
A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating the anxiety of wanting to be accepted by a new group or feels like they are hiding their true self from those they love. This graphic novel uses a monstrous, supernatural premise to explore the very real pressure of meeting family expectations and the fear that your 'weirdness' might be too much for others to handle. While it features vampires and curses, the heart of the story is about radical self-acceptance and the courage it takes to be honest in a relationship. Appropriate for the 10 to 14 age range, the story balances tongue in cheek humor with genuine moments of vulnerability. It is an excellent choice for parents looking to normalize queer relationships through a fun, genre-bending lens. By framing family conflict as a literal battle for survival, it provides a safe, exaggerated space for kids to process the complex emotions of loyalty, identity, and belonging.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewGothic imagery including vampires, curses, and monsters attempting to eat the protagonist.
Sweet, age-appropriate depiction of a queer teenage relationship including supportive dialogue.
Cartoonish, slapstick-style monster violence and supernatural attacks.
The book handles identity and queer romance directly and joyfully. The 'monstrous' elements serve as a secular metaphor for feeling like an outsider or coming from a 'difficult' family. While there is peril, the resolution is hopeful and emphasizes that you can choose your own path regardless of your heritage.
A middle schooler who feels like they don't quite fit their family's mold, or a young person entering their first 'serious' relationship who is learning how to set boundaries with others.
Parents should be aware of the 'tongue-in-cheek' horror elements. It is stylistically similar to Wednesday or Beetlejuice. Read cold, but be ready to discuss the difference between 'scary' fiction and real-life safety. A parent might notice their child becoming secretive about a new friend group or expressing anxiety that their family is 'too embarrassing' or 'too different' to show to others.
Younger readers (ages 9-10) will enjoy the chaotic action and monster designs. Older readers (12+) will resonate more deeply with the romantic tension and the nuance of Boots's struggle with her family identity.
Unlike many YA queer stories that focus on the 'coming out' struggle, this book treats the relationship as a given and focuses on the universal, hilarious, and horrific ordeal of the 'meet the parents' trope.
Sam joins her girlfriend Boots for a weekend getaway to meet the parents. Expecting awkward small talk, Sam instead finds herself trapped in a gothic nightmare: the Blackwood family are monsters who view humans as prey or playthings. As Boots struggles with her own burgeoning vampire instincts, Sam must navigate a gauntlet of lethal 'family traditions' while deciding if love is worth the literal danger.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.