Metropolis Grove

When middle schooler Sonia moves from urban Metropolis City to suburban Metropolis Grove, she makes fast friends with longtime neighbors Duncan and Alex. As a Metropolis City kid, Sonia's a huge Superman fan--she swears he winked at her once--but Duncan doesn't believe that he exists. As the ethnically varied friend group adventures in the nearby woods, building a fort, reading comics, and building fires unattended, Sonia hopes that she can persuade Alex of Superman's authenticity, especially when the friends discover a hideout, plastered in Superman posters, that she's convinced belongs to the famed hero. But when Sonia realizes that he's a destruction-prone version of the hero with similar powers, she struggles to admit her mistake. Using earthy pastel colors, Creator Brockington (the CatStronauts series) brings Metropolis Grove to life with a keen sense of suburban place and middle school dynamics. Though a reliance on straightforward shots creates visual repetition, the tension between Sonia's desire for friendship and her fear of rejection propels the plot along. Ages 8-12. (May)

Gr 3-7--Summer has arrived in the peaceful suburb of Metropolis Grove, and best friends Alex and Duncan are all set to build a fort in the woods. Their duo unexpectedly becomes a trio when a new friend appears: Sonia, who's just moved from the big city of Metropolis. They all become fast friends, but tension arises: Sonia is obsessed with Superman and even saw him once, but Duncan doesn't believe he exists. Sonia decides to prove that Superman is real, and a mysterious cave discovered deep in the woods inhabited by a very strong man with a blue suit and red cape does the trick. But Sonia's got a secret--the man is actually Bizarro, the giant clone of Superman, who doesn't know how to control his own strength. Can Sonia help Bizarro become the hero he wants to be and keep her secret from getting out? This adventure is funny, fast-paced, and engaging, with details from the DC world sprinkled throughout. Bright, full-color illustrations have a friendly, cartoonish charm. Duncan, who is white; Alex, who is Asian; and Sonia, who is South Asian, offer a great example of how to deal with conflict in a friend group. VERDICT Superhero lovers will be enthralled. Purchase where superhero comics are in demand.--Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY