Tag: supervillains

REVIEW: How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez

REVIEW: How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

Astrid is master of schedules. She’s turned it into almost an art form – timed out to the minute, color coded. The whole deal. Unfortunately, real life is rarely as precise. For example, there was the night the dining hall closed early because of some superhero shenanigans right when she was supposed to be getting dinner with her roommate David and her boyfriend Max. It completely threw off her schedule!

Astrid has known Max since high school where he was awkward and accident prone. But none of the time she has known him has she suspected Max was a superhero. Not until his nemesis tries to kidnap her.

Astrid adores Max, but is she really cut out for a life of dating a superhero?

Review

This was fun. It’s got an interesting structure as the chapters jump back and forth through time so we can see the contemporary relationship between Astrid and Max and then see how it started.

I enjoyed the world-building here with both the superhero characters and the support systems they have in place for the romantic partners of superheroes. I also enjoyed Astrid and Max together – they are sweet and adorable. And the tension is real when Astrid’s life is in danger.

There’s a side story with a strong sense of foreshadowing. You know it’s going to eventually be a thing. You just have to wait it out. I actually wanted this to be a bigger thing across the story. The payoff was great in the end, but when I read a book, I’m always more satisfied if there’s a big challenge – a mystery to solve, an enemy to beat, etc.. This eventually delivers that, but the bulk of the story is focused on Astrid as she tries to hang onto Max – and herself – while the hero/villain world tries to tear everything apart.

This is a fun story, and I would encourage readers who love romance with a side of superheroes and fantasy to give this a go! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters

REVIEW: The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters

Posted on by Jaymie

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

 

Summary

Logan has another chance at prospective parents and life outside the orphanage – probably his last chance as he is almost 13. Everyone knows it’s harder for teenagers to get placed. And it’s not like Logan is easy in the first place. The supervisor at the orphanage is always telling Logan not to do or say things that might turn away a set of prospective parents. And Logan always ends up doing or saying them anyway.

But Gil and Margie don’t seem to mind Logan’s eidetic memory or the way he says whatever comes to mind. And they invite him to their home to live with them.

It doesn’t take long for Logan to start to question his new circumstances. Sure, Margie’s cooking is awful, as are Gil’s puns. But there are some seriously extra-weird things going on in Logan’s new home – and he’s going to get to the truth.

 

Review

This was so fun! I loved Logan. The orphanage/foster home pieces were handled well. I especially enjoyed the ways Logan’s neurodivergence and idiosyncrasies go from being a liability in the eyes of the orphanage supervisor – and in Logan’s eyes to a degree – to being an asset.

The superhero pieces felt pretty typical for these sorts of stories. So fans of the genre should feel right at home here.

I especially enjoyed the writing in this – the author does a great job with Logan’s voice throughout the book as well as with some fantastic metaphors along the way. This would be a great class or bedtime read aloud. I can’t wait to see what happens next in book 2!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Marcus Makes a Movie by Kevin Hart

REVIEW: Marcus Makes a Movie by Kevin Hart

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Marcus had to sign up for an after school activity. He wanted to do art so he could work on his comic every day after school. But the art teacher would have made him do other projects, too. So he agrees to sign up for film making.

But when he gets to the first session, he’s not feeling the leaders or the other kids. He’s hoping to just sit in a corner and work on his superhero comic about Toothpick, his hero. But then one of the leaders suggests Marcus could turn his superhero comic into a movie!

Review

This is a lot of fun! Marcus has big feelings and a big personality, but his heart is usually in the right place. I could hear the author’s voice in my head as I read. And the mentions of “Tevin Bart,” “Taylor Berry,” and some superhero references in the book were hilarious!

This includes solid information about screenplays, writing and revising, taking criticism, etc., but it is well-integrated and never distracts from the story. And Marcus’ voice and personality are consistent (and awesome) all the way through.

This was such a fun story with characters I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d love to read more Marcus adventures! (Grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Born to Be Bad by Ken Lamug

REVIEW: Born to Be Bad by Ken Lamug

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary

By day they are Missy and Gizmo. Gizmo is the cat Missy rescued from a group of bullies. Missy lives in Idleville with her parents and her brother. Missy is an inventor, but her inventions – and the destruction they can cause – lead to trouble with both Missy’s parents, and their neighbors.

While Missy tells her parents she’s going to science camp, instead she heads to superhero boot camp so she can use her brain and tech skills to become a hero.

But something happens at camp that will set Missy and Gizmo on the path to villainy. They will become Mischief and Mayhem.

Review

This was such a fun story. Missy and Gizmo are a great team. The book starts with examples of their supervillain ways, but chapter 2 shifts to their origin story. I wasn’t sure if the first chapter actually takes place after the events of this book, or if the story returns to that timeline in the middle of the action. Either way, this is a fun look at the journey from “Missy and Gizmo” to “Mischief and Mayhem.”

The art work here is great. I only saw one chapter in full color, but even in black and white, the art is great. I can’t wait to see the finished copy with full color throughout.

There are some interesting moments in the book about what makes someone a hero and what makes a villain. And Missy’s story doesn’t develop like I expected it to, which was fun. There’s a lot here for graphic novel fans and superhero story fans to enjoy.

Readers will experience a great teaser at the end that will propel them on to book 2. This will be a huge hit with kids, so don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

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: ♥♥♥♥♥