Tag: superheroes

BONUS REVIEW: Mask by Kate Hannigan

BONUS REVIEW: Mask by Kate Hannigan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Aladdin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

At first glance, Josie, Mae, and Akiko look like normal girls. But in reality, they are the Infinity Trinity. Thanks to some special artifacts – a cape, a mask, and some boots, the girls are superheroes.

Akiko’s family has been taken to an internment camp because of World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor. But she gets word her mother has gone missing from the camp. And she’s not the only person missing. Several superheroes, like Zenobia, have gone missing as well.

As the girls start looking for Akiko’s mother, they run into a new villain on the scene, a clown called Side-Splitter. Side-Splitter is setting off bombs around San Francisco and trying to destroy American Naval vessels. The Infinity Trinity have their hands full with this guy!

Review

I love the creativity and uniqueness of this series. This is a re-imagined WWII story where superheroes are real. The racial issues of the time – like the internment camps – are present. Real historical figures are mentioned. The real role of women in the war is also reflected in the story. As with book 1, there are extensive end notes that let readers know which parts of this fantasy tale are anchored in reality.

The final art for the graphic novel sections of the book were not available in my review copy, but there were descriptions of what will be included in the final art. I think readers will enjoy this fun feature to this series. I love the creativity of including comic panels – this is a superhero story after all – into a prose novel.

While there is a lot about this series that I love, I struggled with the pacing of this story. There were several sections that dragged for me. In this story there are several times where the girls are puzzling out coded messages, and it’s hard to put action into moments when they are listening and thinking. There are fight scenes, of course, but this particular story also has quieter moments of thinking, of empathizing with Akiko as she stresses over her mom’s role in the Side-Splitter’s plans, etc. The great features I have already mentioned, though, make up for the slower sections of the story telling for me.

There are several unresolved threads here, including the missing superheroes, to lead readers to book 3. These books should definitely be read in order. Be sure to check out the first book in the League of Secret Heroes series, Cape.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Shuri by Nic Stone

BONUS REVIEW: Shuri by Nic Stone

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When a middle school aged Shuri discovers the Wakandan heart-shaped herb is dying, she throws all of her scientific know-how at the problem. At the current rate of decay, there will be no herb left for T’Challa’s next challenge day. If T’Challa loses and there is a new leader, he or she would not have the herb and therefore not have the powers of the Black Panther.

Despite Shuri’s brilliance, the problem is too big for her to solve on her own. With support from her best friend K’Marah, a Dora in training; someone from the X-Men; and an Avenger, Shuri leaves Wakanda, racing against time to save the future of her nation.

Review

I loved this! This diverges from the Marvel movies in several ways, but Shuri’s love for her home and her brilliance are as I expected. Yes, her adventure may be a bit over the top for a 14-year-old princess, but we don’t watch Marvel movies – or read the books and comics – for their realism.

The story here was fantastic. The outlook for Wakanda’s future is dire. And Shuri is the one with the time and the intellect to pursue a solution. She finds the right support to give her clues to what she’s missing so that she can get to work on a solution.

I adored the relationship between Shuri and K’Marah. This adventure was good for their friendship. Shuri also chooses a good mentor to help her through the story. The tech and gadgets were fun, and the pacing of the story – the risks and dangers as well as the closing confrontations – was terrific!

I hope there will be future adventures for Shuri and K’Marah! (Note: This is NOT a graphic novel.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope by Sam Maggs

REVIEW: The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope by Sam Maggs

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Marvel Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Nadia Van Dyne – the Unstoppable Wasp – was stolen from her father, Hank Pym, before she was born. Her mother was kidnapped while pregnant and killed, and Nadia was raised in the Red Room. But now she’s free. She’s with her step-mother, Janet Van Dyne, and she runs a science lab called G.I.R.L. – Genius In action Research Labs. Nadia runs the lab out of Pym Laboratories and hopes it will convince SHIELD to recognize and encourage more female scientists.

Nadia’s training, her personality, and her bipolar disorder make her pretty driven. And when she’s struggling, she can take on too many things at once and become a workaholic. To help, she takes her meds, goes to therapy, and her friends keep an eye on her. Also to help, Janet gives her a virtual assistant – VERA.

VERA reminds Nadia to get enough sleep and take her meds. It also helps her do research and track her projects. She even gets to meet VERA’s creator, Margaret Hoff. But despite all of her productivity, Nadia is soon feeling estranged from all of her friends and lost in projects that the others don’t think she should be working on. Nadia’s family is concerned about her, but she doesn’t seem to recognize that she might be in trouble.

Review

I have mixed feelings on this one. There are things I loved and others things I struggled with. My only connection to Wasp before this was the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is not the same timeline/universe, so I had a lot of catching up to do when I started reading this. That added to the lag I felt early on as I tried to find the rhythm of this. Other readers more familiar with Nadia won’t have that issue.

Other places I struggled:

  • VERA, the crux of the plot, was barely present in the first third of the story. While this made for some great character development time, I kept wondering where the plot was.
  • There’s some name dropping early on that didn’t feel essential to the narrative. I get anchoring the book in the larger universe – and characters like Janet and Bobbie and a fun surprise at the end do that. It makes sense that a Marvel author would want to play with the larger palette of Marvel characters, but when a name seems to be there just to be there, I was distracted.
  • I was also distracted by the use of the words “boys” and “girls” when talking about adults in the story. For example, there was one scene in my review copy where Nadia and Margaret are together doing something and the book refers to them together as the “girls.” Nadia is 16; Margaret is at least 23 or 24. I couldn’t find her exact age, but she started her company at 22, and it’s been doing business for at least a little while.  In a story about empowering women and girls, it was jarring to see this pair referred to as “girls” when one of them is an adult.
  • The previous things probably sound minor in the scheme of things, but the one piece that almost drove me to giving up on the book was the intrusive inclusion of “Nadia’s Neat Science Facts” throughout the story.  These are not footnotes (which the book also has, but uses pretty well), but instead they are first person interludes of science information. I found that they interrupted the flow of the story almost every time they were used. And some didn’t even seem necessary at all to explain the science going on in the story. I wish they had been included at the beginning or end of chapters instead, where there’s a natural break, rather then interrupt the narrative of the book.

But it wasn’t not all a struggle. There were also things I loved:

  • I thoroughly enjoy found family stories, and this is a great one.
  • Nadia’s squad has some diversity in race, in sexual orientation (two of the girls are dating), and one team member has cerebral palsy.
  • The action descriptions, especially in the fight scenes, are outstanding. I read a lot of superhero stories, and often the fight scenes lose me, and I skim past them. They get wordy and drag down the story. This was NOT the case in this book. I could actually visualize the scene from the writing. The author did an exceptionally good job with this in my opinion.
  • The mental health and therapy pieces are woven in naturally. Medication and education about her bipolar disorder are normalized, everyday parts of Nadia’s life.
  • Once the VERA story takes off, I enjoyed the book. I didn’t click readily with the team in this because of some of the dynamics in play because of the story, but I did enjoy seeing Nadia and her crew working together.

I might check out a sequel if the storyline sounds compelling. Sadly, I didn’t really click with any of the characters enough here for them to draw me back no matter what, so the plot will be a big factor.

If you enjoy the Unstoppable Wasp already, or if you like superhero stories or STEM stories featuring young women, consider giving this one a go.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

REVIEW: Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Brighton has wanted to be a celestial all his life. Who doesn’t want super powers? He’s had to settle for his YouTube channel – Celestials of New York. But he and his twin brother are about to turn 18. And everyone knows that’s when the powers kick in.

Emil loves his brother, but he does not need the stress and anxiety of celestial life. Public opinion on their status as “heroes” is iffy. And then there are the battles with specters – people who use the blood of magical creatures to get powers. Emil and Brighton were caught in the middle of one of those battles the other night. All so Brighton could get footage for his YouTube channel. Not Emil’s scene. He’s much happier at his job at the Museum of Natural Creatures. While he’s stuck working in the gift shop, his favorite place is the Sunroom – the room that celebrates every kind of phoenix.

Thanks to Brighton’s lack of a sense of self-preservation, and his desperation for YouTube views, Emil finds himself on the run once again from a specter who wants to cause trouble. But when Brighton is in danger, Emil manifests powers. Specter powers. Where did they come from? And what do they mean?

Review

This is the superpowers book you’ve been waiting for. Fascinating world building. Great characters. Stunning ending.

Wow. This was…. wow. When I think of where everything starts and where it all stands in the end, it’s dizzying. At their core, Emil and Brighton don’t change a lot. Emil is timid. He longs for a simple life with the things and people he cares about. Brighton is desperate for significance. They are committed to one another completely, despite all the shake ups in the story. But as their circumstances change, they want what they want. Emil will use his powers for the greater good, but there are lines he won’t cross. Brighton will always have Emil’s back. But he is jealous of Emil’s powers. And he’s determined to show that he is powerful in his own way. It’s a fascinating identity story and friendship story wrapped in a magical fantasy.

I enjoyed the interplay between the various characters. There are TONS of interesting dynamics. Hand this to X-men fans, superhero fans, and fantasy fans. Book 2, Infinity Reaper, is scheduled to release in 2021. (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

REVIEW: Primer by Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Ashley’s been in multiple foster homes as well as a group home before she goes to live with the Nolans. Mr. Nolan is an artist and a professor. He’s funny and relatable and down to earth. His wife is a scientist. Ashley’s convinced Dr. Nolan doesn’t like her.

Ashley notices Dr. Nolan acting suspiciously. She thinks that the box Dr. Nolan puts in the family safe must be her birthday present. She has no idea that Dr. Nolan has stolen this box from her job because what’s inside it is dangerous. She doesn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands.

What Ashley thinks is just a kit of body paint for fun is actually a military project. Each paint color gives Ashley a different power. When a group of villains calling themselves the Night Knights starts trouble, Ashley uses the paints to fight them. She likes being a superhero. And she chooses her own hero name – Primer.

Review

This was so fun! I loved Ashley and the Nolans. They are pretty chill about her new super hero life – more relaxed than you think parents would be – but otherwise I loved the interplay with the three of them.

Ashley’s biological father, who is in jail, is far more alarming with his psychological abuse than the villain of the larger story here. This book only teases at this father/daughter relationship, but it will be a bigger focus of future stories. I will definitely be reading any sequels to see what the writers decide to do with that creepy relationship, especially as Ashley grows more attached to the Nolans.

The art wasn’t completely finished in my review copy, but what I saw was terrific. I can’t wait to see this one in person. DC has graciously provided a few sample pages so you can see the art for yourself:

The story here falls neatly between the light plots in the DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels and the more serious teen titles like Oracle Code and Raven. You can read my other DC reviews here. Hand this one to fans of Black Canary: Ignite and Batman Overdrive. I think they will love it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

BONUS REVIEW: Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Zoom in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance has big plans for her life. They start with winning the Battle of the Bands with her best friends Kat and Vee. Then she’s going to join the Gotham City Junior Police Academy and make a difference in her city by stopping bad guys, just like her dad.

But Detective Lance is the first roadblock to her plans. He doesn’t want Dinah anywhere near criminals or danger.

Then there are all these weird accidents at school. Dinah always seems to be around when they happen like when the trophy case broke or the backboard shattered. Her principal is itching to hang the blame on Dinah and kick her out of school. And there’s also a creepy caped figure stalking around and causing trouble for Dinah and her family.

Could Vee be right? Could Dinah have special powers that are causing these accidents? Would powers make her dad trust her to help fight crime? Or would they make him more likely pack her off to her grandmother’s to keep her “safe?”

Review

This was so fun! It’s a pretty simple middle school story. There are background characters like Batgirl and the Joker who anchor this in the Gotham/DC Universe. But the focus here is on Dinah, her family, and a villain named Bonfire who has it out for Dinah’s mom. Most of the story takes place at Dinah’s home and school, which also helps keep the story simple.

The origin story for Dinah is pretty simple, too. Weird things happen, and Dinah learns she’s responsible. She’s eventually told that her powers come from her mother. She gets some training to control them, and then her parents try to send her away for safety. When Bonfire makes a move, Dinah has to decide if she is ready to be the Black Canary and stay and fight for her friends and her family.

Graphic novel fans will love the art in this and will be able to jump into Dinah’s story without any trouble. As superhero stories go, this is pretty light fare as it is setting up whatever DC might choose to do with the character in the future.

This is a great new graphic novel from the folks at DC, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. DC Zoom graciously provided some photos from the interior of the book, and I chose three of my favorite moments – check these out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Cape by Kate Hannigan

REVIEW: Cape by Kate Hannigan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

World War II is underway. Men are fighting. Women are helping build battleships. Many Japanese Americans are in camps while others fight for America in the war. And three girls – one Irish, one Black and one Japanese – can’t sit together in a diner for a slice of pie.

The world needs heroes, but supers like Hauntima and Zenobia have disappeared. No one knows where they’ve gone or why they don’t help any more.

Josie, Mae and Akiko are part of a larger group of people who answered an ad for “puzzlers” to help in the war effort. Josie isn’t sure what they’d actually do if they were chosen, but she’s great at codes and puzzles, and her family could use the money. But she’s crushed when the test moderator dumps her test – and any others completed by women – into the trash without even scoring them.

But someone else is also watching the girls. And she thinks they could be even more help to the world than puzzlers. They could be heroes. With a pair of boots, a mask, and a cape from another hero, the girls could become a super team.

Review

This was so much fun, AND I learned a lot!

This is a prose novel with four small sections told in comic book-style art and panels. It’s an interesting format, and I enjoyed it. The timeline – World War II – is interesting with a diverse set of main characters who all have family tied to the war. There’s a strong girl power vibe to this which ties beautifully to the sections about a very real group of women called the Eniac Six, the women who worked on the first electronic computer. The author’s note includes great historic information as well as book and internet recommendations for further information. For me, this gives the book an extra layer of awesome!

The superhero pieces of the story are fun – learning new powers, developing team work, etc. The author does a great job of holding back some key secrets for the sequel. Book 2 of the League of Secret Heroes series  – Mask – will release in 2020. Don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

REVIEW: The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Abby Hamilton knows more about the superheroes around the town of Morriston than most people. And she’s not impressed. When you’ve known the Red Comet your whole life, because he’s your older brother, some of the mystique is lost. Rather than an awe-inspiring superhero, he’s just the same goofball she’s always loved.

But there’s a new superpowered guy in town. The Iron Phantom. At least that’s what they are calling him on the news. After finding video of him setting fire to the mayor’s office, they’re also saying he’s a supervillain. Abby’s not sure what to believe.

Iron Phantom saved her from a mugger with a knife. He fed a homeless guy. How can that same guy be this awful villain the news says he is?

Iron Phantom insists he isn’t a villain. He was in the mayor’s office because he thinks the guy is up to something. (The mayor happens to be Abby’s dad.) But the other things he’s being blamed for weren’t him. Abby wants to believe him. She even thinks she might know who he really is! But the sister of the city’s biggest superhero really shouldn’t be falling for a villain.

Review

This was fantastic! This lived up to and exceeded all my hopes for this based on the description. I love superhero stories and teen romances, and this was a great example of both. It’s smart, funny, romantic and engaging.

Abby is awesome. She’s bright and strong yet cautious with this new super in town. But the chemistry between them is too strong for her caution to hold out for too long. I enjoyed the puzzle of Iron Phantom’s true identity. The author did a good job of keeping the reader guessing, although I think most will have a favorite they hope it will be. I loved that Abby is a hero in her own way without any of the powers the other supers around her have.

The mystery/conflict is not complex or especially intricate. The first question is who Iron Phantom is and if he is a good guy or a bad guy. Then it’s what’s up with the city government. Finally it’s the kids’ efforts to foil the bad guy plot. But I was along for the ride with these terrific characters no matter what happened.

Aside from a couple minor plot questions and my frustration with the cover photo (which doesn’t match Iron Phantom’s description at all), everything else about this was perfect for me. Highly recommend. (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon and Dean Hale

REVIEW: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Shannon and Dean Hale

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Doreen Green is new in town. She had to leave her friends – squirrel and human – behind in California. But her mom insists there are lots of squirrels in New Jersey, so Doreen will get to make new squirrel friends. And there’s always her junior high school for human friends.

Sure enough, Doreen’s first friend in New Jersey is a squirrel named Tippy-Toe. Doreen saves Tippy from a high tech squirrel trap. Since Doreen also speaks squirrel and has a bushy squirrel tail, Tippy decides she might be okay.

Doreen’s first human friend is a girl at school named Ana Sofia. They initially bond over Doreen’s efforts to brush up on her sign language to help her communicate better with Ana Sofia in the loud lunchroom. Then they also click over some of the mysterious things going on in town – stolen bikes, vandalism, wild dogs and now the squirrel traps. Ana Sofia discovers Doreen’s secret when Doreen starts dealing with some of the neighborhood crime. And she encourages “Squirrel Girl’s” efforts to clean up their community. But their activities catch the eye of the local super villain, the Micro Manager. And he’s determined to make his reputation by destroying Squirrel Girl.

Review

This was outstanding! It took me a little while to find a rhythm with the story. There are footnotes all through the book – like in Hale’s Ever After High series – which I found tiresome at times in that series. And it takes a little while for Doreen to find her footing in her new community, which also made it hard for me to connect to the story. But once she had carved out a little niche for herself, I was hooked.

The characters are fantastic. I love Doreen and Ana Sofia. Doreen’s parents are a hoot – they are completely enamored with Doreen so they have a hard time disciplining her when she’s saving the day, even though they want her to stay safe. The sections with the villain reminded me of another awesome superhero series – N.E.R.D.S. by Michael Buckley. Both are smart and funny with excellent action and pacing.

The story is terrific – a classic superhero/supervillain tale – but with squirrels. The chapters when Tippy tells her story are some of my favorites. She has a great voice for the story. My other favorite parts were the text exchanges between Doreen and various Marvel heroes. They’re smart and funny and remind the reader that Squirrel Girl is part of the Marvel universe (a veiled reference to DC comics was also funny).

This was a treat all the way around. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the story, the world building – all of it! I bought book 2 immediately after finishing this one, and it is on my TBR pile right now.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith

REVIEW: Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Murphy is sick of moving. They’ve moved so often it’s not even worthwhile for Murph to make friends at each new school. But this move is particularly bad. Murph’s mom can’t even find a school to take him! All the area middle schools are full, and she’s starting to get desperate.

One day she and Murphy stumble across a building labeled “The School.” The headmaster tries to put her off like the rest, but when she begs, stating his capabilities and her belief that in the right environment Murphy could “fly,” the headmaster perks up and invites Murph to the school.

But Murph might as well be in school in a foreign country because he doesn’t understand ANYTHING going on in this school. In one class, the teacher talks about “Capes” but no one in class is wearing one. And he’d swear he saw another student FLY onto the school grounds.

It turns out The School is a training institute for kids with powers of all sorts. Only a select few will be good enough to join the Heroes Alliance. The rest will learn to hide their powers from the world.

But a science experiment gone wrong brings a new villain on the scene. And he is very interested in the kids at The School.

Review

This is a fun, quirky superhero story. It reminds me a lot of the NERDS series by Michael Buckley. With the powers and the villains and the narrator that addresses the reader, it all had a familiar feel to it.

The hero school is pretty typical for the genre. There are kids whose powers seem too lame to be useful, kids who use their powers for bullying, and teachers who do the same with their positions. It felt a little like the movie Sky High.

There were layers to the villainous portions of the book, which was fun. There’s the science-experiment-gone-wrong guy at the top, the brains behind the schemes, and then a potential traitor hinted at for a sequel.

There’s a lot of silliness that will appeal to kids, but for me I felt like sometimes the authors were trying too hard. For example, at a big reveal moment, they inserted a random story about a rabbit. Instead of it being amusing, it was annoying (for me as an adult – kids might love it). I think they instead could have cut away to a villain scene or two. That would have delayed the reveal and prolonged the tension while keeping the reader engaged in the story. As I said, kids might love it.

I loved the illustrations. They really added a nice touch to the storytelling. And there’s a great message in the book, too, that anyone can be a hero. I’d put this in the hands of third and fourth grade students; I think they would love it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥