Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tough sisters battle other-dimension beasts in trippy tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
As THE BROKEN VOW begins, Addison collects $1 million for her photographs taken within the Zone, where monsters from another dimension prowl. She wants to take the money and run to Hawaii or some other luxurious place, but her sister, Alexa, insists that her possessed doll, Vespertine, needs to stay in Poughkeepsie to "recharge." When a new threat emerges from the Zone, the sisters must confront beings with incredible powers and hope that they don't destroy two worlds at once.
Is It Any Good?
It's not always clear what's going on in this trippy graphic novel, but there's plenty of action and intrigue to engage fans of science fiction and fantasy. Author Scott Westerfeld and illustrator Alex Puvilland continue to work well together, the sometimes psychedelic artwork complementing the X-Files-esque plot. One point worth discussing is that the main characters, with one major exception, seem to be white, while the villainous supporting cast mostly seems to be people of color. The creators leave a few loose ends, but this volume ends on a note of resolution. Westerfeld proves that he's as adept in the medium of comics as he is with straight-ahead prose, and his many fans won't be disappointed by his experiment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Broken Vow and how it fits within the tradition of apocalyptic literature. Why do readers enjoy stories about frightening futures?
How does The Broken Vow work as a graphic novel? Are some stories better suited to comics than to prose?
How is violence used in The Broken Vow? Does it resolve anything or simply make matters worse?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Alex Puvilland
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : First Second
- Publication date : July 10, 2018
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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