Shawn Peters
HarperCollins, January, 2022
Grades 3-6
Science Fiction/Adventure
Logan Foster series #1
Told in first person in the form of a letter to a mythological "brother", orphan Logan relates his experiences surviving a devastating earthquake while meeting a potential forever family. The family, couple Margie and Gil, take him on despite-or maybe because of-his highly functioning nero-divergent brain with its photo-memory capabilities and no filters. Even though social cues go over his head, Logan suspects right away that something is "off" about Margie and Gil. They don't appear to eat or sleep, disappear for hours at a time, and much of the house is locked-down. They seem eager to please, though, and Logan starts to feel at home. With the help of his new next door neighbor and first friend, Logan stumbles on the truth behind his new parents. Could they be superheroes in disguise? When an evil villain crashes into a movie theater and Margie and Gil leap into action, Logan knows that his suspicions are correct. He gradually learns more about the superhero world and his foster parent's place in it. The danger for Margie and Gil escalates and it comes down to Logan and his new friend to save the day. Are they up to the task? How can a mere boy take on a supervillain?
Debut author, Peters, presents a new series sure to attract superhero fans and any readers who appreciate a fast page-turning plot. The action starts right out of the gate and never stops. Little mysteries are solved along the way and readers will often guess at the truth before Logan gets there. Logan is a likable and sympathetic character and readers will cheer for him as he wades through new territory, defeating bullies of both the human and superhero variety. Perfect for reluctant readers, the book is designed with them in mind. There will be illustrations, though I did not see them in my preview copy, and judging from the positioning they are meant to enhance the experience and will not overwhelm the text. This is a new "Incredibles" for a modern age and kids will be looking at their parents and possibly wondering about them as well. Many of the plot lines are sewn up, yet the reader still does not know the identity of the mysterious "brother", leaving something for further volumes in the series to explore. A great escape read that reads like a movie and will appeal to a large cross-section of readers.
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