The sweetness between us by Sarah Winifred Searle

What do a diabetic and a vampire have in common? Blood, of course! Perley is a recently diagnosed diabetic and has to constantly monitor sugar levels in his blood, and Amandine is a young newly-turned vampire who struggles to maintain energy levels on a vegan diet. After meeting in tutoring sessions after both having had time away from school, they gradually become entwined in a co-dependent relationship, with Amandine taste-testing Perley’s blood sugar levels. Whilst this gives each of them a temporary boost, they reluctantly come to realise that they each have issues they need to work on separately, alone.

Searle’s graphic novel is a winner, with its intriguing initial concept, and with the way she captures facial expressions and inner feelings with her lightly coloured fine line drawings. It is easy to read and follow along, a boon for reluctant readers, but also a great way to present essential information about diabetes to the YA audience. It’s not just health issues that are explored, but the whole teenage world of anxiety and feeling like an outsider. Perley has to negotiate tensions in his school’s knitting club and learn how to be more accepting of different styles and abilities, whilst Amandine deals with harassment and has to find ways to fit in with her schoolmates.

I love how Searly presents all her characters, going against stereotypes. Perley is long-haired, thin and girlish looking, and shorter than Amandine, whilst Amandine is a solid black girl. Their tutor, Mx Bythesea, is non gender-specific and referred to as ‘they’. Perley’s best friend Lexy is also ‘they’. And then there is a whole cast of unusual characters in the bizarre world of the vampires, talking about how to obtain their blood requirements via volunteer blood donations or the newly cultivated bloodroot plants. It’s fun and serious at the same time.

There is a strong emphasis on family support and peer-group support. Before Perley and Amandine become too intensely involved with each other, they each need to work out their personal issues. Friends are there to help them. The humour that runs throughout helps to put that essential message across in a very positive way.

Themes: Graphic novel, Blood, Diabetes, Identity, Peer acceptance, Relationships, Vampires.

Helen Eddy