Dreadnought

December 5, 2016
A transgender teenager is transformed into her ideal self after being imbued with the powers of the world’s greatest superhero in this thought-provoking first book in the Nemesis series. As the latest iteration of Dreadnought, 15-year-old Danielle is expected to train with the local team, the Legion Pacifica, until she’s ready to become a full-fledged hero. Unfortunately, her parents would rather “cure” her and turn her back into Danny, and her reception among the other heroes is mixed at best. Danielle teams up with vigilante heroine Calamity to track down the previous Dreadnought’s murderer, only to stumble upon a plan to destroy the human race. In an impressive debut, Daniels skillfully conveys Danielle’s pain, confusion, and emotional complexity as she faces a host of detractors and conflicts. While Danielle’s supernatural transformation comes off as an easy solution compared to journeys of real-world trans teenagers, the novel’s comic-book trappings allow for a fascinating exploration of gender identity in a fantastical setting. Danielle’s evolution from confused teen to confident hero is entertaining and inspiring. Ages 12–up. Agent: Saritza Hernandez, Corvisiero Agency.

Starred review from December 1, 2016
Danny's having a moment to herself when superfamous superhero Dreadnought drops out of the sky and dies in her arms--but not before passing her his powers.The powers transform her body, so her girlhood--once a total secret--is now visually impossible to hide. Guilt and elation jostle for prime position in her head as she deals with getting her dream body and massive power she can't yet control. She's taken to meet Dreadnought's colleagues (some welcoming, some not) in the Legion Pacifica and gets some answers to burning questions. But when the supervillain that killed her predecessor shows her intentions to bring destruction on humanity, Danny has to make decisions she thought she'd have more time to work out. Daniels has captured the alternating bursts of confidence and vulnerability often present in 15-year-olds with mentally abusive fathers and unsupportive mothers; she threads it through a superhero story with a beautifully paced plot that has no problematic snags to interrupt the flow. There are men both disappointing and noble, but the women and girls--white trans girl Danny, Latina crime fighter Calamity, technician/scientist Doc Impossible (racially cued only with a long black braid), and cyborg supervillain Utopia--drive the story and the action. Mutual respect among the characters, crucially combined with Daniels' respect for them, ensures that none serve as mere props for our protagonist, and readers will hope they each get their own book in the coming series. A thoroughly enjoyable, emotionally rich, action-packed story with the most exciting new superheroes in decades. Unmissable. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

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December 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-While many teenagers have a challenging time dealing with school and peer pressure, for 15-year-old Danny Tozer, life is a little more complicated. For starters, she is transgender and living in a world where superheroes and supervillains exist. When Danny unexpectedly becomes the recipient of popular superhero Dreadnought's mantle, the superpowers also transform her body into the female one she has always identified with. Because Danny is not yet an adult, the Legion of Superheroes is divided on how to approach her unique situation. Her father is in denial that his son is now his daughter, and has been verbally abusive toward Danny. A promise of romance adds a further layer when Danny's best friend wants to date her. There are some violent fight scenes when Danny sets off to find Dreadnought's killer. There are also some light moments that offset the deeper questions about establishing identity. VERDICT This first title in the series offers a rich, unusual mix of subjects and themes for fantasy fans.-Vivian Ho, Port Washington Public Library, NY

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