First Kiss with Fangs

Thirteen-year-old Ivan is a tender-hearted vampire who prefers a plant-based diet. In his daydreams, he rejects his destiny and hangs out in the human world forever! But would it be worth it if it means hiding his truest self?

Born into a family of vampires, cheerful Ivan is a black sheep: he loves sunshine, his best friends are human, and he can't stomach the thought of eating meat.

So when Ivan's vampire fangs come in on his first day of eighth grade, he's determined to keep them a secret. He wants to stay in day school, with his sweet group of human BFFs, rather than transfer to night school with the rest of the teenage vampire crowd. Sure, that means he'll have to lie to everyone, but how hard can it be? He will just act normal.

Keeping his secret gets much harder when Ivan is assigned a new lab partner: transfer student Damien. Around him, Ivan acts anything but normal. He's fainting and fumbling and far from blending in. Ivan even finds himself thinking about blood and heartbeats and vampire kisses . . . All. Day. Long.

Is it safe to spend time with humans, or is Ivan turning into a bloodthirsty vampire against his wishes? He always thought he would do anything to stay in the human world, but maybe it's too dangerous to keep pretending. . . .

Fans of Fake Blood will sink their teeth into this graphic novel that's perfect for readers navigating first crushes, unpredictable emotions, and the perils of middle school. Featuring LBGTQ+ characters and a unique, homespun art style, Snyder's debut is fang-tastic.

Author: Marker Snyder
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 09/02/2025
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 8.66h x 6.22w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9780823457021
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2025
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2025
Booklist 09/01/2025
Shelf Awareness 09/12/2025

About the Author
Marker Snyder is an illustrator, designer, and graphic artist currently based in Kingston, NY, where he lives in a rainbow house with his husband, two cats, and a very friendly turtle. Formerly a curator and exhibition designer in NYC, he now works primarily on developing illustrated projects for kids--from picture books through middle grade. Visit him online at www.drawingwithmarker.com