Suee and the Shadow

by Ginger Ly, Molly Park (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet Suee: Twelve years old, wears her hair to the left in a point, favors a black dress, has no friends—and she likes it that way! When Suee transfers to the dull and ordinary Outskirts Elementary, she doesn’t expect to hear a strange voice speaking to her from the darkness of the school’s exhibit room, and she certainly doesn’t expect to see her shadow come to life. Then things start to get really weird: One by one, her classmates at school turn into zombie-like, hollow-eyed Zeroes. While Suee investigates why this is happening, her shadow gains power. Soon, Suee must confront a stunning secret that her shadow has been hiding under her own two feet—something very dark and sinister that could put Suee and her newfound friends at risk!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419725647
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	09/19/2017
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	173,871
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Ginger Ly studied design at Seoul Women’s University and worked as a designer before earning her master’s degree in filmmaking from the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives in the suburbs of Seoul, South Korea.

Molly Park lives in Seoul, South Korea, with two black cats and a mouse, and they all get along very well. Suee and the Shadow is their debut graphic novel.

Editorial Reviews

09/04/2017
Sullen 12-year-old Suee Lee, new at Outskirtsville Elementary, investigates the strange goings-on at the school in this graphic novel, a revised and reworked collection of three stories that were originally self-published digitally. An ever-expanding group of students dubbed “zeroes” are walking the school’s halls “like a bunch of mindless zombies,” mumbling to themselves and being ignored by teachers. Suee has an unusual gap in her memory after hearing a strange voice at school one day, people’s shadows keep disappearing—and Suee’s own shadow has become sentient. Along with whiz kid Hyunwoo and bully target Haeun, Suee attempts to solve this mystery before any more students lose their shadows. Ly’s haunting story gains depth and texture from Park’s minimalist, thick-lined artwork, which sticks to a limited b&w palette occasionally dashed with bright red and muted yellows and blues. Loss and absence pervade the story, including Suee’s own sense of abandonment from a father who shows little interest in her, but the friendships Suee forms prove formidable against both supernatural threats and the twisty social politics of school. Ages 9–12. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Some of the best slow-burn all ages graphic novel reading that you’ll discover this year if your down with a spooky vibe. It’s a pulp noir detective for the elementary school set that manages to build up genuine intrigue and mystery for readers aged 8 and up. . . . an all ages graphic novel with a pulp noir twist.

Daddy Mojo

Perfect for middle grade readers – as well as older readers who just love a good read!

Nerdophiles

"Park’s bold, modish figures, largely in black and white with occasional bright pops of color, add to the eerie atmosphere . . . the stylish art is plenty eye-catching, and a subplot focused on Suee’s reluctance to make friends adds a subtle undercurrent of emotional depth."

Booklist

"Park's simple illustrations use a limited palette to convey the story's somber and moody tones. This graphic novel depicts Korean characters without focusing on Korean culture, making it a welcome addition to diverse young adult literature."

School Library Connection

"Park’s bold, modish figures, largely in black and white with occasional bright pops of color, add to the eerie atmosphere . . . the stylish art is plenty eye-catching, and a subplot focused on Suee’s reluctance to make friends adds a subtle undercurrent of emotional depth."

Booklist