Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.


or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
City of Spies
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

City of Spies [Paperback]

Susan Kim (Author), Laurence Klavan (Author), Pascal Dizin (Illustrator)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
List Price: CDN$ 19.99
Price: CDN$ 15.20 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 25. Details
You Save: CDN$ 4.79 (24%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca. Gift-wrap available.
Only 1 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).
Want it delivered Tuesday, May 29? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.

Product Details

Product Description

Review

Starred Review in 3/15 Booklist

 

With her mother gone and a father who has better things to do than be bothered raising a daughter, Evelyn is sent to live with her unconventional aunt Lia in the bohemian art world of 1942 New York City. Lia isn’t shaping up to be much of a caretaker, but Evelyn spends much time in the company of imaginary super-heroes, fouling up the plans of Nazi spies. Before long she finds an unlikely friend in the building superintendent’s son, Tony. Together, they negotiate the complexities of their different social strata and, always sniffing around for trouble, stumble upon an actual Nazi plot. With stupefying precision, Dizin’s art channels Hergé’s Tintin in tone, palette, and with the remarkable expressiveness of the clean, flexible figures. He also echoes the Belgian master’s sense of fun and action, even as Kim and Klavan put a sophisticated spin on classic boys’ adventure story elements and handle issues of friendship, economic class, and abandonment. And with villains and danger that just border on the genuinely scary, the tale is filled not only with a thrilling sense of excitement but also with a child’s longing for a grown-up to believe in.

— Jesse Karp

Review in 4/1 Kirkus Spring/Summer Preview

It’s wartime in New York City and spies are everywhere, or so it seems to young Evelyn, an aspiring writer of comics, and her new friend Tony. Their adventure, told with seat-of-the-pants, graphic-novel immediacy, is an artful melding of jewel-box illustration with noir atmosphere—Tintin directed by Hitchcock. Still, the story’s slant is all its own. “We had an elderly friend who, as a little girl, chased imaginary Nazi spies in New York City during WWII,” say Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan. “As she told us, the years disappeared and, in her face, we saw the child having the adventure…She didn’t live to see the book, but we take comfort, for what we know, in that she helped win the war.” The snappy, uncluttered tale has a rousing visual flow and plot depth on a variety of fronts. Plus, the Nazis wind up swimming with the fishes. Pow! Pow! Pow! (Ages 10-14)

Review in 4/15 Kirkus

With World War II at its height, fledgling cartoonist Evelyn is embroiled on the homefront in what appears to be a German conspiracy in this retro-tinged graphic novel. Bored by the prospect of spending the summer with her pampered dilettante aunt, Evelyn befriends Tony, and the two wander about their New York City neighborhood trying to find German spies. Although the duo is positive that they have found spies lurking, once they report them to the authorities, their hunches turn out to be wrong. When they finally do discover a fiendish German plot, will anyone believe them? Evelyn and Tony’s story is interspersed with episodes of Evelyn’s own comic about Zirconium Man and his sidekick Scooter, who bears a keen resemblance to Evelyn. 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. (Graphic historical fiction. 12 & up)

Starred Review in 5/4 Publisher’s Weekly

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. (May)

Review in 5/1 SLJ

Gr 5-9–This complex, well-executed work combines a modern, emotional narrative with a European comic style. In 1942, Evelyn, a neglected rich girl, spends her time drawing the comic-book adventures of Zirconium Man and Scooter, who are idealized superhero versions of her father and herself. When her absentee father sends her to live with an upper-crust bohemian aunt, the transition is initially difficult. However, after finding herself in New York City’s German district, Evelyn soon pairs up with Tony, who lives in her building, and the two decide to rid the city of the Nazi spies they imagine are all around them. Following a false lead causes the lives of the kids, the aunt, and a down-on-his-luck police officer to intersect. When the children bump, quite literally, into an actual Nazi spy ring, love, adventure, and redemption all arise in course. The artwork is highly reminiscent of Hergé, creator of the “Tintin” series, and is a perfect complement to both the period and feel of the story. Another nice touch is that the artwork changes to a more traditional American style when depicting Evelyn’s own comic fantasies. The challenge with City of Spies will be finding the right audience. 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. But, if the right reader can be found, this should be a very enjoyable reading experience.–Douglas P. Davey, Halton Hills Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Product Description

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.

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:    (0)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most helpful customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Zirconium Man & Scooter vs Nazi Spies, Mar 21 2010
By 
Nicola Manning (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: City of Spies (Paperback)
Reason for Reading: The old-style drawings, and superhero story set in WWII intrigued me.

Summary: It is 1942, Evelyn's mother has died, her father is a busy man with better things to do than look after a child, so she now lives with her rich Bohemian partying artist aunt who hasn't a clue about children. Evelyn spends her spare time drawing comics about Zirconium Man and his sidekick Scooter who fight against Nazis and a black ooze-like monster. But in real life Evelyn meets the building janitor's son Tony and they find themselves on the track of real life Nazi spies in their own neighbourhood.

Comment: Wonderful story that brings back the olden days of comics. Starting with the art, one thing I really appreciated is that when Evelyn is drawing her comic it is presented in the old-style where you can see the colour is made up of little dots and the type is all text. Then when the switch is made to the present story we've got a Tin-Tin style of art with modern colour techniques and a normal lowercase type with caps where they should be. These easily helps the reader know whether they are reading the main story or Evelyn's comic book and the device is just a lot of fun.

Growing up reading old Superman comics I found at garage sales I really had fun with Evelyn's comic story and when Zirconium Man and Scooter were surrounded be reporters I'll eat my hat if I didn't see Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen in a few panes. Lots of humour along with olden by golden Superhero cheese.

The main story is full of adventure and humour as the daring children (age 10) set off following clues to what they are sure is a Nazi spy ring. Only they have a few false alarms causing the police and grown-ups not to believe them. One of these episodes is leaving me on the fence as to what age ground I'd recommend the book for. The book is perfectly safe reading with only a tiny bit of innuendo that could be read by ages 10 and up assuming they have some idea as to WWII and the Nazis but there is one scene where a "spy" ends up being a man cheating on his wife and they show a few frames of a matronly-looking woman in bra and slip on a bed with man in a vest and boxers. There is also an artist sketching scene showing the back of a nude model and a side view which shows the slightest little bre*st bump. Parents should be aware of this to decide on the suitability for their own children. Older teens are not going to be terribly interested in the 10yo protagonists.

Other than the main spy story plot, there is also a back story of the aunt who develops from being an irresponsible child caretaker with a somewhat dubious past to someone who finds a wholesome new romance and learns that she does really is up to the challenge of her niece's well-being.

A fun book, with quite a few story layers, humour and bold, colourful art. Recommended.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars City of Spies, Dec 27 2010
By Jewish Book World Magazine - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: City of Spies (Paperback)
City of Spies is reminiscent of old-time comics, all the way to the "real spy gadgets" offered in the back of the book. The book is set in 1942 New York and is fashioned as if it was written in that era. Heroes are not given the outlandish superpowers of a modern character. The story centers on Scooter, aka Evelyn Spiegelman. She has been sent to Manhattan to live with her single beatnik Aunt Lia while her father gets remarried again. Evelyn has created an imaginary world in her own comic series in which her father is the super hero and Scooter, her father's nickname for her, is the trusted side kick. However, Evelyn runs into her own adventures and meets a sidekick of her own, the superintendent's son, Tony. Together they uncover a Nazi spy ring, help Aunt Lia face personal challenges, and even allow Evelyn a glimpse into her Jewish heritage of which she is uneducated. The artwork is bright and inviting, echoing the appealing style of Herge's Tintin series. Dizin has recreated a world of detailed comics and animated action that perfectly complement the written text. This comic book is also well suited to adults who wish to revisit their childhood comic book experiences. For ages 9-15. Drora Arussy

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Mother Daughter [...], May 13 2010
By Cynthia Hudson - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: City of Spies (Paperback)
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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Lovers of Tin Tin will want to read City of Spies, May 5 2010
By Lady Wimsey - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: City of Spies (Paperback)
This book was so popular in my house with my kids (late elementary and middle school) that I had to wait 5 days to read it. This book has been read/reread daily since we bought it last week. Evelyn is a young German-American Jew spending the summer with her aunt in NYC. Lonely, imaginative, and creative, she creates a comic (yes a comic within a comic) of two super heroes, while making friends with a boy in the apartment building. The two end up having an adventure involving Nazi spies that is captivating and engaging to middle readers. The readers in this house are waiting for a sequel!
› Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews  4.2 out of 5 stars 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject























i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Amazon.ca Privacy Statement Amazon.ca Shipping Information Amazon.ca Returns & Exchanges