Sort of Super

January 1, 2022

Gr 3-7-Eleven-year-old Wyatt Flynn longs to use his recently acquired superpowers, like speed, flight, invisibility, and strength, to help others. However, his dad, Sheriff Flynn, makes the tween conceal his powers. The start of sixth grade brings some changes (Wyatt's genius younger sister Adeline is now in his class, for instance), while other things, like bully Caspar, stay the same. Wyatt struggles to keep his secret from good friends Beto and Nara and fights the impulse to use his powers to make a difference. After Wyatt sneaks out of school to put out a fire one day, Adeline pulls the fire alarm to cause a distraction to get him back inside. A late-night trip to erase security footage of that event goes sideways when Wyatt and Adeline stumble onto an explosive secret about their principal. Readers looking for an original superhero story will find much to enjoy in Wyatt's journey as he chafes against his dad's restrictions and secretly teams up with Adeline in a series of escalating encounters. Giving off strong superhero vibes, the expertly colored and textured digital art uses a variety of panels and pop outs to engage readers, especially once the story's action starts to accelerate midway. Flashbacks fill in essential details like how Wyatt got his powers and backstory involving the children's currently missing mother. Most of the main cast-Wyatt, Adeline, and their dad and grandma-are white; classmates Beto and Nara are brown-skinned, as are other background characters. VERDICT A quirky, fun read sure to please fans of superhero graphic novels. The final moments of the book will leave readers eager for a sequel.-Pearl Derlaga

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 7, 2022
In this plot-driven, high-energy graphic novel that features excellent sequential storytelling, lanky 11-year-old Wyatt Flynn struggles to acclimate after developing a full gamut of common superhero powers at his father’s place of work: “I was sprayed by a glowing space rock.../ ...drenched in nuclear waste.../ ...and zapped by electricity!” Though Wyatt wishes he could openly contest his ethnically inclusive school’s bully or investigate the mysterious animal disappearances around town, his police officer father, kind and imaginative grandmother, and so-smart-she-skipped-two-grades sister Adeline (all white) curb his enthusiasm for superheroics. Bold, luminescent colors, dynamic actions, and expressive cartooning by Gapstur, making his solo debut, match Wyatt’s infectious enthusiasm. Though absorbing plot threads—such as Wyatt and Adeline’s mom disappearing and the looming implications of Wyatt’s powers becoming public knowledge—fall by the wayside in favor of unexpected developments that divert the characters’ attentions, their earnestness to do good, despite looming concern that the government would capture Wyatt should his powers become public, sustains reader investment. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Uwe Stender and Brent Taylor, Triada US.