Casketball Capers

Vampire School #1

by Peter Bently, Chris Harrison (Illustrator)

Lee and his best friends Billy and Bella are on the St. Orlok's casketball team. They're all getting ready for the big game against the Chaney Street Werewolves. But when the other team arrives, it seems that some of them aren't planning on playing fair. Lee needs a plan - fast! Will he manage to foil the cheats before the whistle?

Genres: Vampires, Humor, Childrens, Paranormal, Fiction, Fantasy, Juvenile

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2010

About the author

Peter Bently is married with two children, and lives in south England. He studied languages at Oxford University and has written over 40 titles, one of which led to him being awarded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2011.

Reviews

[Carolina]

Me duró un suspiro. Me gustó y la edición es de lo más bonita. La pasé bien leyéndola.

[Shyla Colt]

Cute gothic story with a nice moral lesson about how being different is okay.

[Joella]

Lee Price goes to school. But not just any school. Vampire School. That is because he is a vampire. At vampire school the learn all sorts of things, like how to turn into a vampire bat or hang up-side-down when being a bat. Another thing that Lee does at school is play casketball, which is a game somewhat similar to basketball. But they try to get the ball in a casket instead of a basket. Lee and his friends are great vampires. I like how there is a good mix of girl and boy vampire friends. Also, the teacher and parents are great (and the mummy ref at the casketball game is super). I really like how the grownups are good solid characters who are as likable as the vampire friends. Lee also has a friend that is a werewolf, and he does play a game of casketball against his friend's werewolf team. The brilliant thing about this book is that it is a smart, well-crafted book. AND it is a "bridge" book or a "transition" book. Which means that this book is perfect for those that are just getting out of the beginning readers section but are a little too intimidated by older chapter books. A funny chapter book for beginning chapter book readers? Yes, please! And bonus, this is the first in the "Vampire School" series. How lucky that there will be more of these smashing chapter books to look forward to! Huzzah!

[Dawn]

Lee and his friends go to Vampire School. They learn how to become bats and play a game called "Casketball". Interspecies friendships are allowed, but kids are segregated by species at their schools.

I enjoyed the bat & Boris parts, but Casketball didn't really make sense. One werewolf continually cheats, but no one calls him on it. And he still only manages to score once. It sounds like a super boring game.

Anyway...nothing wrong with it, but not my favorite.

[Ciara Adams]

I think it is a nice simple book for kids to continue reading with. There is a nice balance between dialog and action. I pre-read for my niece who is not a fan of too much dialog. It has lessons of being kind to students in different schools. It show the perils of cheating and finding a solution to correct it without being a “ tattletale” per say. Creative and pleasing.

[EstephBooks]

Lo que más me gusta de los libro infantiles es que siempre tienen una enseñanza y de manera divertida. Las ilustraciones son muy graciosas. Bonita aventura de jóvenes vampiros. XD

[Penny]

3.5*

Cortito y lindo, muy buena opción para niños que están empezando a leer solos.

[Elfeeza Ehsan]

Funny book. I think some of my students will enjoy reading this one.

[Sue Morris]

Vampire School Casketball Capers by Peter Bently

Vampire School Casketball Capers is about Lee Price and his interesting day.

First, there is school at St. Orlok’s Elementary. Ms. Gargoyle is Lee’s teacher and he likes her very much. She teaches them all the things they need to know so they can grow up to be all they are suppose to become. Then, after school, or is it during school, (that was a bit confusing), is the big basketball game to determine the Junior Interschool Series.

Lee and his friends Billy Pratt and Bella Williams are equally excited, especially when the opponents from Chaney Street Elementary arrive for the game. There is a player that cheats whenever possible and a referee with occasional vision problems. It is going to take some special skills (and maybe a little extra help from a new friend), if Lee’s team is going to win.

There are one or two things you should know about Lee, his friends, his school, his teacher and the opponents – none are human. True. Lee and his friends are young vampires who wake up at 8PM each evening for school. Lee wakes up to the moon, drinks his bloody orange juice and says good-bye to Dad, who is off to work.

Lee’s school, St. Orlok’s Elementary, is a school just for young vampires. Mrs. Gargoyle teaches things such as learning how to turn into a (vampire) bat – POP! And back into a vampire boy or girl – POP! The kids learn how to swish their caps properly, stare scarily, cool without garlic and other vampire must-knows.

You also need to know that the game is not basketball it is casketball, as in get the ball in the casket. The Chaney Street Elementary School is a school for werewolves. Werewolves do not play casketball very well. How could they? It’s casketball not wolfball or nightball or even basketball.

But . . . this year they have a ringer and he cheats. The referee, Mr. Tut, doesn’t see the cheating when his eyes get covered with his head covering and Lee must figure out how to keep this from happening.

This is an inventive middle grade book originally from England. There is excitement, odd characters, lots of laughs and an equal number of groans. The black anf white line drawings are really cool, even on a Kindle. I enjoyed this very much despite not liking basketball (boring), or vampires (the biting), or werewolves (the howling).

For anyone who does like basketball, vampires and werewolves, this is exactly the book for you (actually, it’s a series). This is good fun and can be read in one sitting. I recommend reading at night – for the atmosphere.

Note: received from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher

[Mari]

This is going to be a sure-fire hit during spring booktalks.

The font size and layout (including fun and slightly goofy illustrations) make this a great choice for kids transitioning from the beginning reader section to longer chapter books.

The writing is well crafted and just right for 1st graders. (I think Kinders and 2nd graders will like it as well) There's a bit of slapstick humor, some puns, just a slight touch of ick (when one of the characters thinks about hiding in a trash can), and an all around playful school story - with vampires! (And werewolves! And a real bat named Boris!)

[Pam]

looks like a great new primary fiction. excellent font size and length, several in series
ages 6-8
ghoul trip book #2

Lee and his best friends Billy and Bella are on the St. Orlok's casketball team. They're all getting ready for the big game against the Chaney Street Werewolves. But when the other team arrives, it seems that some of them aren't planning on playing fair. Lee needs a plan - fast Will he manage to foil the cheats before the whistle?

Subjects:

Ball games Fiction.
Cheating Fiction.
Schools Fiction.
Vampires Fiction.
Werewolves Fiction.
Bats Fiction.

[Ramarie]

wonderful for a beginner chapter book. Lee Price is a vampire who attends school at night and is skilled at fang flossing, cloak swishing and the like. In this first book in the series, the students at St. Orlok's are having bat lessons and Lee meets a real bat who helps his team win a game of casketball (like soccer but with a casket for a goal!) against a bully. Familiar concerns for school kids but with a twist.

[Sam]

The vampire school was playing casketball (a vampire's version of basketball) against a werewolf school. It wasn't scary or funny. It was awesome because the real bat that wasn't a vampire helped the couch mummy get the bandages off his face. Then he saw what the bully werewolf was doing. Then he stopped him. And he got in big trouble.

[Joenna]

Lee and his best friends Billy and Bella are on the St. Orlok's casketball team. They're all getting ready for the big game against the Chaney Street Werewolves. But when the other team arrives, it seems that some of them aren't planning on playing fair. Lee needs a plan - fast! Will he manage to foil the cheats before the whistle?

Super-cute new series

[The Library Lady]

Best book ever written that includes a vampire named Bella!

Pretty slight actually, but boys needing early novels will find enough to (sorry, can't resist)sink their teeth into here......

[Kaeleigh]

The book was really good. I did not know that vampires go to school. my favorite part was when the vampires versed the wolvoes. and when the teacher thout the vampires to hang upside down and fly. it was a good book.the vampires won the game.

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books)]

Very cute story about a day in the life of a young vampire. The illustrations and fun characters make this an engaging read. Looking forward to reading more of the series.

[Lin]

I thought this book was a very fun and easy read. It's a children's book so i didn't expect a lot of words. I liked the quick paced storyline and the illustrations.

[Jennifer]

Silly fun for beginning readers who don’t want something too cutsy. Sports, vampires, werewolves and jokes…

[Robin]

Easy chapter book for 1st-3rd grade vampire lovers. Squeaky clean, no scare factor, lots of cute/funny vampire details.

[Carol]

Geddy read December 2013

[Ratforcekids]

Read this book at night to get the vampire-ish atmosphere of the story. Not too scary but full of good fun.

[Terri]

Need a light and cute read. Just the ticket. Vamps and werewolves, games and great illustrations.

[Steph]

Just right for a second grader looking for a spooky chapter book! Too bad it's difficult to get this series ordered.

[Jacqueline]

Fun! Illustrations adorable.

[SETSS Readopoly]

Lexile Level: 620