The Gray City

In this extended illustrated narrative, creator Kuhlmann (the Mouse Adventures series) paints a dystopian city whose buildings, vehicles, and murky sky are shades of the same steely gray. After young Robin moves there with her father, she ventures into her new classroom wearing a yellow rain slicker in protest of the ubiquitous monochrome. She draws a picture in color and is sent to an auditorium for detention, where she befriends another secret color-lover, Alani. The boy turns out to live in her building, where he plays music with his uncle (“This sort of thing is very rare”). When Robin becomes convinced that the authorities are using gray to conceal the city’s colors, she persuades Alani and others to help her break into the massive, heavily guarded factory that is the hue’s source. In a dramatic action sequence, Robin sabotages the Gray Works, and the story comes to a brisk and cheerful end. Alongside an allegory about opposing widespread conformity, striking, film-still-style spreads offer visual sweep and imaginative detail. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Endnotes include information about light refraction and color-mixing. Ages 6–10. (Sept.)