The Inkberg Enigma

The murky waters of fishing town Aurora attract a wide variety of marine wildlife unlike anything else in recent history. Though local boy Miro doesn't have much interest in the town, he has taken to selling unwanted items that previous owners left in his family's attic to fund his addiction to rare books. After Miro and classmate Zia spot a local fisherman whose leg is ensnared by cephalopodlike tentacles, they explore Aurora's mysterious history, including the Danforth family patriarch who founded the town's primary employer, his disastrous expedition to the arctic, and the mysterious cabal protecting the secret that keeps Aurora's economy prosperous. Zia, the deuteragonist to Milo's protagonist, drives the story forward with her initiative, rendering Milo and his hazy motivations comparatively less interesting. King's detailed full-color panels can feel more static than sequential, slowing the pace in a story already lacking in emotional motivations, but the aquatic, gothic mystery breathes life into the otherwise mild narrative. Ages 7-8. (Sept.)

Gr 5-8--Sleuths Miro and Zia are excellent foils for each other in this graphic mystery that includes elements of adventure and fantasy. The two kids live on an island, in the fishing town of Aurora. Miro, in true Bilbo Baggins style, is a homebody; he sells objects from his dad's attic to fund his book habit and retreats to the world of stories for his summer vacation. Zia, however, observes everything through her camera as she rides the ferry. When they bump into each other one day and witness one of the local fishermen being carted off in an ambulance, a suspicious Zia convinces the reluctant Miro to figure out what's really happening in their seemingly sleepy little town. Vivid artwork reminiscent of the Tintin comics makes for a detailed setting, shifting to a sepia tone for a glimpse of the past. This plot-driven tale draws upon historical events, such as Ernest Shackleton's expedition. VERDICT Leaving readers with a satisfying open-ending, teasing at the potential for more stories to come, this tale will have readers searching for further clues on their own.--Rachel Zuffa, Case H.S., Racine, WI