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Compass South (Four Points) | February 1, 2017

by Hope Larson, illustrated by Rebecca Mock (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR, June 2016)

Compass South is the first book in the graphic novel series Four Points, and I am counting down the days until the next book is published. A whirlwind of adventure, trickery, and discovery, Compass South is the story of two twins on a quest to con a grieving man out of his fortune when they believe their father has abandoned them.

1848 New York City: The graphic novel opens with the exchange of infant twins. When their mother dies, Alexander and Cleopatra, and their few possessions, are entrusted to her ex-lover – just the small gingered babies, a knife, and a pocket watch. Now 1860, we come upon the twins, fatherless, breaking and entering in a desperate attempt to please a local gang. Unfortunately, the heist doesn’t go quite as planned, and the twins find themselves in jail, betraying the gang in exchange for their freedom. While awaiting their train out of New York, Alex stumbles upon some fortunate news – a very wealthy man in San Francisco is looking for his two redheaded sons, whom he lost as babies.

With new names (and a new haircut for Cleo) the twins set off for California to make a fortune. But it turns out, Alex and Cleo aren’t the only redheaded twins in need of some cash; when they meet up with two like-minded delinquents, Alex ends up brawling in a market. This act of defiance, of course, only leads to more trouble as the twins get separated and sold into slavery by local law enforcement, forcing each of them to team up with their money-hungry enemies.

This book is quick and dangerous but with surprising moments of hope and loyalty spread throughout. And the knife and pocket watch I mentioned earlier? We only scratch the surface of their importance in book one!