Fake Blood

Gardner offers a slightly new take on the perennial vampire love story: boy meets girl, boy feigns vampirism to get girl’s attention, and girl pursues boy—in order to slay him. AJ’s fanged approach has its drawbacks, but when he and Nia work together on a report about Transylvania, they soon realize that there is a real vampire in their Northwest U.S. community, and only they are prepared to confront it. Gardner’s tale, which includes a share of lighthearted pokes at the Twilight series, is a fun romp through sixth grade that’s made all the more amusing by AJ’s cool sister and hyper-competitive friends, Hunter and Ivy. Quirky visual details, such as refrigerator magnets and characters’ unusually shaped noses, and fantasy elements, such as the hearts and rainbows that flow from the drinking fountain when AJ sees Nia use it, balance Gardner’s simple drawing style and minimal backgrounds. The result focuses the eye on the action and keeps the story moving swiftly. Ages 10–up. Agent: Brent Taylor, TriadaUS. (Sept.)