Readers will eagerly await the next volume of this superhero adventure.
A teen navigates the vicious hierarchy of his private high school, where social elites exert their magical powers.
New student John struggles with being “the school zero”; nevertheless, he’s courageous and doesn’t back down from defending others. His only friend, Seraphina, is revered, but the popular kids blame John for her change of attitude as she becomes less invested in being the best at everything. John has endured the bullying and violence, but when Seraphina gets suspended for a month for possession of a banned book by John’s father, one that spreads a message of peace, he starts to lose his grip. Things aren’t going much better for Seraphina, who’s been sent back to an abusive, controlling home. Without Seraphina’s protection at school, powerful classmates start digging into John’s mysterious past, uncovering dark secrets. Meanwhile, in a storyline that may be more fully integrated in a future episode, a gang called EMBER is targeting and killing vigilante superheroes. Built around an enduring friendship, this engaging read adapted from a popular, long-running WEBTOON series offers an accessible exploration of fairness and justice that will resonate with readers who have struggled with social inequalities at school. The manga-style art is fresh and expressive, effectively conveying shifts in mood. Characters are light-skinned and have a range of hair colors from blond to mauve and light green.
Readers will eagerly await the next volume of this superhero adventure. (Graphic adventure. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9780358467809
Page Count: 336
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Flipping awesome.
After a wish goes wrong, a girl and her crush must figure out how to break a body-switching curse.
Chi-Chi Ekeh feels invisible. Like her previous crushes, hot varsity swimmer Flip Henderson—yet another rich white boy at her Texas boarding school—seems unaware of her existence. With only weeks until graduation, Nigerian American Chi-Chi’s friends Esther and Yesenia dare her to ask Flip to Senior Festival. But Flip accidentally shows her promposal video to the whole class—and immediately turns her down. Embarrassed, Chi-Chi flees, but her innocent remark—“I just wish Flip Henderson liked me”—has unexpected consequences. After falling and hitting her head, Chi-Chi wakes up in Flip’s body, and he in hers. Freaked out beyond belief and regularly switching bodies, Chi-Chi and Flip work with Esther and Yesenia to break the curse. Meanwhile, forced to see herself through someone else’s eyes, Chi-Chi must confront uncomfortable feelings. There’s much to love about this book. The fully realized and sympathetic characters, sincere and humorous development of friendships, and protagonist’s relatable and bittersweet emotional journey will keep readers engaged, eager to reach the resolution. Ukazu carefully balances tough topics like self-hatred, depression, and suicidal ideation with funny feel-good moments, deftly rendered in her characteristically expressive style. The dynamic and engaging illustrations bring to life a heartwarming story of self-love, acceptance, and true connection.
Flipping awesome. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9781250179517
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Hinds adds another magnificent adaptation to his oeuvre (King Lear, 2009, etc.) with this stunning graphic retelling of Homer’s epic. Following Odysseus’s journey to return home to his beloved wife, Penelope, readers are transported into a world that easily combines the realistic and the fantastic. Gods mingle with the mortals, and not heeding their warnings could lead to quick danger; being mere men, Odysseus and his crew often make hasty errors in judgment and must face challenging consequences. Lush watercolors move with fluid lines throughout this reimagining. The artist’s use of color is especially striking: His battle scenes are ample, bloodily scarlet affairs, and Polyphemus’s cave is a stifling orange; he depicts the underworld as a colorless, mirthless void, domestic spaces in warm tans, the all-encircling sea in a light Mediterranean blue and some of the far-away islands in almost tangibly growing greens. Don’t confuse this hefty, respectful adaptation with some of the other recent ones; this one holds nothing back and is proudly, grittily realistic rather than cheerfully cartoonish. Big, bold, beautiful. (notes) (Graphic classic. YA)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4266-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
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