City of Light, City of Dark by Avi Illustrator: Brian Floca Date of Publication: 1993 ISBN: 0513070581 Number of Pages: 192

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Average
GENRES: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
THEMES: Good versus Evil, Appearance versus Reality, Family, Sacrifice and Redemption, Loyalty

SUMMARY:
The time is now, the place, New York City… or so it seems. Once inhabited by a magical people known as the Kurbs, the city has now become a bustling human metropolis. In order for things to stay this way, however, a ritual must be completed annually in honour of the Kurbs’ gracious lending of their property. Every year, the Kurbs’ power is hidden within an object somewhere in the city. It is up to the chosen one to restore the power to its rightful place before noon on December 21st or the entire city will freeze.

Schoolmates Carlos and Sarah do not initially know the importance of the token they’ve found, but they soon realize that it must be kept safe, or there is no telling what could happen. Soon the fate of the city will rest in their hands and when Sarah’s father is kidnapped, she must choose between his life and the lives of the people of this altered New York.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• likes drawing and reading stories through pictures
• likes to root for the underdog
• likes things set in present-day but with a hint of fantastical elements
• has a strong sense of family

WHAT ELSE?
All of the dialogue between the young Carlos and his mother is written in Spanish, with the English translation beneath. This would appeal to any young reader who speaks Spanish or who is just learning, since the vocabulary used is quite basic.

RELATED LINKS:
About the Author
Audio Tape of other Avi books