What do we really know about the vital stuff in our veins?

Some people faint at the sight of blood while others eat black pudding or sip blood soup. Some can't think of it without hearing the faint rustle of a vampire's cape. Others rush to see the latest gory horror film. Why does blood hold such emotional power?

Around the world, blood has always been a symbol of both life and death: blood rites, blood oaths, and blood-soaked legends. Today, we have scientific facts about blood types, transfusions, blood-borne illnesses, and crime-scene blood spatter. Yet the fluid still holds mystery.

Open this book to learn about the symbolism and reality of blood, from its role in ancient sacrifices to its uses in modern medicine and forensics.

Striking black-and-red illustrations appear throughout, with each chapter introduced in comic-book style by young Harker, a goth narrator with a worrisome relish for all things bloody. As SEEING RED reveals, blood continues to make us cringe while holding us in its thrall.

Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of numerous books for young readers, including THE LOWDOWN ON DEMIN and 50 BURNING QUESTIONS: A SIZZLING HISTORY OF FIRE. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Steve Rolston is an award-winning comic book and graphic novel artist. He also illustrated THE GREAT MOTION MISSION. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia