The Sweetness Between Us

September 1, 2024
In Maine, a newly diagnosed diabetic and a newly turned vampire form an unlikely connection. Perley and Amandine both missed weeks of school during their junior year. Perley had a health crisis that led to the discovery that he has Type 1 diabetes. After Amandine was in a serious car accident, she received a blood transfusion that turned her into a vampire but saved her life. The teens bond as they catch up on missed schoolwork and reflect on how different their lives have become: Perley lives on a family farm and needs to be more mindful about physical labor, while Amandine loves field hockey, but her photosensitivity prevents her from playing. After Amandine attends a first aid course and discovers her ability to accurately taste blood glucose levels, the friends decide this is the perfect solution: The vegan Amandine could use the energy boost from real blood, while Perley can save money on testing strips and stay on top of his readings. A sweet romance blossoms between them. Both teens have concerned and supportive parents and friends. Importantly, the book also discusses the various ways that chronic illness has an impact on daily life. Clear dialogue bubbles make for an easy reading experience, and the soft color palette adds an appealing warmth, as do the adorably fluffy farm animals. Perley is Jewish and reads white, while brown-skinned, black-haired Amandine is from a multiethnic Cajun family. A cozy paranormal romance that's full of heart and humor. (minicomics, character sketches)(Graphic paranormal. 14-18)

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Starred review from July 22, 2024
After separate medical emergencies result in teens Perley, a human, and Amadine, a recently turned vampire, missing the first few weeks of school, they find themselves thrown together in tutoring to get caught up. The pair slowly bond as they adjust to their new normal, in which Perley must navigate the cost of managing his
diabetes and Amadine must contend with physical side effects from her turning. When Amadine offers to help Perley test his blood sugar, their relationship blossoms into something more intimate. But as the two grow increasingly dependent on each other, Amadine and Perley must find a way to untangle their relationship from their conditions before resentment sours it forever. Searle (Ruined) delivers a stunning graphic novel romance with a thoughtful supernatural spin. Soft lines and muted
colors convey Perley and Amadine’s gentle yearning for each other and their longing for a sense of normalcy and equilibrium; this empathetic and expressive style extends to the characters’ dialogue. Perley is depicted with pale skin and Amadine is Black. Ages 14–up.

October 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up-Maine high schoolers Perley and Amandine connect after health issues force them both to start the school year late. Perley is struggling to manage his blood sugar and cope with the cost of medical supplies after receiving a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, while Amandine is adjusting to life as a new vampire after an accident gave her great-aunt special permission to turn her. When Amandine learns that vampires have the ability to taste glucose levels, she offers to test Perley's blood to save him money and give herself an energy boost, but this arrangement is complicated by the teens' growing feelings. Despite Perley and Amandine's connection over their shared struggles, the two realize their relationship needs to depend on more than blood to survive. Perley's passion for knitting and work on his family's farm, alongside Amandine's love of sports and introduction to vampire culture, add richness to the plot as the two begin to accept their new realities. Full-color artwork enhances the story, which will appeal to readers who enjoy supernatural romance and stories of self-discovery. Amandine is Black and has Acadian heritage; Perley is white and Jewish. VERDICT A charming, paranormal graphic novel about falling in love and learning how to create healthy boundaries within relationships.-Emily Yates

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2024
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Diabetes and vampires go together pretty nicely. Perley, a newly diagnosed diabetic, and Amandine, a newly minted vampire, miss school due to their respective conditions, so when they meet during tutoring, they have a lot to bond over. As juniors, they have to readjust to life and school revolving around their conditions, and they set the goal that by prom, they each will have adjusted and only be concerned with typical teenage things like what to wear and who to ask (spoiler: they'll definitely be going together). When Amandine helps Perley save money on test strips by tasting his blood for glucose levels, a delicate bond is formed that blooms into a complex, thoughtful romance. Soft colors and expressions meet an equally soft story line of learning to cope with chronic illness. Both characters exhibit an emotional maturity well beyond their years, and the integration of fantasy into a "real-world" narrative is seamless. Their identities beyond their conditions play an important role, too: Perley's economic struggles regarding medical costs are undoubtedly relatable to those navigating the American medical landscape, and the role race plays within the larger community and vampiric history is handled with care. A robust cast of queer and physically diverse characters with equally fleshed-out characterization makes this a must for any looking for a mildly fantastical romance/coming-of-age story.

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