KID X

Still reeling from a harrowing kidnapping and trying hard to adapt to his loving new foster family, an artsy Black middle schooler with a lot on his mind is caught at the crossroads of biotech and personal growth.

Win Keegan, who goes by “Coal,” inherited his special ability to camouflage his body at will from his ancestors’ traumatic experiences in the Jim Crow South. He’s a superpowered child who (unfortunately) had to take care of himself for too long. Now, in between secret missions for his foster siblings and bestie, as well as art commissions for his classmates, he’s feeling pulled in too many different directions and facing expectations that don’t give him the space to figure out who he wants to be. When a rogue robot starts following him around, he’s alarmed. He’s all too aware of the unethical history of racialized medical practices like the Tuskegee Experiment and the treatment of Henrietta Lacks, and he can’t help wondering if he’s caught up in something similar. The philosophical threads of this sequel to Boy 2.0 (2024) are complex, but the action is fast-paced while allowing Coal, his always-hungry best friend, and his supportive (but privacy-invading) foster family time to reflect on the nature of care, ethics, and support for the most vulnerable. The refreshingly accessible story contains elaborate and entertaining set pieces that balance the heavier, sadly relatable elements.

Powers of invisibility bring a lot to light in this compelling sequel.