Graphic Novel Review - City of Light, City of Dark

By Rich Haynes, Youth Services Librarian, Harlan County Public Library

Have you ever imagined that all this stuff, this earth, this reality, is not what it seems? What if the way things “are” is not really the way things “are”? What if all this stuff we know to be true is just “someone’s” dream of what “is”? More importantly, what if we really don’t own Manhattan Island?

In City of Light, City of Dark Avi creates a parallel world that resembles our own, maybe it is our own and we just don’t know it. In this world the boogie men really do exist, but they have another name…the Kurbs. The Kurbs were here first. They own the land. They control the light and the dark. They allow us to live on the island if and only if we perform the Ritual. By the “Treaty of the Ritual Cycle of Acknowledgement That This Island Belongs to the Kurbs” we live here at their pleasure. Each year on December 21st, at exactly the same time the Ritual must be performed or the ownership of the island reverts to the Kurbs and all light and warmth on the island will cease. What if one year, the Ritual couldn’t be performed?

This seems like an all too likely possibility when, after hundreds of years, Asterel, the current keeper of the Ritual, cannot pass the task on to her daughter. Through the vain and evil machinations of Thor Underton, Asterel’s daughter, Estella, is taken from her and the cycle is put in jeopardy. Underton’s assistant (and Asterel’s father), Theo hides the girl, changing his appearance and life out of fear that Underton or Asterel will take the girl away from him forever. Fear, shame, and love battle each other as Asterel searches for her daughter, Underton searches for Asterel and the POWER, and Theo tries to avoid both.

Estella (now called Sarah by her father) remains blissfully unaware of her past. She goes to school, does her chores, and tries to be a good daughter. She never understands why her father puts up with the gruff and sometimes cruel Underton, but, for her father’s sake, she tolerates Underton as well, even if she doesn’t like him. She is content to remain in this simple life until fate interevenes.

Unexpectedly, the token bearing the POWER, falls into the hands of a boy. Carlos, a boy with dreams of flight, finds the token and sets into motion a pattern of events that will determine the fate of Asterel, Estella, Theo, Underton, and the Island of Manhattan all. Pursued by Underton, the boy hides and notices that if he holds the token “just so” he can see in the dark and “see” other people. Asterel also pursues Carlos, trying to get to the token before Underton can steal it and in so doing, destroy the island.

Unable to retrieve the token from the boy, Underton enlists the aid of Theo and both of them together demand that Sarah get the token back from Carlos. Fate brings all the players together in the end and as identities are revealed, the Treaty of the Kurbs explained, and Underton exposed for the menace that he is. Grasping for the POWER and unable to manipulate Carlos, Estella (Sarah) or Asterel any more, Underton attacks and kidnaps Theo, his one remaining plot to obtain the token. With time quickly running out Estella and Carlos use the POWER to try to rescue Theo; only time will tell if they succeed.

Avi’s City of Light, City of Dark is a masterfully told tale recalling such children’s classics as the Chronicles of Narnia or the Wizard of Oz. The author twists our fragile reality in such as way as to make you wonder if the story could be true or not. It is the perfect example of what a “low” fantasy story should be. No great wizards or mighty dragons exist in the City, just average people trying to live their lives, while underneath the surface, there awaits a power that we can only imagine. Floca’s black and white illustrations mesh seamlessly with the story creating a style that is simple and clean but also evocative in emotion and expression. Together, the author and the illustrator create a story that is magical and perfect. There is little wonder why this book was awarded the Newberry Medal.