A worthy sequel that will keep readers intrigued and engaged.
In this second series entry, Cast’s STRIKER journey continues as she focuses on desperately trying to save her friend.
Cast and her SMITH mentor, Philomena Clock, set out for the Kingdom of Alter hoping to find and rescue Klaus, who’s been kidnapped by a group of Demon Bandits at the behest of the king. The king of Alter, who’s feared by his subjects, possesses powerful thermoelectric crystal technology despite his denouncing many technological advances. Cast and Philomena have their work cut out for them, not least because other SMITH engineer warriors are in turn on the hunt for them. Cast finds it strange that in the Kingdom of Alter the residents share all their possessions. Even more surprising, she meets members of the Miner’s Syndicate, a resistance group protesting the hazardous work conditions of the kingdom’s crystal mining industry, who regard her as their savior due to her connection to Klaus. They hope that Klaus will bring needed reforms. This volume brings new characters, both enemies and allies, into the mix as Cast and Philomena find themselves caught up in plots that raise the stakes. The action scenes, political scheming, humor, and heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments will keep the pages turning. The detailed illustrations immerse readers in a story that centers on an appealing Black girl hero and explores themes of social class divisions and rebellion against social hierarchies.
A worthy sequel that will keep readers intrigued and engaged. (Manga. 13-16)Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9780760389232
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Rockport Publishers
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
Equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking.
Sixteen-year-old Mandy considers herself the anti-Starfire: Unlike her scantily clad superhero mother, she doesn’t have superpowers, can’t fly, and doesn’t even own a bathing suit.
Mandy dyes her hair and dresses in all black to further call out how different they are. Mandy’s best friend, Lincoln, whose parents were born in Vietnam, insightfully summarizes this rift as being down to an intergenerational divide that occurs whether parents and children come from different countries or different planets. Mandy tries to figure out what kind of future she wants for herself as she struggles with teenage insecurities and bullying, her relationship with her mom, and her budding friendship (or is it something more?) with her new class project partner, Claire. Yoshitani’s vibrant and colorful stylized illustrations beautifully meld the various iterations of Starfire and the Titans with the live-action versions of those characters. Together with Tamaki’s punchy writing, this coming-of-age story of identity, family, friendship, and saving the world is skillfully brought to life in a quick but nuanced read. These layers are most strongly displayed as the story draws parallels between cultural differences between the generations as evidenced in how the characters address bullying, body positivity, fatphobia, fetishization and sexualization, and feminism. This title addresses many important concepts briefly, but well, with great pacing, bold art, and concise and snappy dialogue. The cast is broadly diverse in both primary and secondary characters.
Equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking. (Graphic fantasy. 14-16)Pub Date: July 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-126-4
Page Count: 184
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Aug. 10, 2021
An intriguing premise in need of polishing and tighter pacing.
Beware of fairies. Or risk facing perilous consequences.
Fairies are menacing, petty, and vengeful beings who abduct human children and replace them with changelings who become dangerous as they grow. Alexa Bowman moves to Savannah from Chicago to live with her grandfather and finish high school. After they discover her parents’ criminal history, Alexa is mocked by some new classmates, but she is soon befriended by three other girls—Fae, Chloe, and Skye. A night out with her three new friends brings about mysterious physical and emotional changes for Alexa, and life in Savannah continues to get stranger and more menacing as time goes on. Can she discover the source of all this weirdness and put an end to it? Gwenn’s concept is interesting, but the execution falls short: Frantic pacing makes storylines seem disjointed in a way that prevents immersion in Alexa’s world, and abrupt scene changes in panels reflect the story’s lack of cohesion. The illustrations, primarily black-and-white art enhanced by a color palette of predominantly lilac and mulberry hues in both muted and high-contrast segments, suit the mystifying, eerie vibes of the book. Alexa is Black; there is ethnic diversity in the supporting cast.
An intriguing premise in need of polishing and tighter pacing. (Graphic fantasy. 13-16)Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-952303-26-5
Page Count: 180
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2021
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