The Children’s Book Review | September 24, 2018
In the first of our exciting new “Learn to Draw” series, Whitney Gardner teaches us how to draw AJ, the character from her new book Fake Blood. In Fake Blood, a middle schooler comes head-to-head with his vampire slayer crush in this laugh-out-loud funny graphic novel that’s a perfect coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt too young, too small, or too average.
Grab a pencil and a sketch book and let’s learn to draw together!
We hope you’ll share your drawings on Instagram with us by using #learntodrawonTCBR and tagging us @thechildrensbookreview and @heywhitneywrites …
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Fake Blood
Written and Illustrated by Whitney Gardner
Publisher’s Synopsis: It’s the beginning of the new school year and AJ feels like everyone is changing but him. He hasn’t grown or had any exciting summer adventures like his best friends have. He even has the same crush he’s harbored for years. So AJ decides to take matters into his own hands. But how could a girl like Nia Winters ever like plain vanilla AJ when she only has eyes for vampires?
When AJ and Nia are paired up for a group project on Transylvania, it may be AJ’s chance to win over Nia’s affection by dressing up like the vamp of her dreams. And soon enough he’s got more of Nia’s attention than he bargained for when he learns she’s a slayer.
Now AJ has to worry about self-preservation while also trying to save everyone he cares about from a real-life threat lurking in the shadows of Spoons Middle School.
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | September 4, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1481495578
Available Here
About the Author
Whitney Gardner is an author, illustrator, and coffee addict whose books include the Middle Grade graphic novel, FAKE BLOOD (September 4, 2018; Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers); and the Young Adult illustrated novels, CHAOTIC GOOD (March 13, 2018; Knopf Books for Young Readers) and YOU’RE WELCOME, UNIVERSE (March 7, 2017; Knopf Books for Young Readers). Originally from New York, she studied design and worked as an art teacher and school librarian before moving to Victoria, British Columbia, where she lives by the Salish Sea with her husband and two pugs. In the rare moment Whitney isn’t writing or drawing, she’s likely to be reading comics, knitting, or roasting coffee. You can visit her online at heywhitney.com
Discover more books like ‘Fake Blood,’ written and illustrated by Whitney Gardner, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Art, First Crush Books, Graphic Novel, Middle School, and Vampire Books. Be sure to follow along with our Learn To Draw series, too!
