Garlic and the Vampire

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen is a wonderfully amazing graphic novel for a tween audience. The beautiful illustrations will draw the reader in, while the heartfelt story and its awkward little main character, Garlic, will keep them turning the pages.

Garlic, an “anxious bulb,” lives in witch Agnes’s magical garden with her best friend, Carrot, and a colorful cast of cruciferous creatures. Garlic is eager to please and wants to do well in the garden, but she often gets tripped up by life’s obstacles and has little faith in herself. When a vampire moves into the neighborhood, sending the garden into turmoil, the most unlikely bulb in the world is tasked with fighting him…!

A sweet story that shows the importance of friendship and believing in yourself, Garlic and the Vampire is a story that warms the heart. Carrot’s patient presence and gentle encouragement help Garlic get through the challenges of life and show the importance of having someone believe in you… and believing in yourself. The unique illustrations are darkly whimsical, spooky yet cozy, and artfully capture the emotions of Garlic and her friends. They are assuredly the highlight of the book. Bree Paulsen is an incredibly talented artist.