Addie regularly and illegally rides through the Spill Zone on her motorcycle, photographing the bizarre things she witnesses and selling her pictures to a local art dealer. Although the entire Spill Zone has been cordoned off, Addie continues to live just inside the checkpoint with her younger sister, Lexa (who doesn't speak, except to her doll Vespertine), after losing both parents in the Spill. Three years ago, something very strange happened in Poughkeepsie, New York-no one is certain exactly what-but weird things happened in the city and weird things now populate it. This first entry in a creepy, addictively suspenseful graphic novel series makes for compulsive reading. This unnerving, gripping title-Westerfeld's first original graphic novel-is bound to entice older comics fans, especially those interested in darker sci-fi and nuanced characterization. Harsh profanity and violence make this a more appropriate choice for mature readers. Addison is particularly complex: though she is sympathetic, her decisions are intentionally presented as morally questionable. Ultimately, the characters are the most compelling part of the book. This first of a duology wisely moves at a slow pace, rather than immediately revealing the plot and backstory of this warped world. Westerfeld and Puvilland have created an imaginative, nightmarish powerhouse, with hectic line work and loud, vivid colors.

Then there's Lexa's rag doll, Vespertine, who whispers devious thoughts in Lexa's mind. Meanwhile, the North Korean government, which had its own Spill incident, wants to meet with Addison for their own ominous purposes. But soon the woman buying the bulk of the photographs presents Addison with the opportunity to embark on a deadly mission inside the Spill Zone, with the reward of a cool million dollars should she succeed. She sells the images to support herself and her sister, Lexa. That isn't Addison's mystery to solve all she has to do is go into this quarantined area-the Spill Zone-and photograph the bizarre happenings. It wasn't aliens, it wasn't a nuclear attack, and the military isn't talking. Gr 10 Up-It's a mystery why three years ago Poughkeepsie suddenly broke the boundaries of reality, giving life to demonic wolves and sentient twisters, or why its human inhabitants now hang suspended in the air like puppets.

The spill zone