Review: ‘The City on the Other Side’

Are you looking for an engrossing story? One that will take you to another world? Do you want to read about fantastical creatures? Wars? The imminent demise of planet Earth? That and more is all in this little graphic novel by Scott and Robinson.

The City on the Other Side
By Mairghread Scott. Robin Robinson
First Second Books. 2018. ISBN 9781250152558
HC, $24. 209pp.
Grades 5 and up

The kingdom of the Fairlies has two types of creatures, the Seelies and Unseelies. Each has their special role, but they often come into conflict with each other, and as this story opens, they are again at war. With their leader missing, the Seelies are particularly vulnerable and at the mercy of the ruthless Unseely leader. What’s more, unbeknownst to them, their war is putting the human race in harm’s way.

Isabel is a young human child, sent to live with her absent-minded father for the summer. She has been taught to be seen but not heard—and not to get dirty. Isabel is pulled behind the veil and meets a Seelie who is on a mission to deliver a necklace to Myorni. The Seelie is mortally wounded, but the necklace’s magic responds to Isabel and she naively accepts the duty to carry out the dangerous mission.

There are many exciting twists and turns in this adventure, and the story comes to a tidy and happy resolution. The bold colors and nuanced panels will engage readers.

The story uses the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake as its backdrop – the devastation caused by the war – but doesn’t really delve into the history of it. Isabella is Latino, but the story doesn’t really bring up Latino culture, just offers us a protagonist with that background.

This is a worthwhile investment for any library shelves and the title will continuously be read by someone.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews