampire. The plot starts out when Darren and his best friend Steve acquire tickets to the ever popular freak show, Cirque Du Freak. While attending this bizarre show containing a wolf man, lizard boy, and man with two bellies, Steve realizes Mr. Crepsley is not only a spider tamer. Mr, Crepsley is a vampire! Steve then insists he has to confront Mr. Crepsley and asks Darren to wait for him out side. While Darren is wait he over hears Steve begging Mr. Crepsley to turn him into a vampire. After being rejected Steve and Darren leave Cirque Du Freak. Because Darren has a fascination with spiders, they decides to steal Mr. Crepsley's special spider. After stealing the spider and taking it back to Darren's house, Steve is bitten resulting in total body paralysis. 

After the doctors are unable to cure Steve, Darren resorts to asking Mr. Crepsley for help. Mr. Crepsley agrees to cure Steve on the condition that Darren gives up his life and because a half-vampire apprentice. Darren of course agrees and his friend Steve is cured. Mr. Crepsley then fakes Darrens death. After Darrens entire family thinks he died along with Steve, Darren is turned by Mr. Crepsley. As his apprentice Mr. Crepsley teaches Darren how to feed from humans without killing them. If a vampire was to drink all of a humans blood that humans memories would forever follow that vampire. 

In the end Steve finds out Darren has been turned into a vampire and becomes extremely jealous. Steve then joins a rival evil vampire, which results in a vampire style fight-to-the death between Steve and Darren. 

Cirque Du Freak is the first book in the twelve book Darren Shan series. The first time I read these books was in eight grade and I loved them! They were the "twilight" to my generation I guess. In my opinion these books are way better then Twilight. I think these books are perfect for both 8th grade boys and girls because they are so different. Its magical, adventurous, while still addressing the issues many teenagers are having. There are points in the story were Darren feels alone, fights with his best friend, and even has a crush! Tell me those aren't typical middle school problems? I also like that the vampires are real scary, blood sucking creatures. None of that silly sparkling nonsense here!