Fierce, sure, because this tour has a foursome of YA authors presenting their new darkling fantasies and spymaster thrill rides – and one of these things is not like the others, because it’s text and pictures.
That’s right: What they call a graphic novel. One of those, among three other compelling yet text-only books.
And this particular graphic novel is written by Scott Westerfeld, the author of that almost ridiculously popular Uglies series. And it – Spill Zone, a creepy urban tale that follows a young photographer who’s illegally documenting the results of an industrial event that’s turned the now-abandoned parts of her city into a living, shifting nightmare – Spill Zone is illustrated by Alex Puvilland.
And this Puvilland previously lent his graphic talents to the Prince of Persia and Templar projects, and, oh holy soaring nightbirds, his style perfectly fits Westerfeld’s unnerving narrative in page after full-color page.
Which is not to say that Erin Beaty’s The Traitor’s Kiss and Taran Matharu’s The Battlemage and Kristen Orlando’s You Don’t Know My Name aren’t going to fill your mind’s eyes with adventurous visions as you read, too – because they will. And Westerfeld, his story all expertly drawn and paneled, doesn’t even have to feel like the odd one out. He could feel that way – as many a YA protagonist often has, right? – but:
“Being the only author promoting a graphic novel is cool,“ says Westerfeld. “It’s a chance to remind audiences that storytelling takes many forms, each with its own set of tools and strengths.”
And here’s a chance for you to be reminded of that yourself, live and in person, as all four authors will be at BookPeople on Monday, May 15, at 7pm, with these latest published wonderments.
This article appears in May 12 • 2017.