I enjoyed this. Recommended to Holly Black fans. It was a quick read, with some things that make more sense the second time you flip back and reread them. The story is however not finished so after this book you'll want to read the next one. While we find out what happened to the dead university student, Rue still has to figure out a few other things. The artwork is good, but sometimes the faces were inconsistent which made me sometimes wonder who I was looking at for a second. The book is in black and white, I'd love to see this in color! The coverwork is gorgeous though, and I liked how the dustcover matches the cover of the book, but it also has a matte finish with some shiny parts. Very tactile. I find myself picking it up and rubbing my fingers against the raised shiney font a lot, it's lovely.

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Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com

Rue is trying not to worry. Her mother has disappeared after a terrible fight with her father. Right after her mother disappears, her father is arrested and accused of murdering one of the students he teaches at the University. Rue knows her father didn't do anything wrong, but doesn't know how to prove it.

To add to her stress, Rue starts seeing things. Things that shouldn't be possible in the real world. Things with wings. Things that look like faeries.

While Rue's father is in jail, she is taken to meet the grandfather she's never met - her mother's father. She finds out that her grandfather is one of the fey, and what he has planned for the world is a danger to all mankind. Rue is the only one who can stop him.

When Rue's mother makes a reappearance, she is extremely ill. Rue picks up some clues as to why her mother disappeared in the first place and puts others information together on her own.

In between looking for clues to the real story behind the girl her father is accused of killing, finding out about her mother, and coming to terms with her heritage, Rue is trying to maintain her life at school and with her friends.

KIN is the first volume in THE GOOD NEIGHBORS series. Holly Black wraps up this volume nicely while still leaving readers begging for more. Fans of Black's novels TITHE, VALIANT, and IRONSIDE will enjoy seeing the faeries come alive on the page of this graphic novel. Be looking for sequels in the near future.

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From the highly acclaimed Spiderwick series, author Holly Black takes us into a new realm, the magical world of fairy. Book one of a new trilogy, Kin sets the scene of mystery, magic, and pure fun.

Rue isn't worried that her mother seems to have disappeared. Or at least, that is what she keeps telling herself. One evening she was kept awake by the high voices of her parents arguing. When she finally went downstairs to see what the commotion was about, her father was crying and saying it was all his fault. Her mother had vanished.

A few days later, she comes home from school and the police have her house surrounded. Rushing towards the front door, she is stopped by a police officer. They are arresting her father for murder. A student had been found slain, and her father , a professor, was the last to see her.

Weird things begin to happen to Rue. She meets her mother's family for the first time, not knowing her mother had any family. Her grandfather is dark and threatening. She begins to think she is crazy, seeing things that really aren't there; or are they? She imagines wings and beaks on people and the shadows creeping closer to her. She goes to the library and does some research.

Before long, she learns that her mother didn't disappear. Her father had broken a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, and because of that, her mother was dying. Now Rue must go to save her, and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.

As the first graphic book I have read, I was highly impressed. The illustrations are fantastic. Very detailed, but so full of emotion and atmosphere, the characters almost leap off the page. The plot is sound and full of promise of magical things to come. The end will leave you hanging, just begging for more. I look forward to the next installment of this magical world of fairy.

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This is the first book in series of graphic novels called "The Good Neighbors" by Holly Black and Ted Naifeh. Looks like right now there are going to be three books. The second one is called "Kith" and it is already out. The third will be called "Kind" and will be out in 2010. I enjoyed this graphic novel a lot. Both the artwork and the story are very engaging.

Rue's mom has disappeared and her dad has been accused of murdering one of his students. As if this isn't bad enough Rue is starting to see things that she shouldn't; things that no one else can see. What is happening to Rue and her family? Will she be able to figure it out in time to save her dad and find her mom?

This book had a good plot; I was intrigued and am looking forward to reading the next graphic novel. As with most graphic novel series, this first book basically introduces you to the main characters and sets up the beginning of the story. Rue is a great character. Her friends are interesting and the fair folk Rue meets are the most intriguing characters of all.

The illustration throughout is awesome. I really enjoyed Naifeh's drawing style. All the pictures are in black and white. The detail that is in them is amazing; there are a number of pages you need to stare at for some time to process all that is going on in the drawings. Naifeh does an excellent job portraying the character's emotions.

Both the writing and the illustration are dark and moody. This is definitely not a child's fairy tale, although there isn't anything that makes this a mature book (no swearing, minimal violence, etc.). This is a great graphic novel for young adults or adults who love fairies and love Holly Black's writing.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book "Kith".

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