Review by Booklist Review
A square of naturalistic light through the window of a beautifully ruined clock tower is emblematic of the theme and aesthetic of this heartfelt adventure. The lush forests and rushing waters complement the design of the vast, abandoned city as its soaring towers and secret passageways are discovered and investigated by the intrepid Iris and her best friend, the more cautious Sam. Iris yearns to escape their small town of Bugden, while Sam loves his home and wants his best friend to stay, and their exploration brings them to the heart of their differences. Splitting apart, Sam meets the friendly, knowledgeable hermit Benjamin, as Iris comes across the evasive, inexplicable Lily, and they're both drawn deeper into the city's history and the danger it still presents. Pamment's art is intricate and generous, and he proves as sensitive to young readers' urge for adventure and mystery as he does to the stakes of their friendships and emotional lives. Includes a beautiful mini-guide to real submerged towns that will fire the imaginations of young explorers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Adventurous Iris, 13, and content-at-home Sam,12, both light-skinned, have been best friends since childhood: a sepia-tinted prologue pictures them as grade-schoolers, Sam trailing behind Iris, as usual. In their quiet town of Bugden, Iris collects odd "artifacts" and imagines becoming an archaeologist; unbeknownst to Sam, Iris intends to leave for boarding school, but when her mother deems it too expensive, Iris runs away. Sam catches up with her, and then things take an uncanny turn: the local river has run dry overnight, uncovering an abandoned city. A mysterious red-haired girl named Lily promises to lead Iris to "treasure," and a rising shadow--submerging white negative space in black backgrounds--suggests that time is coming undone. As Sam loses track of Iris, another boy races to rescue Lily in the past, and the duos' fates are twinned--even if a character's suggestion of "young love" between Iris and Sam feels premature. In this graphic novel debut, Australian animator Pamment showcases a sharp eye for architecture, natural settings, and dynamic compositions, allowing rectangular panels to expand, contract, and break form, crashing down or shattering into shards, in this fine-tuned puzzle. Back matter includes inspiration and process notes. Ages 8--12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--6--Childhood friends Iris's and Sam's interests have diverged now that they have reached middle school: Iris dreams of leaving their quaint town for archaeological adventures, while Sam is content with his life as is. When the local river suddenly goes dry, the kids happen upon a formerly submerged town downstream that had been abandoned years ago when a nearby dam threatened the villagers and was revealed only because of low waters. Adventures await these two friends, but soon an argument and rising waters put them in danger. Relying upon a Chibi style for the characters, debut author and illustrator Pamment has created an appealing town that seems inspired by the French countryside. Sharp-eyed readers will pick up on clues in various panels about the fantasy element in the second half of the story. Not everything is spelled out, but readers will gain a greater understanding through the illustrations. The palette is soft, with blues and purples dominating. Both Iris and Sam are white. VERDICT A strong story about friendship that incorporates fantasy and whimsy; fans of "Hilda" and Adventure Time will be charmed. A great addition to any middle school library collection.--Nancy McKay, Byron P.L., IL
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Review by Horn Book Review
In this vivid graphic novel, adventurous thirteen-year-old Iris believes that she has explored every last corner of her small hometown with her best friend, the trepidatious Sam. She acutely feels Bugden's limitations and how they hinder her boundless ambitions. After a fight with her mom, Iris camps out at the river, her place of solace and possibility. Sam finds her in the morning, peering down at the strangely dried-up riverbed. Iris ropes Sam into exploring the riverbed, which soon leads them to the dripping remnants of a once-submerged town. The more Iris investigates, the more she realizes how cautious (and complacent) Sam has become, and this frustration culminates in an outburst that separates the two friends just as the first traces of true danger appear. A skilled animation artist, Pamment balances his plentiful and cinematic sequential storytelling with bright, personality-building dialogue to create a cohesive and immersive narrative in both art and text. Detailed visual motifs and many potent sound effects handily extend the narrative beyond the page and activate readers' senses. Hand this mesmerizing tale about hidden histories and friendship growth spurts to cautious and intrepid young explorers alike. Niki Marion January/February 2022 p.119(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The silences are the best parts of this graphic novel. A beetle that's painted a perfectly chosen, dusky shade of purple takes almost an entire page of wordless panels to land on the surface of a lake. Even in scenes with dialogue, the silences between words are beautiful, too. When Iris, who's 13, asks her friend Sam what he wants to do when he's older, he says, "You mean like…" and then stares blankly for a full panel before he asks, "What do you mean?" Sam is only 12 and can't imagine leaving the town of Bugden. The town's name is perfectly chosen, too. Iris says, later: "Bugden is so small, it feels like everyone's watching what I do all the time!" But just outside of town is a hidden city--Iris thinks it looks Byzantine--with submerged railroad tracks and an enormous clock made of stained glass. That leads to a mystery: Is the young girl Iris meets there a time traveler or a ghost? It might be best to describe the book as a puzzle, a haunting one. Even on its final page, not everything has been explained. Literal-minded readers might prefer a story with a clear, simple timeline. But many readers will opt to fill the silences with their own thoughts. Characters tend to present White, including Sam, Iris, and the mysterious Lily. This story is astonishing enough to leave people speechless. (background notes) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
