Miles Morales

Starred review from June 15, 2017
Move over Peter Parker, a new Spidey's in town! Spider-Man is forced to confront girls, evil, and identity crises, all while trying to survive junior year. In his latest work, Reynolds (Ghost, 2016, etc.)--a Kirkus Prize and Coretta Scott King Award winner--crafts an enjoyable piece of superhero fiction that completely transcends its genre. The result is an engrossing novel for teens boasting familiar and timely themes that add flavor and complexity to the Spider-Man mythos. In 2017, Miles Morales--a half-black/half-Puerto Rican teen on scholarship at an elite prep school--wears the famous mask and is a contemporary Everykid burdened by a family past that defines him as much as his powers do. Hailing from the Brooklyn projects, he represents countless teens whose life struggles are radically different from those Parker endured in the relative comforts of 1960s suburbia. In the author's capable hands, Brooklyn's sensory details, from the performers on the subway to the smells of Mrs. Morales' fried chicken, practically pop off of the page. The narrative is anchored by strong, nuanced characters, particularly Miles' tough-but-loving parents, Ganke, his Korean-American best friend, and his uncle Aaron, whose criminal past led to the development of Miles' powers. Miles' struggle to balance his superhero calling with familial pressure to make it out of the projects renders him all the more sympathetic. A page-turner with a heart and a soul. (Fantasy. 12-18)

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August 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Miles Morales is the new Spider-Man in the novelization of the Marvel comic. As an Afro-Puerto Rican teen attending an elite boarding school in Brooklyn, Miles is not only fighting crime but also navigating a complicated adolescent world. He must work hard in his classes while trying to make a move on his beautiful activist classmate. His Korean American best friend wants Miles to use his superpowers to hustle on the streets. There's also a racist teacher minimizing slavery in his history class. At home, Miles is coming to terms with the discovery of his recently dead uncle's long-lost son who is writing him letters from juvenile hall. Miles is shouldered with an intense amount of responsibility; it's no wonder his spidey-sense is on the fritz and his sleep is plagued by mysterious dreams. But when his dreamworld and reality begin to blend, the teen realizes that all parts of his life are connected and the mystery begins to unravel. He must not only fight the dark forces threatening his world and loved ones, but also the darkness within himself. This is not your typical superhero tie-in book. Reynolds has crafted a rich, developed portrait of complex teen life while addressing issues of racism in the modern world with his characteristic warmth and humorous touches. Give this to teens looking to make the leap from comics to novels, or any other readers interested in superhero action set in an urban landscape. VERDICT Recommended for all collections.-Emily Valente, Brooklyn Friends School

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Grades 6-9 In his first adventures in a nongraphic format, Peter Parker's multiethnic successor struggles with foes and feelings alike. Outbreaks of rage, a bumbling attraction for classmate Alicia, and family issues combine with a constant but nebulous sense of imminent danger to leave him an emotional wreck. Though this features web-slinging and a climactic battle with a supernatural villain, the action takes a backseat to more generally applicable explorations of self and racial identities, developing relationships, and life choicesplus some great banter. Coretta Scott King honoree Reynolds builds on a comic book plot and neatly ties in Miles' Marvel Universe background, but he focuses more on his 16-year-old protagonist's struggle with self-doubt in a vividly rendered urban setting stocked with engaging supporting characters. By the end, the villainsa brainwashed cabal dedicated to driving African American filth back down into slaveryare vanquished, but more important (here, at least), Miles is closer to believing in his destiny as crime fighter rather than criminal, and his future in school and with Alicia is looking brighter. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Reynolds' significant selling power combines with the incarnation of an ever-popular superhero for what's sure to be a boundary-busting hit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)