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Powell's Q&A | February 2, 2012

Emily Winfield Martin: IMG Powell’s Q&A: Emily Winfield Martin

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1 Beaverton Children's- Graphic Novels

City of Spies

by Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan and Pascal Dizin

City of Spies Cover

ISBN13: 9781596432628
ISBN10: 1596432624
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Mystery, intrigue, and pastries abound in this World War II spy tale.

Evelyn typically satisfies her longing for adventure with the help of a pencil and a sheet of paper. But when she makes a new friend, Tony, she's happy to abandon her art for a real-life search for spies. When the two accidentally uncover a genuine mystery, it looks like Evelyn might end up in the kind of adventure she writes in her comics.

Susan Kim, Laurence Klavan, and Pascal Dizin present a period piece that creates an inviting world you won't want to resist.

Review:

"This graphic novel takes the kid detective genre to the world of WWII espionage. In this case, the role of Nancy Drew is being played by Evelyn, a 10-year-old girl who's recently come to live with her free-spirited aunt in New York City. Imaginative and bored, Evelyn and her friend Tony see spies everywhere, with decidedly mixed results. Unlike the Hardy Boys or Boxcar Children, they don't always get it right, and their false alarm about a surly doorman makes for embarrassing headlines. Eventually, they do happen upon a real Nazi spy, and they're off on an exciting adventure, hiding in bakery vans, sneaking into parties, and decoding secret messages with a little help from Evelyn's Aunt Lia and a friendly policeman. The writers manage the difficult trick of writing real children into a terrific adventure story, and the book is completely age-appropriate without ever talking down to its readers. Dizin's loopily expressive art has a period feel while still looking fresh and kid-friendly. His work on 'Zirconium Man and Scooter,' Evelyn's comic about herself and her absent father as superheroes, is particularly charming. City of Spies is a good old-fashioned adventure story and rip-roaring fun. Ages 12–up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"With stupefying precision, Dizin's art channels Herge's Tintin in tone, palette, and with the remarkable expressiveness of the clean, flexible figures....Kim and Klavan put a sophisticated spin on classic boy's adventure story....[F]illed not only with a thrilling sense of excitement but also with a child's longing for a grown-up to believe in." Booklist (starred review)

Review:

"An appealing combination of Tintin-inspired art with its European sensibility mingles with the superhero stippling of a classically American style. A nice mix of espionage, romance and adventure, this well-paced, well-drawn tale will surely appeal to thoughtful young readers." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"This complex, well-executed work combines a modern, emotional narrative with a European comic style....While the illustrations evoke comics that are traditionally for younger readers, the many personal dilemmas at work in the narrative will be appreciated by older students." School Library Journal

Synopsis:

Evelyn typically satisfies her longing for adventure with the help of a pencil and a sheet of paper. But when she makes a new friend, Tony, she's happy to abandon her art for a real-life search for spies. Young adult.
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About the Author

Susan Kim has written for more than three dozen children's TV series, including Reading Rainbow and Are You Afraid of the Dark? and received four Emmy nominations. Ms. Kim teaches in the MFA program at Goddard College. This is her first book for children.

Laurence Klavan wrote the novels The Cutting Room and The Shooting Script, both published by Ballantine, and has also written screenplays and teleplays for Tri-Star, Warner Brothers, and the USA Network. This is his first book for children.

Pascal Dizin grew up in a small town on the West Coast. He studied cartooning at the School of Visual Arts. He lives in New York City, where he continues to draw comics. This is his first book.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club com, May 13, 2010 (view all comments by Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club com)
During the early days the U.S. was involved in Word War II, Americans became obsessed with the thought that spies were among them, secreting away information that would aid the enemy and defeat the Allies. In New York, people were suspicious of Germans in general, and many thought it was their patriotic duty to keep an eye on German citizens.

This is the setting for City of Spies, a new graphic novel by Susan Kim and Laurance Klavan, with artwork by Pascal Dizin. Evelyn has arrived to spend the summer with her Aunt Lia in New York while her father spends time with his new wife. An only child, Evelyn has known a series of stepmothers since her own mother died years before. To help pass the time, she draws action adventures for the superhero she creates, Zirconium Man, and she is his sidekick, Scooter.

Aunt Lia’s artistic lifestyle doesn’t accommodate Evelyn very well, but she doesn’t mind as much after she meets the building superintendent’s son, Tony. Together, they decide to have an adventure and catch a spy. They soon discover that just because someone has a German background, it doesn’t mean he’s stealing secrets and working with the enemy. When they stumble on a real plot, they decide to follow it through and foil the bad guys themselves.

City of Spies does a great job of exploring the imagined and real dangers of the early 1940s while focusing on issues such as friendship, family relationships, and loneliness for both children and adults. It also brings to life two fantasies common among children: being a superhero and catching a spy. As in all good graphic novels, much of the plot and action are carried through by the artwork, and Dizin’s drawings are the perfect accompaniment to Kim and Klavan’s words. A mother-daughter book club with girls aged 13 and up would be able to discuss the historic era and how graphic novels in general differ from reading a regular novel.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781596432628
Author:
Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan and Pascal Dizin
Publisher:
First Second
Illustrator:
Dizin, Pascal
Author:
Sycamore, Hilary
Author:
Dizin, Pascal
Author:
Kim, Susan
Author:
Klavan, Laurence
Subject:
Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes
Subject:
Action & Adventure - General
Subject:
Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Subject:
Graphic Novels
Subject:
World War, 1939-1945 -- New York (State)
Subject:
Comics
Subject:
Graphic Novels - General
Subject:
Action
Subject:
Adventure/General
Subject:
Mysteries.
Subject:
Detective stories
Subject:
Comics & Graphic Novels - General
Subject:
Mysteries & Detective Stories
Subject:
Children s-General
Subject:
Comics & Graphic Novels
Subject:
Historical - United States - 20th Century
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Publication Date:
20100431
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 5 to 8
Language:
English
Illustrations:
full color throughout
Pages:
176
Dimensions:
8.50x6.32x.37 in. .68 lbs.
Age Level:
10-14
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Related Aisles

City of Spies Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$5.95 In Stock
Product details 176 pages First Second - English 9781596432628 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "This graphic novel takes the kid detective genre to the world of WWII espionage. In this case, the role of Nancy Drew is being played by Evelyn, a 10-year-old girl who's recently come to live with her free-spirited aunt in New York City. Imaginative and bored, Evelyn and her friend Tony see spies everywhere, with decidedly mixed results. Unlike the Hardy Boys or Boxcar Children, they don't always get it right, and their false alarm about a surly doorman makes for embarrassing headlines. Eventually, they do happen upon a real Nazi spy, and they're off on an exciting adventure, hiding in bakery vans, sneaking into parties, and decoding secret messages with a little help from Evelyn's Aunt Lia and a friendly policeman. The writers manage the difficult trick of writing real children into a terrific adventure story, and the book is completely age-appropriate without ever talking down to its readers. Dizin's loopily expressive art has a period feel while still looking fresh and kid-friendly. His work on 'Zirconium Man and Scooter,' Evelyn's comic about herself and her absent father as superheroes, is particularly charming. City of Spies is a good old-fashioned adventure story and rip-roaring fun. Ages 12–up." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "With stupefying precision, Dizin's art channels Herge's Tintin in tone, palette, and with the remarkable expressiveness of the clean, flexible figures....Kim and Klavan put a sophisticated spin on classic boy's adventure story....[F]illed not only with a thrilling sense of excitement but also with a child's longing for a grown-up to believe in."
"Review" by , "An appealing combination of Tintin-inspired art with its European sensibility mingles with the superhero stippling of a classically American style. A nice mix of espionage, romance and adventure, this well-paced, well-drawn tale will surely appeal to thoughtful young readers."
"Review" by , "This complex, well-executed work combines a modern, emotional narrative with a European comic style....While the illustrations evoke comics that are traditionally for younger readers, the many personal dilemmas at work in the narrative will be appreciated by older students."
"Synopsis" by , Evelyn typically satisfies her longing for adventure with the help of a pencil and a sheet of paper. But when she makes a new friend, Tony, she's happy to abandon her art for a real-life search for spies. Young adult.
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