City of Secrets: Secret of the Switchboard

Four years before this graphic novel’s start, Ever Barnes was orphaned, and he inherited the secret his father guarded before him: a safe that holds a dangerous weapon. Living alone in the six-leveled Grand Capital City of Oskars, Ever, now 12, spends most of his days hiding from the switchboard operators and using a complicated system of levers to manipulate the facility’s moving features to protect its workers and guard the safe. When Hannah, privileged daughter of the building’s owner, catches wind of Ever, her excitement at Ever’s “freedom” lures her from the responsibilities of becoming a lady. The two begin a rollicking journey that develops into a close bond as they explore the tantalizing secrets underlying their fantasy steampunk world. Though overlarge speech balloons can detract, Ying’s flowing illustrations feature billowy, thin lines and a strong sense of motion that energize the Hugo Cabret–tinged story. Alongside the characters’ evolving motivations and found family tropes, moments of peril become increasingly visceral, accentuating emotional beats of loss and realization. Ages 8–12. Agent: Heather Flaherty, the Bent Agency. [em](July) [/em]