Recently Reread: City of Light City of Dark

City of Light City of Dark by AVI

Illustrator:  Brian Floca

Publisher/Year: Scholastic, Inc | 1993

Pages: 192

Series: Stand Alone

Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel

Format: Paperback

Source: Owned

Amazon | Goodreads

Summery (From Amazon)

Complications abound in a graphic novel related in brief narrative boxes plus dialogue (some of it in both Spanish and English) in hundreds of b&w comic-book frames. Sarah has been told (falsely) that her mother died; Carlos can’t understand why an old blind man is so interested in a subway token he’s found. The two kids team up and eventually learn the truth: the evil Mr. Underton was blinded by Sarah’s mother 11 years ago when he tried to steal the token that’s the source of power for the metropolis (N.Y.C.), which will freeze if the token isn’t delivered to safekeeping each December 21 by Sarah’s mother (and, someday, by Sarah). With neat feats of derring-do but uncharacteristically lumpy plotting and motives (Stubbs hides from his wife for 11 years, fearing she’ll hate him–to keep her love, he leaves her?), this isn’t quite fish or fowl. Still, robust spirits run appealingly amok until the expected triumph of good. Author (and publisher) get high marks for experimenting with a new genre, though this may not be the book to make it fashionable. A bold venture that will probably entertain the young more than their elders.

Shannan’s Summery

Humans once made an agreement with an ancient power  for the l Land of  New York.  Now every generation has a woman  in charge of making  sure  humans keep their end of the agreement.  The problem is  that the  current woman has lost her daughter, and the current token that must be returned, is lost.  Add in the evil Mr.  Underton who wants the power for himself, and  only a couple days left to fulfill the agreement for another year, and there is danger on the horizon for New York. 

First Off…

I read this book for the first time when I was in elementary school, I’m guessing third grade from the date it was published.  It was the first and, until recently, only graphic novel I have ever read.  I’ve reread it from time to time, and decided to give it another go.

Thoughts:

I didn’t really remember much of the story line, and it wasn’t really an in depth story.  I did like how it was trying to explain why the solstices happen.  It also has some magic, a line of girls who pass along the power to find the one item that saves humanity each year from destruction.  I enjoy how many different types of relationships are explored through the story, friends, mother, father, and of course the villian.  I think that’s important in books of this age that it helps them figure out what a healthy relationship looks like.

10 Second Summery:

1. It’s early reader graphic novel:  I recommend this book to kids that struggle reading or don’t enjoy reading.  It has a simple vocabulary that is stretched out though the book, and the pictures help keep the length from being intimidating.
2. It’s a good story:  obviously this time around I thought it was a simple story, but I remember really being on the edge of my seat reading it in the third grade.
3. The graphics are simple, but well done:  It’s a simple sketched black and white comic, something that kids who like drawing could easily copy, which may be part of the reason for simplicity.

Then, I loved it and was on the edge of my seat.  Now I think it’s still a good story and a good reminder why I loved it so much.