Should appeal to readers looking for a different kind of superhero story.
Best friends Duncan and Alex are the only two kids living on their block in the small town of Metropolis Grove.
So when fellow middle schooler Sonia moves in down the street, they are thrilled to make a new friend. At first, everything goes well. Sonia is full of energy and enthusiasm, which Alex and Duncan appreciate. But conflict brews when Sonia claims that when she lived in the actual Metropolis, she saw Superman fly past her window. But Duncan says that he doesn’t believe in Superman. When the three friends stumble upon a fort in the woods that’s full of Superman-related paraphernalia, Sonia is convinced that this must be Superman’s suburban hideout, but Alex and Duncan are not so sure. Sonia decides to investigate on her own and discovers a secret that, when she reveals it to Alex and Duncan, becomes a true test of their brand-new friendship. The three protagonists represent a diverse group of friends: Sonia has brown skin, and her sari-wearing maternal grandmother suggests South Asian heritage; the illustrations of Alex imply that she is probably Asian American; Duncan presents White. As is typical of a superhero tale, the storyline is predictable if fast-paced, and while the characters are likable, they are drawn in broad strokes. Abetted by Broome’s colors, Brockington’s clean panels effectively communicate both action and humor as the plot progresses.
Should appeal to readers looking for a different kind of superhero story. (Graphic adventure. 9-13)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-053-3
Page Count: 152
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2021
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart.
A group of bright friends tackles the puzzle of their lives.
Elmwood, New Hampshire, 11-year-old Gina Sparks is small in stature but big on reporting ongoing dramas for the local newspaper with support from her journalist mom. When an unbelievable scoop comes her way, Gina must rely on her tightknit crew of sixth grade best friends whose initials happen to spell GEEK, a label they choose to proudly reclaim. She and science-minded prankster Elena Hernández, theater kid Edgar Feingarten, and driven math genius Kevin Robinson decide to get to the bottom of things when they learn that the Van Houten Toy & Game Company heir made elaborate plans to leave everything to the town of Elmwood before her death—but only if a member of the community could solve an intricate multistep puzzle. Gina hopes that deciphering the clues and finding the missing fortune will be just the thing to revitalize the down-on-its-luck town and bring the Elmwood Tribune back into the black, saving her mom’s job and Gina’s passion project. The GEEKs work together, using their individual talents and deductive reasoning skills to unravel the mystery. Infused with media literacy pointers, such as the difference between fact and opinion and reminders to avoid bias when reporting, the story encourages readers to think critically. Gina and Edgar read as White; Elena is cued as Latinx, and Kevin is implied Black.
A snappy mystery that’s full of heart. (Mystery. 9-13)Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-37793-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Problem-solving through perseverance and friendship is the real win in this deeply smart and inspiring story.
Leaving Brooklyn behind, Black math-whiz and puzzle lover Bree starts a new life in Florida, where she’ll be tossed into the deep end in more ways than one. Keeping her head above water may be the trickiest puzzle yet.
While her dad is busy working and training in IT, Bree struggles at first to settle into Enith Brigitha Middle School, largely due to the school’s preoccupation with swimming—from the accomplishments of its namesake, a Black Olympian from Curaçao, to its near victory at the state swimming championships. But Bree can’t swim. To illustrate her anxiety around this fact, the graphic novel’s bright colors give way to gray thought bubbles with thick, darkened outlines expressing Bree’s deepest fears and doubts. This poignant visual crowds some panels just as anxious feelings can crowd the thoughts of otherwise star students like Bree. Ultimately, learning to swim turns out to be easy enough with the help of a kind older neighbor—a Black woman with a competitive swimming past of her own as well as a rich and bittersweet understanding of Black Americans’ relationship with swimming—who explains to Bree how racist obstacles of the past can become collective anxiety in the present. To her surprise, Bree, with her newfound water skills, eventually finds herself on the school’s swim team, navigating competition, her anxiety, and new, meaningful relationships.
Problem-solving through perseverance and friendship is the real win in this deeply smart and inspiring story. (Graphic fiction. 10-13)Pub Date: May 17, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-305677-0
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
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