FFB Review: A Werewolf Named Wayne by Bill Crider

After reminding you last week of A Vampire Named Fred by Bill Crider, it seemed a good idea to tap the magnificently massive archive and remind you today of the sequel, A Werewolf Named Wayne.

 

Readers who have read A Vampire Named Fred are well aware that Hermie and Al helped Fred and his assistant, Carl, with a couple of issues. While Kermit felt it wasn’t easy being green, being a vampire in these times of extreme prejudice caused by bogus Hollywood movies isn’t easy. Not to mention the fact that cats don’t like vampires and will come by the hundreds to the home and yowl in the yard. Neighbors don’t like that sort of thing.

Thanks to Hermie and Al’s friendship and efforts, things are far better for Fred and Carl these days. So much so they are moving to Vegas and that means the house has been sold again. Al and Hermie are really going to miss Fred and Carl. But, people as well as the creatures of the night move on when circumstances change. Fred has made it clear to the new owner how helpful the boys were and that is a good thing. The new owner is Wayne and he is a werewolf. Good thing the boys are in 7th grade now as he needs their help with a far more complicated problem than Fred ever had.

While not as humorous as the previous book, this is another very good read that will appeal to both adults and kids alike. Wayne’s issues are far different than Fred and his concerns are far different. With characters and expectations firmly established in the preceding book, A Werewolf Named Wayne focuses primarily on his unique situation and the help he needs. The result is a very good fun read that keeps the adventure going.

 

Material was picked up during a recent author promotion for my use in an objective review.

 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014, 2022

FFB Review: A Vampire Named Fred by Bill Crider

 
A seasonally appropriate reminder of a great book from the massively magnificent archive…

 

The very run down house next door had been on the market for about 15 years when it finally sold. Al, who is 12, loved exploring the old place, but his mom worried about rotted out floors, broken stairs, snakes in the basement, and the bugs and dirt. While his parents would not buy the old place like he wanted them to, at least his Mom never forbade him from going over there.  He had loved going over there and poking around as long as he could remember and often his buddy Hermie went over there with him.

So, Al wasn’t exactly thrilled when the house suddenly sold. Hermie was convinced nothing good for them would happen with the new owners. Hermie was sure the new owners had to be a 100 or something to want to live in that old place and he was sure they would not have grandkids or anything. They probably even hate kids, according to Hermie. Neither one of the boys counted on A Vampire Named Fred who needs their help and friendship.

Originally published in print on 1990 and released in electronic format in 2011, this book aimed at the middle school aged crowd is a very fun read. Not only does it play a bit with the vampire legend which Hollywood movies got very wrong according to Fred, the book also mixes in cultural references that will appeal to the adult reader. For example, Elvis (or somebody doing one heck of an impersonation) works down at the local Tastee Daree Freezee where they sell soft ice cream, burgers, and more. He still sings a bit and dances in his blue suede shoes while filling orders. While small things like that may fly by the kids, adults will get a chuckle or two over that and quite a number of other items in this fun story that reminds all readers that being a little different is okay.

A Vampire Named Fred is a fun read for all ages by legendary author Bill Crider. It has a sequel titled A Werewolf Named Wayne.

Material was picked up during a recent author promotion for my use in an objective review. 

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014, 2022

FFB Review: "A Werewolf Named Wayne" by Bill Crider

Friday means Friday’s Forgotten Books hosted by Patti Abbott. Having read and reviewed A Vampire NamedFred by Bill Crider last week it seemed appropriate to do the second in the series this week. Like the previous book this one is  a fun read that works for all ages making it very much worth your time. Seems to me the author should start working on the rest of the creatures of the night series with A Zombie Named Bruce coming next….

A Werewolf Named Wayne

Readers who have read A Vampire Named Fred are well aware that Hermie and Al helped Fred and his assistant, Carl, with a couple of issues. While Kermit felt it wasn’t easy being green, being a vampire in these times of extreme prejudice caused by bogus Hollywood movies isn’t easy. Not to mention the fact that cats don’t like vampires and will come by the hundreds to the home and yowl in the yard. Neighbors don’t like that sort of thing.

Thanks to Hermie and Al’s friendship and efforts, things are far better for Fred and Carl these days. So much so they are moving to Vegas and that means the house has been sold again. Al and Hermie are really going to miss Fred and Carl. But, people as well as the creatures of the night move on when circumstances change. Fred has made it clear to the new owner how helpful the boys were and that is a good thing. The new owner is Wayne and he is a werewolf. Good thing the boys are in 7^th grade now as he needs their help with a far more complicated problem than Fred ever had.

While not as humorous as the previous book, this is another very good read that will appeal to both adults and kids alike. Wayne’s issues are far different than Fred and his concerns are far different. With characters and expectations firmly established in the preceding book, A Werewolf Named Wayne focuses primarily on his unique situation and the help he needs. The result is a very good fun read that keeps the adventure going.

A Werewolf Named Wayne

Bill Crider

http://www.billcrider.com

Delabarre Publishing

http://www.delabarrepublishing.com

July 2011

ASIN# B005EM9L4U

E-Book

71 Pages

$1.99

Material was picked up during a recent author promotion for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

FFB Review--- "A Vampire Named Fred" by Bill Crider

Friday means Friday’s Forgotten Books hosted by Patti Abbott. Having just read this earlier in the week the book seemed a perfect choice for FFB this week. A Vampire Named Fred by Bill Crider is a fun read that works for all ages making it very much worth your time.

A Vampire Named Fred

The very run down house next door had been on the market for about 15 years when it finally sold. Al, who is 12, loved exploring the old place, but his mom worried about rotted out floors, broken stairs, snakes in the basement, and the bugs and dirt. While his parents would not buy the old place like he wanted them to, at least his Mom never forbade him from going over there.  He had loved going over there and poking around as long as he could remember and often his buddy Hermie went over there with him.

So, Al wasn’t exactly thrilled when the house suddenly sold. Hermie was convinced nothing good for them would happen with the new owners. Hermie was sure the new owners had to be a 100 or something to want to live in that old place and he was sure they would not have grandkids or anything. They probably even hate kids, according to Hermie. Neither one of the boys counted on “A Vampire Named Fred” who needs their help and friendship.

Originally published in print on 1990 and released in electronic format in 2011, this book aimed at the middle school aged crowd is a very fun read. Not only does it play a bit with the vampire legend which Hollywood movies got very wrong according to Fred, the book also mixes in cultural references that will appeal to the adult reader. For example, Elvis (or somebody doing one heck of an impersonation) works down at the local Tastee Daree Freezee where they sell soft ice cream, burgers, and more. He still sings a bit and dances in his blue suede shoes while filling orders. While small things like that may fly by the kids, adults will get a chuckle or two over that and quite a number of other items in this fun story that reminds all readers that being a little different is okay.

“A Vampire Named Fred” is a fun read for all ages by legendary author Bill Crider. It has a sequel titled “A Werewolf Named Wayne.”

A Vampire Named Fred

Bill Crider

http://www.billcrider.com

Delabarre Publishing

http://www.delabarrepublishing.com

2011

ASIN: B00551J10Y

E-Book

127 Pages

$1.99

Material was picked up during a recent author promotion for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014