NO CAPES

Seibert’s second YA novel follows a 17-year-old Non-Super Regular Person who attempts to solve the mystery surrounding her mother’s death while maneuvering the pitfalls of high school.

After her mother died in a car crash three years earlier, Madeline Roberts’ life hasn’t exactly been idyllic. Living with her auto mechanic father, the teen’s daily existence revolves around swimming for her high school team (her older sister Arielle is the coach) and crushing on Golden Ace, Capital City’s most popular superhero—even though his suit is mustard-colored spandex! But when a new “Super” appears in the city—a black-clad mystery man named Dark Static, who may or may not be a villain—numerous revelations (and questions) upend Madeline’s world. Is the mayor, married to Madeline’s older sister, trying to kill her? Who’s Dark Static, and is he stalking Madeline or trying to help her? What does all of this have to do with Madeline’s mother’s death, which was ruled a tragic accident by the police? With the help of her best friend Kristen and a boy named Fox—whose parents died in the same crash that took Madeline’s mother’s life—the amateur sleuth begins investigating the massive conspiracy surrounding the car crash and begins a transformative journey of self-discovery. Action-packed, relentlessly paced, and featuring some impressively jaw-dropping plot twists, the story is an effortlessly readable. The only significant criticism is the missed opportunity when it comes to the lack of thematic depth and the absence of a deep examination of age-appropriate topics, specifically the exploration into sexual orientation. One main character’s queerness, for example, feels like an afterthought with only superficial analysis into family acceptance, peer prejudice, mental well-being, etc. Lastly, although the novel’s conclusion is perfectly fitting—and satisfying—the potential is certainly there for Seibert to return to Capital City for more escapades featuring Madeline and company.

A fast-paced, fun fantasy for readers who enjoy their literary escapism powered by superheroes and villains.