Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

City of Secrets



written and illustrated by
Victoria Ying

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Penguin Random House
Imprint
Viking
ISBN
9780593114483
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Crime: Against Children , Violence: Death
$15.00   $12.50
SEE MEMBER PRICE
QTY

Ever Barnes is a shy orphan who lives in a puzzle-box building (think an architectural Transformer) that is also a multi level switchboard center, the communications hub of his city. He’s the last of a family that’s guarded a precious safe—contents unknown—for generations. All Ever knows is that what’s in that safe protects the city and that his father was killed because he wouldn’t give up the secret of the safe.

Ever is resigned to living on his own in the swtichboard building, where he knows every nook and cranny, and all the cranks and levers that operate the complicated complex. Some of the nicer young women who work there give him food on the sly. He’s got his job: stay out of sight and protect the safe hidden deep in the maze of the building. Ever is the only one who knows about it. Or is he?

Ever’s lonely existence is upended by when Hannah, the daughter of the building’s owner, shows up and spots the orphan in hiding. Hannah is determined to befriend Ever. His avoidance and her pursuit set off an unexpected series of events. Two things quickly become very clear: someone else knows Ever’s secret and wants in on it. And having a friend is a very good thing when a whole whole evil goon squad is after you!

Full-color illustrations.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Crime: Against Children , Violence: Death

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

256

Trim Size

9" x 6"

Dewey

F

AR

3: points 1

Lexile

HL390L

Genre

Fiction

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

Sep 2020

Book Genres

Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Steampunk

Topics

Secret societies. Adventure and adventurers. Spies. Orphans.

Standard MARC Records

Download Standard MARC Records

Cover Art

Download Cover Art

Praise & Reviews

Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

A scrappy orphan named Ever Barnes knows the city of Oskars is hiding something important—but what? He spends his days hiding in the Switchboard Operating Facility, a building made up of cogs and interconnected layers. Mr. Morgan, the facility’s new owner, is proud of his acquisition. His daughter, Hannah, is eager to explore the building and perhaps befriend this orphan boy she keeps hearing about. Hannah often feels constrained by her mother’s expectation to act like a lady and would much prefer to wear pants and get into scrapes. Ever overcomes his initial reluctance to let Hannah into his life when it becomes clear that the men who killed his father are now after him, too. Lisa, a plucky switchboard operator, is a fantastic side character who’s hiding a few secrets of her own. Underground societies, family codes, and danger abound. While there’s a lot of story to keep track of, it all comes together in the end. The primary mystery is revealed at the last moment and sets up the potential for future volumes. Ying’s panels are fluid and inviting. Vibrant action scenes are mostly wordless and showcase the intricate and impressive design. Exploring the steampunk city is an adventure for ­Hannah and Ever and for readers. An appealing steampunk graphic novel for fans of Jen Wang’s The Prince and the Dressmaker.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-A scrappy orphan named Ever Barnes knows the city of Oskars is hiding something important-but what? He spends his days hiding in the Switchboard Operating Facility, a building made up of cogs and interconnected layers. Mr. Morgan, the facility's new owner, is proud of his acquisition. His daughter, Hannah, is eager to explore the building and perhaps befriend this orphan boy she keeps hearing about. Hannah often feels constrained by her mother's expectation to act like a lady and would much prefer to wear pants and get into scrapes. Ever overcomes his initial reluctance to let Hannah into his life when it becomes clear that the men who killed his father are now after him, too. Lisa, a plucky switchboard operator, is a fantastic side character who's hiding a few secrets of her own. Underground societies, family codes, and danger abound. While there's a lot of story to keep track of, it all comes together in the end. The primary mystery is revealed at the last moment and sets up the potential for future volumes. Ying's panels are fluid and inviting. Vibrant action scenes are mostly wordless and showcase the intricate and impressive design. Exploring the steampunk city is an adventure for Hannah and Ever and for readers. VERDICT An appealing steampunk graphic novel for fans of Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker.-Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

A scrappy orphan named Ever Barnes knows the city of Oskars is hiding something important—but what? He spends his days hiding in the Switchboard Operating Facility, a building made up of cogs and interconnected layers. Mr. Morgan, the facility’s new owner, is proud of his acquisition. His daughter, Hannah, is eager to explore the building and perhaps befriend this orphan boy she keeps hearing about. Hannah often feels constrained by her mother’s expectation to act like a lady and would much prefer to wear pants and get into scrapes. Ever overcomes his initial reluctance to let Hannah into his life when it becomes clear that the men who killed his father are now after him, too. Lisa, a plucky switchboard operator, is a fantastic side character who’s hiding a few secrets of her own. Underground societies, family codes, and danger abound. While there’s a lot of story to keep track of, it all comes together in the end. The primary mystery is revealed at the last moment and sets up the potential for future volumes. Ying’s panels are fluid and inviting. Vibrant action scenes are mostly wordless and showcase the intricate and impressive design. Exploring the steampunk city is an adventure for ­Hannah and Ever and for readers. An appealing steampunk graphic novel for fans of Jen Wang’s The Prince and the Dressmaker.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-A scrappy orphan named Ever Barnes knows the city of Oskars is hiding something important-but what? He spends his days hiding in the Switchboard Operating Facility, a building made up of cogs and interconnected layers. Mr. Morgan, the facility's new owner, is proud of his acquisition. His daughter, Hannah, is eager to explore the building and perhaps befriend this orphan boy she keeps hearing about. Hannah often feels constrained by her mother's expectation to act like a lady and would much prefer to wear pants and get into scrapes. Ever overcomes his initial reluctance to let Hannah into his life when it becomes clear that the men who killed his father are now after him, too. Lisa, a plucky switchboard operator, is a fantastic side character who's hiding a few secrets of her own. Underground societies, family codes, and danger abound. While there's a lot of story to keep track of, it all comes together in the end. The primary mystery is revealed at the last moment and sets up the potential for future volumes. Ying's panels are fluid and inviting. Vibrant action scenes are mostly wordless and showcase the intricate and impressive design. Exploring the steampunk city is an adventure for Hannah and Ever and for readers. VERDICT An appealing steampunk graphic novel for fans of Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker.-Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8

Book-length narratives presented in comic book style, graphic novels foster both visual and verbal comprehension skills while exposing readers to interesting dialogue and satire, as well as affirming diversity.

JLG's selection of these unique books, some of them only published in softcover, are ideal for attracting reluctant readers and introducing them to literature they might not encounter otherwise. You may find that the 14 books in this category will turn your reluctant readers into eager readers.

14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year
Interests
Diversity,ESL,Fiction,Graphic Novels,Reluctant Readers,Transitional Readers,Funny/Humorous
Like this book?
Get more like this every month.
LEARN MORE
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year

Other Recommended Titles From Graphic Novels Middle Plus

Graphic Novels Middle Plus

February 2023

Welcome to Feral

by Mark Fearing

Graphic Novels Middle Plus

January 2023

Graphic Novels Middle Plus

December 2022
Out of stock

Freestyle

by Gail Galligan

Graphic Novels Middle Plus

November 2022
Copyright © 2017 Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.