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This graphic novel was a real pleasant surprise. I sort of wanted a break from standard narrative, so it arrived at just the right moment. I also refused to go to bed at first and was rummaging around, trying to figure out what to read. Well, Victoria Ying’s City of Secrets (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2020) was most certainly the right pick. Let’s let the official marketing description give us some context: “Ever Barnes is a shy orphan guarding a secret in an amazing puzzle box of a building. Most of the young women who work at the building's Switchboard Operating Facility, which connects the whole city of Oskar, look the other way as Ever roams around in the shadows. But one of them, Lisa, keeps an eye on the boy. So does the head of the Switchboard, Madame Alexander . . . a rather sharp eye. Enter Hannah, the spunky daughter of the building's owner. She thinks Ever needs a friend, even if he doesn't know it yet. Good thing she does! Lisa and Madame Alexander are each clearly up to something. Ever is beset by a menacing band of rogues looking to unlock the secret he holds—at any cost. And whatever is hidden deep in the Switchboard building will determine all of their futures. On a journey that twists and turns as much as the mechanical building Ever Barnes calls home, he and his new friend Hannah have to and out what's really going on in this mysterious city of secrets . . . or else!” It was interesting to later hear Ying speak on a podcast about the challenges of drawing this graphic novel, as it is based upon a fictional city, Oskar, that is made of moving parts. Yes, parts of the city can shift and move. The Switchboard itself is one large building that is constantly in motion. Fortunately for the Switchboard workers, Ever also happens to know how the building works, so even if there is a minor hiccup, he is there to fix things. There are a ton of twists and turns in this plot, especially as it becomes known that Ever is being targeted by some nefarious individuals. Ever is entrusted with a secret: a safe must be guarded, even though he does not know what is inside. Eventually, Ever is forced to open the safe. With Hannah’s help, they begin to unravel a larger secret that will likely impact the future of Oskar. Ying leaves us with some dangling questions by the graphic novel’s end, so there’s likely to be at least one sequel. I really did appreciate hearing Ying speak about her process and the things she learned when completing this work. For instance, she began to understand why other graphic artists often choose to use more simple costumes for their characters. As Ying discovered, it enables them to keep the continuity without having to spend so much extra time on difficult-to-redraw clothes. Ying also discussed her manga-inspired roots, with her interest in Ranma ½, which was also a favorite of mine, so that was very cool. In any case, there is much to laud in this particular work which crackles with a unique plot and hooks us with the dynamic interplay between its two spritely protagonists. This is sure to be a hit amongst readers of all ages, not just the targeted demographic.

Watch the (AMAZING) animated trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMlVcJ8DH2Y

Buy the Book Here:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/city-of-secrets-victoria-ying/1134673154