Emerson has again created a book as witty as it is relatable.” —Booklist
“Dynamic and appealing . . . A vigorous celebration of outdoor, imaginative play.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The vibrant, stylized artwork is action-packed and reminiscent of manga, making this title ideal for fans of Doug TenNapel, Kazu Kibuishi, and Mike Maihack.” —School Library Journal
Praise for Recess Warriors: Hero is a Four-Letter Word
“Emerson creates a rich world full of epic adventures and hilarious one-liners . . . It’s highly imaginative and strikingly familiar to the real games kids play. Emerson’s story is only matched by his artwork; richly detailed and textured, his stylized figures are imbued with dynamic movement, and the variety of skin tones among the kids on the playground is refreshing. This archly funny, spot-on comic adventure will hit home for elementary-school kids far and wide.” —Booklist, starred review
“A welcome throwback to the way recess should be.” —Kirkus Reviews
“An imaginative tale of a recess hero who rescues the playground from a zombie infestation . . . Give to fans of Doug TenNapel’s Cardboard or Judd Winick’s “Hilo” series.” —School Library Journal
“Now this is how recess should be—cooperative, technology-free fun . . . Readers will eagerly await the next volume.” —The Bulletin
“While it’s hard to compete with recess, this book serves up enough excitement to be a close second.” —Publishers Weekly
12/01/2017
Gr 4–6—The battle for control over the playground continues. A supervillain has released supernatural elements into the chaos that is recess, and rifts between the heroes of the story make it difficult to defeat the enemy. Past wrongs will have to be righted and apologies made to unite the heroes and ultimately bring down the bad guys. A large cast of characters, complicated backstories, nonstop adventure, romance (well, puppy love), plot twists, and cliff-hangers give this series a soap opera feel. Time travel sequences and witty one-liners keep the plot moving steadily, like a TV program. The vibrant, stylized artwork is action-packed and reminiscent of manga, making this title ideal for fans of Doug TenNapel, Kazu Kibuishi, and Mike Maihack. VERDICT Purchase where the first volume circulates heavily and where middle grade graphic novels are in high demand.—Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
2017-10-01
In this lighthearted sequel to Recess Warriors: Hero Is a Four-Letter Word (2017), recess drama continues.After fighting an outbreak of zombie-inducing cooties on the playground of Armstrong School, fifth-grade superheroes Scrap (aka Bryce) and reformed villain Swan (the alter ego of Juliet) learn that insidious forces are seeking to take over their beloved playground. A group of renegade vampires led by vegan, pretend-smartphone-wielding Cora is threatening to infect the play yards. After this adventure, Scrap and Swan discover a bevy of backpack-pilfering ninjas led by Simon, who has the power to compel people to do what he wants (à la "Simon Says"). Soon after, the antics once again transform, and the superhero duo must finally deal with their most nefarious foe: a scheming fourth-grader determined to rule the entire playground. Emulating the amorphous flow of unstructured play, the narrative moves fluidly among storylines as the children's play scenarios and characters change with their whims. Mentions of technology are nearly entirely absent, as are aspects of anything academic: pretend play and the simple joys of being outside are given prominence. Emerson's art is dynamic and appealing, with a keen balance between facial expression and movement. The children are a diverse bunch, a variety of skin tones and racial characteristics on display in the full-color pictures.A vigorous celebration of outdoor, imaginative play. (Graphic fiction. 7-11)
