Kin

Kin by Holly Black & Ted Naifeh
The Good Neighbors
ISBN# 978-0-439-85562-4
Available now
Published by Graphix/Scholastic Inc.
Format: hardcover, graphic novel, 119 pages
Genre: YA, fiction, urban fantasy

Holly Black writes some of my favorite YA urban fantasy including Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside for older teens. She's also the author of The Spiderwick Chronicles, for younger teens and children, which is now a major motion picture. I haven't come across any of Naifeh's work before now although his Gloomcookie series sounds familiar. I was disappointed that the artwork in this book is black and white until I took a closer look, it's very well done and very detailed. Unlike with most authors trying their hand at graphic novels these days this series is original and not based on a written novel.

Rue Silver doesn't worry, not about her mother missing for over three weeks and not about the creatures she's been seeing lately that can't possibly be real. When her father is accused of murder and his wife's disappearance comes to light, then Rue starts to worry. All this time she thought her mother was crazy for conversing with trees, but when she meets her maternal grandfather and knows that he's not human she starts putting the story together. She soon learns of her grandfather's plan to lay siege to the city, but which side will Rue choose? This is only the first book in this series so be on the look out for future books.

This is the first book I've seen from Scholastic's Graphix line and I liked the story and the artwork a lot. The only drawback I see is that this book was a little pricey for a story that's just over 100 pages. If Graphix publishes everything in hardback readers are going to have to very picky about what they buy and get the rest at the library. I hope the next book is longer because I really liked what I saw of Rue, but I felt I barely got to know her and then the book was over.

Zhye