The Sweetness ­Between Us

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.