Knife's Edge: A Graphic Novel (Four Points, Book 2)

by Hope Larson, Rebecca Mock (Illustrator)

Overview

A standalone, adventure-packed companion to the New York Times–bestselling middle grade graphic novel Compass South, from the same team who created the Eisner Award-winner Salt Magic.

Twelve-year-old twin adventurers Cleopatra and Alexandra Dodge are reunited with their father and realize that two family heirlooms reveal the location of a treasure that is their birthright. When they set sail with Captain Tarboro on the Almira, they know they’re heading into danger —the ocean is filled with new and old enemies, including their nemesis, the infamous pirate Felix Worley.

But like a coral reef that lurks below the surface of the waves, trouble is brewing between the siblings. Alex is determined to become a sailor and is happy with his role aboard the Almira, but Cleo—the only girl on the ship—is tired of washing dishes in the galley. In an effort to find her own purpose, she begins studying sword fighting with Tarboro, but neither Alex nor her father approves. Can the twins remain close as they pursue different goals and dreams, or will their growing differences tear the family apart before the treasure can be found?

Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock once again create an outstanding seafaring adventure with Knife's Edge.

"Richly colored illustrations breathe life into the rough seas and tropical locales. . . . As in its predecessor, every question answered leads the twins to more questions to be asked, and it ends with a breath-catching cliffhanger. An action-packed sophomore volume, with no loss of wind in its sails." —Kirkus Reviews

A Margaret Ferguson Book

Read the whole series!
Compass South
Knife's Edge

More from Hope Larson:
A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
All Summer Long

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250158468
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Series:	Four Points Series , #2
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	267,050
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hope Larson adapted and illustrated A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, for which she won an Eisner Award. She is also the author and illustrator of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury. She lives in Los Angeles.

Rebecca Mock is an illustrator and comics artist. Her work has appeared in various publications, including theNew York Times and the New Yorker. She is co-organizer of the Hana Doki Kira anthology.

Editorial Reviews

"Richly colored illustrations breathe life into the rough seas and tropical locales. . . . As in its predecessor, every question answered leads the twins to more questions to be asked, and it ends with a breath-catching cliffhanger. An action-packed sophomore volume, with no loss of wind in its sails." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/01/2017
Gr 4–8—Picking up after the events of Compass South, this high seas novel set in the 19th century finds twins Alex and Cleo reunited with their father. Using the watch and pocketknife recovered in the last book, Cleo learns the coordinates for the treasure they've been seeking, and Captain Tarboro agrees to set sail for it—in exchange for a portion. Still followed by the pirate Felix Worley, the group stop for supplies in Hawaii, where they pick up an old friend, Luther, and are pursued by Louisa, Worley's right-hand woman. A wreck reunites them with people from Tarboro's past, but family loyalty is tested by a decision Cleo makes. Full of adventure and some adolescent angst, this is a fast-paced, absorbing tale. The characters, including the villains, are fully realized, with detailed backstories and motivations. Mock uses panels in various sizes to heighten the drama, effectively shifting from close-ups to wide shots. The palette is rich, changing to match the mood of the narrative, and the characters are expressive. VERDICT With exploits and intrigue aplenty, this story will appeal to anyone who loves a rollicking good read. Though this is a stand-alone, those who are familiar with the previous book will get more out of this second installment.—Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

School Library Journal

2017-03-29
The Dodge siblings return to the high seas in search of treasure.In this sequel to Compass South (2016), white, redheaded twins Alexander and Cleopatra Dodge, 12, have discovered not only the whereabouts of their missing adoptive father, but also the truth about the two items—a knife and a compass—bequeathed to them by their mother, Hester. The twins, their adoptive father, a white man, and Capt. Tarboro, a black man, set off aboard the Almira for the Marshall Islands in search of a vast treasure. Along the way, the twins learn more about the enigmatic Hester and her ties to their archenemy, the fearsome pirate Felix Worley, who is racing them to the treasure. Larson's tale takes an insular turn within this volume, offering exciting back story for her well-established cast of characters. With a keen eye on Cleo, the lone girl trying to carve out her place among a shipful of 19th-century men, Larson further explores gender roles and identity. Richly colored illustrations breathe life into the rough seas and tropical locales; however, readers must use a discerning eye for sartorial differences to keep the nearly identical-looking twins straight. As in its predecessor, every question answered leads the twins to more questions to be asked, and it ends with a breath-catching cliffhanger. An action-packed sophomore volume, with no loss of wind in its sails. (Graphic adventure. 8-13)

Kirkus Reviews