The Zeroes (six teens with unique superpowers) return for another adventure. After their entanglement with bank robbers, gangsters, and drug dealers, the Zeroes decide to lay low and run an illegal nightclub. When a strange couple comes to the club, chaos ensues interfering with the Zeroes' powers. The Zeroes must face a new powerful villain - the Swarm. I thought this was an entertaining book with a lot of action, some drama, and even a number of laughs. The characters are young adults who are trying to fit in with these strange superpowers. They are not perfect and I think that adds a lot to the novel. Fans of superheroes, action stories, and good vs. evil, will enjoy this book and series.
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These books are two out of the Matt Cruse Trilogy by Kenneth Oppel (as of February, 2023, I have not read the third book, so stay tuned). They take place in a world where airships are the way to travel across the seas and mysterious creatures are in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
In Airborn, Matt Cruse is a cabin boy who has lived most of his life on airships. He plays a vital role in rescuing a dying balloonist who describes seeing beautiful creatures soaring through the air. Sometime later, Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter, Kate, who convinces him that her grandfather's ramblings may indeed be true. Their quest to find these creatures lead them to an island - an island full of other dangers. In Skybreaker, Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries team up with gypsy Nadira to look for the lost airship, Hyperion. It has been 40 years since the airship disappeared along with a scientist and his treasures. They are being pursued by a band of pirates who have also been after the Hyperion's treasure. These fantasy adventures are full of action. Fans of the movie The Princess Bride, and the novels Treasure Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will enjoy this series. As Clark Kent is discovering who he is and his powers, he and Lana Lane are investigating strange things that have been happening in Smallville. A helicopter crashed on the Kent farm near an old barn that Jonathan had padlocked, farms are being bought up, and undocumented workers are disappearing. All of these are somehow connected and it is up to Clark and Lana to find out.
I enjoyed this book. It wasn't as action-packed as Catwoman: Soulstealer but it kept my interest. Fans of the television show Smallville and DC comics will enjoy this novel. This young adult novel takes place several years after the Disney movie, Brave. On Christmas Eve, Merida discovers the God Feradach preparing to destroy DunBroch. She makes a deal with Feradach and Cailleach that she will change her entire family in a year. Merida decides to accomplish this by going on three trips with various members of her family. Can she save her family and her land by changing them in time?
Stiefvater did a good job bringing this animated royal family to life and keeping them true to the Disney film. She gave the triplets more depth in their character than shown in the movie. Full of adventure, this was a fun novel to read. Those who loved the movie when they were kids, will enjoy this book. Selina Kyle is a thug fighting for money to care for her sick sister. When she is arrested, she is given the opportunity to go to Italy instead of jail. Two years later she comes back to Gotham City as Holly Vanderhees. She teams up with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy and they create havoc robbing rich people at charity galas, exhibit openings, and more. Meanwhile, Luke Fox (a.k.a. Batwing) is trying to end Catwoman's crime spree while Batman is away on a vital mission. He is also attracted to Holly Vanderhees who had moved in the penthouse apartment next door to him. This is the third book in the DC Icons series. Sarah J. Maas gives Catwoman a fresh new perspective and personality. I found her character very interesting. Fan of superheroes and DC comics will love this novel. What if you had a superpower - oh, not x-ray vision, or the ability to fly, but rather being able to control electronic devices or having a voice that speaks for you to get what you want? Would you be able to control it or will it control you? Would you be able to handle the consequences of having that power?
Zeroes is about six teenagers in Cambria, California, who each have unique superpowers. Ethan, codename Scam, has a voice that speaks for him to get what he wants. It knows things that Ethan could never know. It also gets him into trouble. Chizara, Crash, has the ability to destroy anything electric. She can crash a computer or bring down the entire electric grid. Being near technology affects her physically. Kelsie, Mob, can control the emotions of a crowd. Riley, Flicker, can look through the eyes of others. Thibault, Anonymous, can disappear and make people forget, but that means his family and friends forget about him whenever they are not focused on him, even when he is standing right next to them! Nate, Bellwether, can change the focus of a crowd, and is also known by the others as "Glorious Leader." Together they call themselves the Zeroes. When Ethan's voice gets him into trouble with drug dealers and bank robbers, Nate brings the Zeroes together to rescue him. Ethan is not well-liked due to a falling out of the group last summer, but they come to his aid anyway. What results is an adventure that not only brings them together but allows each one to discover more about themselves. This was a fun novel. What I liked about this book is that all six are struggling to learn how to control their power and cope with the effects of having that power. Poor Thibault is forgotten by everyone all the time, even his own family forgot about him when he was in the hospital! Students looking for a fun adventure will enjoy this novel. In London, 1983, Susan Arkshaw goes on the search for her father when she suddenly finds herself among magical fighting booksellers who keep watch over the mythical Old World of England from intruding with the modern world. Merlin is a left-handed bookseller which means he is a fighting bookseller. Vivien is a right-handed bookseller (the intellectual ones). Together they try to protect Susan during their quest. I thought this was a fun fantasy. There's a lot going on with plenty of action. Fans o f Garth Nix will enjoy this book. This graphic novel takes place in 1946. The Lee family moved from Chinatown to Metropolis and is soon under attack by the Klan of the Fiery Cross. Superman comes to the rescue and is exposed for the first time to a strange green rock. This was a good story about dealing with prejudices and racism. It is based on the Superman radio serial "Clan of the Fier Cross" which was first broadcasted in the 1940s. It's a coming-of-age story in terms both Roberta Lee and Superman are realizing they are limiting their potential. At the end of the story, Gene Luen Yang discusses the history of Asian American immigration and discrimination as well as the history of Superman. I don't think too many people outside of the Pacific coast region realize how the KKK terrorized Asian Americans in the West. Marie Lu tackles the second installment of the DC Icons series. Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma is well known by Batman fans. This story focuses on when he turns eighteen and is about to inherit the family fortune including Wayne Enterprises. The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City focusing on rich businesspeople. Bruce gets into trouble with the law and is sentenced to community service at Arkham Asylum. There he meets Madeleine Wallace, a member of the Nightwalkers. He becomes involved with the case when he is the only person Madeleine speaks to. This was a fun book in the DC Icons series. Teens who are fans of superheroes, especially DC comics will enjoy this novel. This is the first book in the DC Icons series where well-known YA authors tell the stories of DC superheroes when they were teenagers or before they became superheroes. Princess Diana breaks the Amazon code when she rescues a girl who washes on the shore of their island. Alia is a Warbringer, a direct descendant of Helen of Troy and is fated to bring misery and bloodshed. Diana and Alia must band together to avoid enemies who want to either destroy the Warbringer or possess her. This was an entertaining adventure story with strong female characters. There's a lot of action that will keep you from putting the book down. Those who are big DC fans will want to read this novel. |
AuthorMr. Andrusyk is a school librarian at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, Illinois. Past Book RecommendationsClick here to view a listing of Mr. Andrusyk's list of favorite authors, series, fiction, and nonfiction. Archives
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