The Sweetness Between Us

By Sarah Winifred Searle

Reviewed by Lucille Rose

The Sweetness Between us is a graphic novel following the lives of teen vampire Amandine Lavigne and diabetic Perley Culpepper.

What’s worse than having to go back to school after the summer holidays? The answer is: going back with a thirst for blood and uncooperative insulin levels. Perley and Amandine are just getting back from the break when they end up having to play catch up with the same math tutor. Despite being relative strangers, the pair find it easy, even natural, to start opening up to each other about their struggles. Amandine was forced into an early transformation into vampirism after a near death experience on the highway, and Perley’s pancreas suddenly decided to stop working mid-summer, leaving her parents scrambling to tie together money. But luckily for Perley, Amandine’s new blood-sucking talents allow her to measure insulin levels. The pair strike a deal that allows Perley to save money on insulin strips and gives the vegan Amandine a chance to drink blood from a consensual victim. This leads to some unexpected feelings that turn their lives into even bigger messes of friends, change and anxiety. Will Perley and Amandine learn to grow through the struggle together, or will it force them to grow apart?

This heartfelt novel has intriguing concepts and positive messages about anxiety, struggle and change. I have come to understand that, with graphic novels, their purpose is largely about displaying the art itself, leaving little room for the plot to be fully explored. So, while the concept of French vampires living openly in modern-day America is interesting, it is never fully explained  and leaves the reader hanging. The idea of werewolves and vampires as normal in everyday society is an engrossing one. The lore about the Lavigne family and the struggles they face as black vampires is both interesting and key in addressing real-life issues surrounding racism.

Perley represents a faction of people not only struggling with diabetes at a young age but struggling to handle it financially. The novel discussed the importance of seeking help not just from parents, but from others your age in similar experiences, who can fully understand the challenges you’re facing. Searle touches on the dangers of rationing insulin, and how perilous health care can be for those unable to afford it.

I felt that the plot was rushed, and in no time at all the main characters were in love, then falling out of it and back in again. This being said, since this is a graphic novel and they don’t have the time or space to stretch relationships over long periods, I can understand why the plot moved as fast as it did.

Teenage romance is hard to capture, especially when the author is also juggling with representation of real-life matters and problems. But I can’t look past the absolute lack of chemistry between Amandine and Perley. They had no sizzling banter, quiet playfulness, or any trope that constitutes a real love story. Their relationship was held together solely by their need to vent about their struggles, and beyond that had as much spark as a doused candle. The stages of the relationship were unclear unless verbally stated. There was no indication whether they were fighting, deeply entranced in one another, or even aware of the other’s presence until the characters actually said so.

Overall, I see the books appeal but it’s not something I would choose for myself. Three out of five starts, suggested for readers 14 to 16.

Warning: this book contains images of blood, blood consumption, and restriction of vital medication.

A & U Children 2024