Publishers Weekly
05/16/2022
This ambitious anthology, to which editor Lyga (Time Will Tell) also contributes, features 13 authors, including Paul Levitz, Axie Oh, Danielle Paige, and more, who deliver original tales inspired by classic comics, embracing myriad genres. In Lamar Giles’s “Love to Hate,” Black basketball superstar Ty’s life turns tumultuous when he reveals his powers while saving a woman’s life. Indigenous teen Leonard Skye confronts racism and bullying, serving as his fellow Sokokis’ secret protector, in Joseph Bruchac’s “Ordinary Kid.” Through “Queeroes and Villains,” Anne-Marie McLemore presents a scenario in which a medication “designed to make me not be una lesbiana” instead grants an unnamed Latinx teen superpowers. And Lyga’s “Power Baby Blue Grows Up” tackles child stardom, maturity, and privilege via a former toddler superhero. Each story opens with cartoonist Doran’s graphic b&w illustrations. The assemblage’s intention to reinvent superheroes—which Lyga states was born of frustration at publishers’ “same old ideas dressed up in diversity chic”—feels uninspired in today’s hero-rich media climate, and the narratives sometimes depict familiar heroic fare. Still, these stories feature a wide spectrum of intersectional diversity, providing varied representation. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kathleen Anderson, Anderson Literary. (June)
From the Publisher
"The collection as a whole satisfies, with a wide range of lived experiences represented. Dramatic and impactful illustrations by cartoonist Doran open each story. Thirteen solid stories from an all-star lineup." —Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
2022-04-13
Established YA author Lyga edits this collection of stories about superpowered teens.
In “Love To Hate” by Lamar Giles, superstar basketball player Ty’s ability to slow down time comes in handy when someone brings a gun to a game. Leonard uses his newfound skill—telekinesis—to combat injustice against Indigenous folks in his town in “Ordinary Kid” by Joseph Bruchac. Nessa and Casey in Sterling Gates’ “The Night I Caught a Bullet” receive an unusual inheritance from their late father: mysterious silver bracelets. And a group of cheerleaders has a secret that Cece’s made it her mission to find out in “Fly, Lions, Fly” by Morgan Baden. These are among the short stories in this anthology that includes works by well-known authors such as Axie Oh, Danielle Paige, Anna-Marie McLemore, and Lyga himself. Varian Johnson’s “The Knight’s Gambit” is particularly powerful: Following the son of a celebrated superhero who unearths his familial legacy, it underlines how trauma can shape a person’s trajectory. Sarah MacLean’s “Fire That Lasts” provides a standout setting—a world where strong emotions are illegal, starring a protagonist who falls in love. The collection as a whole satisfies, with a wide range of lived experiences represented. Dramatic and impactful illustrations by cartoonist Doran open each story.
Thirteen solid stories from an all-star lineup. (about the authors) (Science fiction anthology. 13-18)
