Horn Book

Gardner’s quasi-satirical graphic novel begins with the bookish AJ on the first day of sixth grade. Wrestling with feelings of insecurity (“Because I’m me. I’m boring”), AJ is particularly uncertain about letting his crush, the vampire-obessed Nia, know how he feels. After being paired for a research project, AJ and Nia select Transylvania as their topic, prompting AJ to read Moonlight, a (fictional) popular work of campy vampire fiction. AJ soon convinces himself that a new vampire-inspired persona will impress Nia, so he gradually transforms his look and behavior. AJ’s act works all too well, convincing Nia that he actually is a vampire. Readers discover, in a grandly theatrical double-page spread, that Nia is a vampire hunter determined to slay the undead. After a close call with one of Nia’s wooden stakes, AJ admits to his attention-seeking, and the pair soon realizes that their peculiar teacher, Mr. Niles, is the real vampire. A wild series of events then occurs, including kidnapping, cellphone hacking, threats with holy water, and a truce between Mr. Niles and his students. Although Gardner’s plotting occasionally wavers, her digitally rendered, full-color cartooning remains cogent and consistent throughout. Smooth shifts from double-page spreads to complex multi-panel pages of nearly every configuration imaginable keep the story fresh and flowing. An enjoyable romp, even if it lacks a bit of bite. patrick gall