"The City on the Other Side" is a delightful and thought-provoking read that offers readers a thrilling adventure and a poignant meditation on the power of friendship, courage, and imagination. Scott's skillful storytelling, combined with her lush artwork and rich world-building, makes this book a must-read for fans of fantasy, graphic novels, and historical fiction alike. Whether you're a young reader discovering the magic of graphic novels for the first time or an adult seeking a whimsical escape from reality, "The City on the Other Side" is sure to captivate and inspire.

Beautifully written, and utterly engaging.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this title.

Such a cute and fun read that kids of all ages can get into and enjoy! It's whimsical and emotional and fun. The art is so adorable. I got so into this and loved reading it!

Enjoyed this book very much and purchased copies for my graphic novel section. Received very good feedback from my tweens at the branch that enjoy this genre.

A cute fantasy for kids. i enjoyed the characters and overall design and only wish it had been a little longer!

Isabelle, a young girl in San Francisco enters a magical, dangerous world of fairies. Although she lives an ordinary life, Isabelle's next adventure is anything but ordinary. A magical amulet helps Isabelle navigate her new world in order to save both fairies and humans. Avid middle-grade fantasy and graphic novel readers will enjoy the bright, colorful graphics and storyline.

I love :01 Books. I can't remember having read one of their ARCs and not preordering it for my classroom library. Once they hit the shelves, they get passed around quite frequently among my middle schoolers. This book, which follows Isabel in the aftermath of the great San Francisco Quake is no exception and shall soon become a part of my collection.

I really enjoyed the artwork in this book. It was beautiful. The story was rather ordinary and not very exciting. I would recommend it for kids who like fantasy, but I thought it was kind of predictable. It was worth reading for the gorgeous artwork.

A really sweet and enjoyable storyline paired with some beautiful artwork makes for a fantastic read. Diverse and complex but perfect for all ages.

I really love this story line and the art is beautiful. I think this is a really diverse and complex story that's great for all ages.

Since this came out, I have seen this book on the shelves at the New York Public Library. My kids love it, and I think that graphic novels really captivate their interest in reading. The illustrations for "The City on the Other Side" are just spectacular, and I love that the main character is a female protagonist. The concept of magic and fairies is really popular with my students, so a lot of my kids want to read it during our "library time". I would suggest this for younger readers who enjoy magical creatures, graphic novels, and female protagonists.

Ever notice how many fantasy stories have a clear good and evil? Not a lot of balancing of powers. Just the evil, grasping magic and the "normal" magic. Not in this case. While it seems that way initially, the plot plays out differently. The Unseelie exterminate. They try to push everyone else out. But we do see how this is largely reactionary. We see the need for both groups and the ways that imbalance in their realm affects the human realm. A solid read with a more traditional portrayal of the fae.

Loved this graphic novel! There was a lovely mix of other worldly magic and history. Great for young readers.

The familiar story type of a kid enlisted to help with a magical battle on another plane of existence is freshened a bit by making the protagonist a girl of color, but there's too much going on in too little space, with intriguing hints and necessary background forced in without enough room to be fully explored or understood. For that reason, I thought the best part of the book was the end, where one of the fantasy creatures explains the various myths and cultures that inspired the various fairies.

The best audience would be kids who don't already know the story type, because otherwise, this feels predictable, but they may be too young to keep up with the various references and allusions, since the storytelling isn't always straightforward.

This was a quick read, fluffy and predictable, but I think the target children's audience would really enjoy it! Isabel discovers a pathway through the veil from her human world to the world of fairies, where she is thrust into the midst of the fairy war and is (of course) the only one who can put a stop to it! It did, however, have quite a few redeeming qualities: I loved the diversity in characters - that the fairies were inspired by all manner of mythological stories (from Japan, Europe, America, etc.) and the main humans were of color as well. Bonus points for a character named Benjie! (as that is my son's name, sans 'e') Some of the illustrations appeared unfinished, blurry or without lines, but that may have been because I had a pre-published version from NetGalley.

My review of the comic The City on the Other Side appeared on my blog and I have provided the link to the publishers.

This was not my favorite it was just okay for me, However, it is a simple and sweet story young students will like

An adventure fantasy story that is reminiscent of Labyrinth meets Adventure Time. Diverse characters and a little bit of historical context about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but mostly a tale about troubles in fairyland. I was certainly charmed by the characters, and think kids will enjoy this fun (if fluffy) read.

I now choose to believe that all natural disasters are caused due to concerns on the other side of the veil. Let's all keep the other dimensions happy, ok?

Plot:

Although the plot is fairly straightforward (solid, sweet, middle-grade fantasy) there are lots of larger, more complex ideas intertwined throughout. Themes of courage, valor, selflessness, sacrifice, justice, and redemption are woven seamlessly through the plot, written in such a way that they're obvious but not overt. I think middle-grade readers will take away many of these messages for their own lives, while still very much enjoying the story that reveals them.

Also, the ending is super sweet. <3

Plot: 3 stars out of 5

Characters:

Like the plot, a lot of these characters are pretty classic, but combined with the vivid drawings and the deeper themes, they’re simultaneously almost new. Benjie’s quest of confusion and identity becomes a story that’s uniquely his; Button’s war veteran’s return is his ride alone (and in my opinion, he made the story). But Isabel was different: though the forgotten child, she shows glimpses of her strength from the very first page, then slowly unearths it to a full-on, spotlight shine as each situation she chooses to walk through gives her the courage to take the next step. She doesn’t really gain strength through the story; instead, she learns to show others what she already knew she was capable of and how to properly use that strength and that voice she’d been forced to hold back for so long.

Characters: 3 ½ stars out of 5

Writing Style/Setting:

Because it’s a graphic novel, the actual writing is almost exclusively dialogue, and it was creatively tailored to each individual character. All the mains had specific turns of phrase or tones of voice that marked each person as specifically them. You couldn't confuse them with anyone else. Even without the pictures, their voices were distinct.

Though the setting has a pretty common foundation, the specifics of the Seelie and the Unseelie world were inspired by legends I'd only seen a few other times (and some of them, not at all!); so flipping through each page was an intriguing glimpse into their world, unique yet familiar. The setting felt so vibrant and lively, like a hopping city or a wild bazar, full of endless sights and colors. I think it’s the sort of setting that young faerie buffs, as well as kids who like things a little weird, are really gonna enjoy.

Writing Style/Setting: 3 ½ stars out of 5.

All in all, we come in at about 3 ½ stars out of 5. The City on the Other Side was certainly enjoyable, a sweet fantasy story of adventure, self-discovery, and finding one’s voice.