Voice of Youth Advocates

The city strategically built in the mountain pass has had many namesDaidu, Yanjing, Monkh, and now DanDaobut these are the names chosen by the many waves of invaders. If anyone asks the natives what they call their city, they simply laugh, declaring that only the conquerors give it a name and no outsider has ever named it for long. Dreamy and bookish young Kaidu is one of those outsiders, a son of the conquering Dao, reluctantly training to become a warrior. On an unapproved trip into the city, Kaidu meets Rat, a tough and reckless orphan who hates all the Dao. As Rat leads Kaidu through the streets and over the rooftops, showing him the secrets and wonders of her home, their friendship builds. Now Kaidu realizes he loves the nameless city, too. When their city is threatened with destruction, these ill-matched friends will need to stand together to save their home.Award-winning writer and artist Hicks has created another masterpiece, a stunning fusion of gorgeous art and beautifully written text. With strong, memorable characters and breathtaking action, The Nameless City is certain to become a classic. Even as readers enjoy the vibrant illustrations and exciting plot, they will be absorbing some cogent observations about history and the nature of power. A cliff-hanger ending promises more adventures of Kaidu and Rat. Suitable for middle school but sophisticated enough to appeal to older readers, this title belongs in all libraries serving young people.Jamie Hansen.

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Starred Review The titular city of Hicks' series opener goes by many names. Set in a highly desirable location, the city, which resembles thirteenth-century China, has cycled through conquerors, all of whom call it something new. Its permanent residents watch those rulers come and go and call it the Nameless City. Kai, son of a general in the current conquering army, the Dao, has just arrived, and he is dazzled by the place, especially the girl he sees racing across the rooftops. That girl t one of the conquered, and through their friendship, Hicks teases out the city's complex dynamics. Resentments toward the Dao are simmering, and privileged Kai is mostly oblivious until Rat starts training him in her parkourlike moves. Remarkably, Hicks conveys these dynamics without much exposition, relying instead on visual cues, expressive faces and gestures, and subtext. Meanwhile, the primary story eled by cinematic action, some well-timed comical stumbles, and a nefarious plot against the Dao just as compelling. All of these elements are brilliantly integrated in Hicks' detailed, expansive, beautifully colored artwork, which handles dense cityscapes filled with tiled roofs just as handily as it does meaningful glances. With comprehensive world building, well-rounded characters, and entertaining action, this expertly executed story will find a home with a wide variety of readers, all of whom will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Horn Book (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

In the ancient Nameless City, Kaidu, son of a Dao (the latest army to take the City), and a native City girl named Rat form an unlikely friendship. As trust builds during an uneasy time of peace, each tries to see life through the other's eyes. Action-packed graphic-novel illustrations lavishly build the Asian-inspired setting, but depictions of the main characters aren't always visually consistent.

School Library Journal (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 4-6 Rat and Kaidu meet on the streets of the Nameless City. They are from different worlds: Kaidu is from the Dao clan, the current occupiers of the city, and Rat is a girl living on the streets and struggling to survive under Dao rule. But they form a fast friendship traversing the city using parkourlike exploring. As they get to know each other, they delve into the secrets of the Nameless City's history and come to realize that the only chance the city might have to survive is through unity instead of endless conquest. Though this is a visually appealing, action-packed story from a talented graphic novel artist, the seemingly deliberate lack of any cultural context is distracting and problematic. The story seems to take place in a Chinese-inspired world featuring Chinese junk ships, Chinese-style clothes, and words such as Dao, Yisun, Liao , and Yanjing , yet there is no further evidence that the setting is indeed China or anywhere in Central Asia. This appropriation of disparate elements of Chinese culture comes across as opportunistic; the author's fictional world borrows specific cultural aspects and ignores others strictly for the purpose of storytelling. This makes for a hollow and unsatisfying read on place and culture, and it keeps readers at a distance. Even the name of the book hints at a historically fraught practice: the continued occupation of the city is cited as the reason it is "nameless." Readers will be left wondering which people first named the place. VERDICT The borrowing of vaguely Asian-influenced cultural markers without deeper engagement or authenticity is too troubling to overlook. Not recommended. Angie Manfredi, Los Alamos County Library System, NM