CYBILS GRAPHIC NOVEL NOMINEE: Ink Girls by Marieke Nijamp & Sylvia Bi
ABOUT THE BOOK
From New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and illustrator Sylvia Bi, this debut middle grade graphic novel celebrates the power that everyone—even those often overlooked—has to create change.
In a vibrant city, two girls from very different walks of life join forces to fight censorship and protect the people they love. Eleven-year-old Cinzia is a printer’s apprentice. She adores Mestra Aronne for taking her in—most guilds don’t have room for apprentices with a crippled leg—and she loves life in the raggedy workshop that smells of paper and printing, where secrets and stories are always circulating. So when Mestra Aronne is imprisoned for publishing accusations against the ruling family, Cinzia will do anything to prove that Mestra Aronne only told the truth.
Elena is the exact same age as Cinzia, but she’s forced to keep to her rooms and garden. To protect her, according to her mother. To protect the city, according to her uncle. Because Elena is not the charming, powerful noble her family wants her to be. According to them, she doesn’t communicate well. She’s too gullible and literal and struggles to understand other people.
After unexpectedly meeting face-to-face, the girls follow a trail of clues through their golden city, drawing supporters and learning more about their home and each other than they ever could have imagined. If one person—no matter how young—can change the course of history, just imagine what a whole flock of them could do.
Bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and debut illustrator Sylvia Bi have crafted an indelible, vibrant story about finding and using your voice, perfect for fans of Lightfall, Tidesong, and The Prince and the Dressmaker.
REVIEW
In this beautifully illustrated story based on medieval Italy, two girls, Cinzia and Elena find themselves on the run. Cinzia's fled after her Mestra Aronne get's arrested for accusing the magistrate of corruption. As the girls manage to stay one step ahead of the guards looking for them, they search for a way to free Mestra Aronne. Using Mestra Arrone's notes, they seek to find the sources of information she used in her avviso (newsletter). After encountering Carlotta, the daughter of a courtier, who herself has run away, the girls work together to find a way to bring down the corrupt magistrate (who happens to be Elena's uncle) and free Mestra Aronne before she gets executed. With themes of censorship, truth-telling, and the power of working together shining through the book makes for a compelling read. While the story is rather simplified and idealized, the themes are presented in a clear and understandable way. The author's note in the back matter explains avviso's and the historical places the story uses to create a city that feels like a living, breathing entity. An entertaining story with a powerful message. Recommended.
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