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Dracula: A Retelling
Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman delivers a terrifyingly enthralling and truly accessible retelling of Bram Stoker’s legendary Gothic horror novel.
Bram Stoker's Dracula is a masterpiece of horror fiction in which he creates a nightmarish world of vampires, evil-doing and insanity.
A ship steered by a dead man…
A huge black dog springing from its deck…
A girl, sleepwalking towards disaster…
When rising young solicitor Jonathan Harker helps the mysterious and sinister Count Dracula purchase property in London he unleashes an evil that threatens to destroy the whole of humanity.
Particularly suitable for readers aged 13+ with a reading age of 9.
Bram Stoker's Dracula is a masterpiece of horror fiction in which he creates a nightmarish world of vampires, evil-doing and insanity.
A ship steered by a dead man…
A huge black dog springing from its deck…
A girl, sleepwalking towards disaster…
When rising young solicitor Jonathan Harker helps the mysterious and sinister Count Dracula purchase property in London he unleashes an evil that threatens to destroy the whole of humanity.
Particularly suitable for readers aged 13+ with a reading age of 9.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
7 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Landman
85 books91 followersCarnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 1, 2026
A young lawyer named Jonathan Harker is sent by his boss to a place far from their London office. A client named Count Dracula needs their services in locating and buying property in London.
Travellers along the way seem shocked he is going to Count Dracula's castle home, and out of politeness, Jonathan accepts a strange gift of a crucifix on a chain.
Meeting the Count himself is unnerving with his pale skin, hairy palms and long sharp fingernails. Business and talk of London soon fills many night hours over the next few days as the Count is away during the day.
It's only when the Count insists Jonathan stay for another month, that he really begins to worry. He has a fiancé waiting for him in London.
Meanwhile Mina, waits for her beloved to return. Spending time with her friend Lucy in a seaside town called Whitby, is a wonderful way to spend the time while Jonathan is away. But the longer she waits without word from him, the more she worries. When Lucy becomes unwell, Mina's worries are doubled.
Finally she gets word and they are reunited. Jonathan however, is not the man she bade farewell months before. Lucy is changing too, and with their mutual friend's help and advice, Mina endeavours to heal them both.
The connection is none other than Count Dracula, and no-one would ever believe what they all come to know.
This Dyslexic friendly retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula is true to the original in only 102 pages.
The most famous vampire story of them all, reluctant readers will also enjoy this classic in a shorter, accessible format, without the language of the 1800's. But it's just as enthralling.
No doubt the original holds all of the tension and thrill of the horror and chase of a monster, but this version is a perfect way to introduce a story told in a plethora of ways over the past century or more.
All the characters appear including Dr Van Helsing, who has his own stream of stories, movies and modern followers.
Part of a Dyslexic Classic selection from the Dyslexic Publishing Specialists - Barrington Stoke (Harper Collins Imprint), this version of Dracula is also retold by the Carnegie Award Winning Author, Tanya Landman.
Author - Bram Stocker
Retold by - Tanya Landman
Dyslexic Title - Reading Age 9 / Interest Age 13+
Travellers along the way seem shocked he is going to Count Dracula's castle home, and out of politeness, Jonathan accepts a strange gift of a crucifix on a chain.
Meeting the Count himself is unnerving with his pale skin, hairy palms and long sharp fingernails. Business and talk of London soon fills many night hours over the next few days as the Count is away during the day.
It's only when the Count insists Jonathan stay for another month, that he really begins to worry. He has a fiancé waiting for him in London.
Meanwhile Mina, waits for her beloved to return. Spending time with her friend Lucy in a seaside town called Whitby, is a wonderful way to spend the time while Jonathan is away. But the longer she waits without word from him, the more she worries. When Lucy becomes unwell, Mina's worries are doubled.
Finally she gets word and they are reunited. Jonathan however, is not the man she bade farewell months before. Lucy is changing too, and with their mutual friend's help and advice, Mina endeavours to heal them both.
The connection is none other than Count Dracula, and no-one would ever believe what they all come to know.
This Dyslexic friendly retelling of Bram Stoker's Dracula is true to the original in only 102 pages.
The most famous vampire story of them all, reluctant readers will also enjoy this classic in a shorter, accessible format, without the language of the 1800's. But it's just as enthralling.
No doubt the original holds all of the tension and thrill of the horror and chase of a monster, but this version is a perfect way to introduce a story told in a plethora of ways over the past century or more.
All the characters appear including Dr Van Helsing, who has his own stream of stories, movies and modern followers.
Part of a Dyslexic Classic selection from the Dyslexic Publishing Specialists - Barrington Stoke (Harper Collins Imprint), this version of Dracula is also retold by the Carnegie Award Winning Author, Tanya Landman.
Author - Bram Stocker
Retold by - Tanya Landman
Dyslexic Title - Reading Age 9 / Interest Age 13+
October 4, 2025
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
DRACULA is one of those texts I've kept meaning to pick up (in some format - abridged or otherwise). It is one of the oldest vampire novels and thus a lot of modern vampire tales either directly or indirectly take inspiration from it. I thought I really ought to read DRACULA while reading LUCY UNDYING (a reimagining of DRACULA through the eyes of Lucy) and then never got around to it - so made sure I did once I started THEY OWN THE NIGHT in order to not miss out parts of that retelling. To be honest, I doubt I would have got around to it had Barrington Stoke not put out this version, which makes the side trip to read the original a lot less daunting.
This original tale has a lot more travel and a lot less vampires than I actually thought. Perhaps it's the balance struck in this accessible version, but much of the book is Mina, Johnathon, and the others planning how to take down Dracula - and their various attempts to do so. This surprised me as did how much of a staring role Mina got. I had expected her, in true Victorian fashion, to end up much more side-lined. It was nice to be caught off guard by her prominent role (even if the men are very over protective and try to "keep her out of it" at times, which causes problems.)
DRACULA is one of those texts I've kept meaning to pick up (in some format - abridged or otherwise). It is one of the oldest vampire novels and thus a lot of modern vampire tales either directly or indirectly take inspiration from it. I thought I really ought to read DRACULA while reading LUCY UNDYING (a reimagining of DRACULA through the eyes of Lucy) and then never got around to it - so made sure I did once I started THEY OWN THE NIGHT in order to not miss out parts of that retelling. To be honest, I doubt I would have got around to it had Barrington Stoke not put out this version, which makes the side trip to read the original a lot less daunting.
This original tale has a lot more travel and a lot less vampires than I actually thought. Perhaps it's the balance struck in this accessible version, but much of the book is Mina, Johnathon, and the others planning how to take down Dracula - and their various attempts to do so. This surprised me as did how much of a staring role Mina got. I had expected her, in true Victorian fashion, to end up much more side-lined. It was nice to be caught off guard by her prominent role (even if the men are very over protective and try to "keep her out of it" at times, which causes problems.)
October 16, 2025
I studied Dracula at Uni. In fact, I wish I had this book when I was studying as I didn't finish reading the original before my exam and I remember writing that Mina dies in the book as well as Lucy (spoiler - this is NOT what happens!!). Luckily I still passed and caught up by finishing the book afterwards and reading it several times since. I'm looking to read some of the retellings soon and I haven't read the original in a while, and to be honest with you, it can be a bit of a slog! So this little book is actually perfect to revisit the story, delivering the tone, the plot and the characters all wrapped up in a bitesize package.
April 14, 2025
I’ve never read the full version of Dracula, but I’ve seen a few. I enjoyed this retelling. It’s accessible and well-written (just like you’d expect from a Barrington Stoke!). Think this will be great in secondary schools!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews