City of Light, City of Dark

by Avi, Brian Floca (illustrator)

Avi's ground-breaking graphic novel gets a stunning new cover to celebrate its twentieth anniversary!

Two kids fight to save their city from eternal winter in this gripping fantasy by Newbery Medalist Avi, illustrated by three-time Sibert Honoree Brian Floca.

"To begin with--there were these KURBS. These Kurbs owned an Island...with their POWER they controlled both day and night...Years ago, when People first came to the Kurbs' Island, they wanted to build themselves a City."

The Kurbs give people light and warmth to establish a city, on one condition: The people must return the Power every year or risk losing the city--forever. This system works for centuries until evil Mr. Underton tries to steal the Power. If he succeeds, the Kurbs will take back the City, reducing it to a dark and frozen tundra. It's up to Carlos and Sarah to find the Power--housed in a subway token--and keep the City safe, despite secrets of Sarah's history that are entwined with the token. What ensues is a race against darkness. A race against the lies of the past. And most of all, a race against time.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult, Middle Grade

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was just ok for me. I couldn't help wishing the writing went a little deeper than it did and the art was just alright, nothing particularly stylish or interesting about it. The framing device for the story about the sinister alien race could have led to something with more interest and energy, but instead just really only served as a framing device. *Spoilers ahead* I also felt like there was a lot of build up to moments of potential emotional climax and pathos that were never delivered. Avi spends quite a bit of time building up the secret betrayal of the father in the story, but once his betrayal is revealed, there's no real emotional catharsis about it, just a quick, pat forgiveness by his daughter. In general, it just didn't feel like the story had a chance to stretch out as much as it should have. Instead of being a fully fleshed out narrative, it is more of a spartan skeleton of plot and dialogue that the illustrations rest on. This may just be because Avi is not used to writing for the graphic novel medium. The prose has a similar feeling to Foiled, Jane Yolen's more successful foray into graphic novel format. It isn't a bad book to read, but there's not really enough there for me to really recommend it.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some masterful writers can slip seamlessly between mediums, constructing equally brilliant novels, comics, and film scripts (Neil Gaiman). But Avi is unfortunately not one of them. The story here is good enough, but my feeling reading it was that there was just no reason for it to be in graphic form. The drawings didn't move the plot forward or really add anything to make it more interesting. This seems like a classic example of Avi or his publishers wanting to try to capitalize on the popularity of the format without the substance to back it up.

[Susan Gottfried]

I picked this up to keep me company as I recuperate. It's a cute tale, but I wonder if in the 30 years since it was written, today's Middle Grade readers would demand a more robust, rounded story. The bad guy is one-dimensional, there's an almost supernatural element that's barely filled out, there are plucky kids who are kind of similiar to each other. Only Theo has real character development.

The art is lovely, and it was a good way to spend my morning on the couch.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was weird? it was fine? not my favorite from avi but that's okay.

[Christine Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I really liked the story of fate bringing together two kids to defeat a bad guy BUT it seemed both confusing and random at times during the story.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was entertaining and I like the art style. It moves along at a fast pace. I wish I knew more about the world, but there's still enough built in to work with.

[Dominic Tiberio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just OK. I love minimal/brushwork art and the cover caught my attention, but unfortunately there is just not much here. The writing is probably the biggest letdown and there are some major flaws to the storyline almost from the beginning and it never improves. The single thought I found myself going over and over as I read was why anyone would even bother writing/publishing a story with such minimal plot and so little to say? With a small amount of effort the plot and conflicts could have been majorly improved but for whatever reason they forged ahead with it as it was. There were great concepts here, they just don't get utilized. The artwork is competent but rarely adds much. This is a mediocre book that could have easily been great and that was the biggest disappointment when I reached the end.

[Matthew Hundley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love graphic novels. And I love the idea of re-imagining a city. City of Light, City of Dark re-casts NYC into an imaginative tale about Kurbs and a magical power force and those who keep the city from falling into peril. I like all that. The context. The actual style in which it is drawn and lettered is a bit "amateurish" for me. And I wasn't big on all the text used in the prologue. But the story was engaging enough to pull me through; and in some ways the "amateurish" nature of the artwork forces the imagination to have to work a little harder (all the visual details are not handed over to you). A good book for stepping into this genre.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long ago, land was granted to humans by the Kurbs (a scary alien/not human race) and each year they hide the power in something and a person finds the power and returns it. It is a contract. I found the story to be stilted in the way it was narrated. It felt like I was pushed outside the story. Not a ton of character development or depth to the story. I did like the illustrations. Maybe my middle school kids will like it better. Fantasy or good vs. evil fans might like it. 5th grade and up. Watch out for pigeons!

[Aary Jaclyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in middle school. Ive never forgotten the creativity and adventure in the storytelling of this book, it being my first graphic novel. I am SO pleased to see it is still just as enjoyable as I remember! I can't wait to share it with my nieces and nephews when they are a little older.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is based on the existence of beings called the Kurbs, they possess great power and owned an island as well as the sky above. The Kurbs thrived in darkness, drawn to it like moths to light. When humans first came to the island of the Kurbs, they had to get permission from them to construct a city there.
A pact is drawn up between the humans and the Kurbs, there is a ritual involving the power of the Kurbs. Every year on the 21st of June, the Kurbs will hide their power and from that point on, there will be less light each day. The humans must find that power and return it to the place of safekeeping on December 21, at which time the days will begin to lengthen again. Of course, this coincides with the natural changing of the seasons. If the power is not returned on December 21, then the daily amount of daylight will continue to decrease.
A woman is designated by the humans as the searcher for the power. She herself is capable of donning several different disguises, making her task of searching easier, for she can more easily gain the trust of different groups.
However, the plot device of the Kurbs is secondary to the primary one, which is dealing with a family where the father is extremely embarrassed by his actions. So much so that he takes his daughter away from her mother and the two of them assume other identities. An evil man knows the truth and continues to blackmail the father into feeble submission. Much of the storyline involves this complex interaction.
I found the story to be difficult to follow, the presence of the Kurbs could have been rendered superfluous as the reader never really receives an explanation of what they are or what they do. It is as if the writer needed a foil to get started on a story about family separation with an eventual reuniting.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt pretty dated, and the interesting parts weren't expanded upon. The art style was pretty chaotic and lacked any real style. There were several misspellings and poor grammar usage in the first few pages and the contract with the Kurbs that were bothersome. This felt like either just how I imagined early graphic novels started or just not a great example of one, or a lazy example of one to sell a popular author in a new and sparkly format. Maybe if it had been a novel, there would have been more character development. Why come up with so many great ideas (Kurbs, the RITUAL CYCLE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and the family trauma due to Theo and Asterel not standing up to Mr. Underton) if they were barely going to be touched upon? And the plane Carlos builds felt like a nod to something like Kiki's Delivery Service or Howl's Moving Castle but not done well. I liked seeing the pre-9/11 NYC and appreciated how the author expanded on the 18th Street station closure of his childhood, but it just felt underdeveloped. I wanted more backstory on Asterel's inherited powers and roots, more about how Asterel and Theo were so in love but why they couldn't team up against Underton (a low-rent copycat Mr. Mushnick), more of a budding friendship between Sarah and Carlos, and more of Carlos's backstory, especially since his love of planes became a major plot point. This one was a miss for me.

[Ross Horsley]

I enjoyed and disliked reading City of Light, City of Dark by Avi, however I would not recommend it. I wouldn't recommend it due to the disorganized complexity and chaos of the story, but if that's what you like then it would be a perfect match for you.

¨City of Light, City of Dark¨ is a fictional story about a magical coin that has the power to do nearly anything you can imagine. But there is a man who wants the coin all to himself to do wrong. The main character's name is Sarah and her goal is to return the coin to a specific area within the city and if she doesn't it will freeze. So the conflict comes from the man who is attempting to steal the coin which would put the whole city at risk. Essentially this little girl named Sarah is trying to save the city and all the people in it with just herself and some friends.

The reasons that I wouldn't recommend this book are because of both the disorganized complexity and the chaos throughout the book. One example of disorganization is on every page of the book there would be a picture and just like a comic book there would be speech bubbles and then regular paragraphs. That being said it was very hard to follow along with what came first whether it was the speech bubble or the paragraph. One

[Chris Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poor world-building and poor character development keep this from being any good. The concept of a group of beings (Kurbs) offering a contest that only one person can participate in so that people can live in their city without freezing to death is just bizarre. Why have such a complicated rent system? It was also unclear whether everyone living in the city was aware of this arrangement.

The story’s opening is a lengthy exposition sequence that too quickly skins through details of the world and characters. I found it hard to like Theo, even though we are supposed to, when he agrees to kidnap his own daughter in order that his boss, Thor Underton, could gain control of the power the Kurbs hide in the city. I didn’t understand what Underton had over Theo to force him to do that. Theo just came off as spineless.

This just came across as unpolished and in need of gestation before being turned into a full-blown story. And once you read the opening chapter, you’ll know exactly how this ends, so what’s the point of reading it all?

[Robert]

The story “City of Light, City of Dark” by Avi is a thrilling and exciting story about a very special magical item, a subway token that is in the hands of kids.

The story is based around a special subway token that holds the power that keeps the city existing and not being in ruin. The way the token works is it has to be returned every year to the kurbs to keep the peace. Carlos and Sarah are the main protagonists of the story and they are the people trying to return this coin. Only issue is that Mr Underton, the antagonist of the story, wants the coin for himself for evil.

This story is very appealing to somebody who likes visuals in a story since it's a big comic book. My personal opinion of the book is that I think it's very good and different. I say it's different because i've never heard a story like this before. One thing I dislike is that it feels like the story goes by very quickly.

This book is great for people who enjoy different and unique and thrilling stories. If you enjoy these things, this book is for you.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deal was made between the Kurbs, who owned the island and the sky above it, and the People, who wanted to live on the island. In order to prove their worthiness, the People had to make an agreement with the Kurbs. Every year, the Kurbs would hide their POWER on the 21st of June and a seeker would have 6 months to find it. If the People fail to find the POWER, the Kurbs will take the island back. During this time of searching, the daylight hours will decrease steadily. When the POWER is returned to its proper place, the hours of daylight will begin to lengthen again.

The People chose one woman to be their seeker. And for generations, the POWER had been passed down from mother to daughter. All was well, until one man, Mr. Underton, wanted the POWER for his own selfish gain. He and his apprentice sought to interfere with the seeker and this is where the story begins.

Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Dark, Love and family vs loneliness and revenge.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

City of Light, City of Dark is a book written by Avi and is a book that won a Newbery Medal. Although the book's eye-catching title, the contents are way more interesting than the cover. The plot shows how through courage and will, two preteens, Carlos, Estella, and Estella's mother with raging powers. They constantly try to prevent the city of Manhattan from turning to ice.
Against backdrops of neon lights, circling pigeons, abandoned subway stations, and storefronts, Avi and Floca dynamically convey a timeless tale of good versus evil. Brilliantly parodying the superhero cartoons of old. This myth conceived in the same spirit as Who Was That Masked Man Anyway? is sure to be a hit with reluctant and advanced readers alike.
This book has a strong backstory and plotline, but sometimes hard to follow and stay connected with the story. At times it was hard to follow but overall a good book.

[Geraldine (geraldinereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humans must return the power source back to the Kurbs every year in order to prevent the city from freezing over. The power source is always hiding somewhere in the city and this year it's hiding in the shape of a token. Two kids named Carlos and Estella must figure out how to save the city with this token.

When I first read the synopsis, I wasn't sold and to be honest I was a little confused. I was nervous that it would be hard to follow, but once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! Although the art wasn't my favorite, I think it was still an enjoyable read. Surprisingly, I liked the storyline way more than I thought I would too. It was very easy to follow and it had a unique premise. 3.5/5 stars.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My nine year old son really liked this book. I, on the other hand, thought it was haphazard and slipshod. The characters’ motivations are basic and the action jumps wildly from one plot point to the next without connecting them.

And there are plot holes. Enough of them to be irritating. When there are soooooo many really well written/illustrated graphic novels out there, this is one you can skip.

[Riece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book a rating of 5 because I love reading graphic novels and I enjoyed this one. This graphic novel was talking about how we need to work together to be strong. This novel is also talking about how there's a bad side and a good side of you. This novel also reminds me of right now in middle school. These are my reasons why I gave this book a rating of 5.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered liking Avi books when I was a kid, so picked up this one that I had never read before. I really enjoyed it! The story is creative, and I really appreciated the story's strong female and multicultural cast of characters.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story, the art and the NYC setting. I really liked the young characters. Themes were good vs. evil, the importance of honesty, courage, ingenuity and cooperation. The story felt like it could have been expanded on more, particularly the backstory of the Kurbs.

[Kolter Sands · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the story, but the typography does not flow with the art. On several points, it is trying to be a full-text book rather than a comic book. The text seems to conflict with the art rather than being balanced.

[Lionheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3 1/2 stars
Ages 11+

[Bryce D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book I would read it again.

[MEME · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Light, City of Dark is an amazing book. The art is beautiful, and I really like the mysterious vibe to it.

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this in elementary school but had forgotten about it over the years. Was very surprised to find it in a donation box the one day and really wanted to read it again.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read this book to my son. He loved it and asked that I give it five stars.

[hibah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6/5
at first it was deathly boring and i didn't understand anything.
it wasnt until between 1/2 and 2/3 of the book that it began to get interesting

[TommyH]

This kept me on the edgy of my seat, the suspension and tension in the story made this book thrilling. I would defiantly recommend this book for any new graphic novel reader.