CITY OF SPIES

With World War II at its height, fledgling cartoonist Evelyn is embroiled on the homefront in what appears to be a German conspiracy in this retro-tinged graphic novel. Bored by the prospect of spending the summer with her pampered dilettante aunt, Evelyn befriends Tony, and the two wander about their New York City neighborhood trying to find German spies. Although the duo is positive that they have found spies lurking, once they report them to the authorities, their hunches turn out to be wrong. When they finally do discover a fiendish German plot, will anyone believe them? Evelyn and Tony’s story is interspersed with episodes of Evelyn’s own comic about Zirconium Man and his sidekick Scooter, who bears a keen resemblance to Evelyn. An appealing combination of Tintin-inspired art with its European sensibility mingles with the superhero stippling of a classically American style. A nice mix of espionage, romance and adventure, this well-paced, well-drawn tale will surely appeal to thoughtful young readers. (Graphic historical fiction. 12 & up)