Brothers Unite

May 2, 2016
In this first book in the Secondhand Heroes trilogy, Hudson and his younger brother, Tucker, know something is up when the umbrella and woolen scarf their mother picks up for them at a yard sale appear to have lives of their own. The castoffs give the brothers superhuman powers; quick to see the possibilities, they improvise costumes, naming themselves Stretch and Brella. Hansen (Monster Hunter) gives the boys worthy villains to defeat and enthusiastic schoolmates to cheer them on. Piling on the fantasy gratification, Hansen teleports them to a medieval village where they meet a dragon, a fire-breathing mentor who cuts them no slack: “Also, I am female. If I hear he or him again, in reference to me, I will incinerate you. Continue.” Hansen meticulously drafts and colors every panel in painterly detail, giving his figures volume and heft. Smart characterization (including a memorable walk-on by a talking squirrel that sounds like a surfer bro), breathlessly paced adventure, and a dire cliff-hanger ending will make readers hope they don’t have to wait long for the sequel. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sarah Warner, Warner Literary Group.

May 1, 2016
Secondhand items bestow magical powers upon two young brothers.Tuck and Hudson Finch, two suburban white boys, laugh off the fact that their mother buys them a scarf and umbrella at a neighbor's estate sale. However, the boys quickly learn that the items give them vast superpowers, allowing them to fly and also serving as shields and/or weapons depending on the situation. They vow to use their powers for good but soon find themselves fighting an unexpected foe: their seemingly meek history teacher. This initially seems to be a very boilerplate--and outdated--superhero trope, in which adolescent boys learn to control powerful, magical items to save the world (or, at least, their sleepy burg) with girls fawning over their mysterious, masked charms. The plot, however, takes a hard turn and jarringly veers into a tale of time travel. Suburbia quickly dissolves into a medieval-themed land where dragons fight alongside men (women are notably few in battle scenes), and anachronisms further muddy the landscape: the villagers can easily understand the pejorative form of "jerk" but question "bust a cap." The panels are rendered in a watercolor palette that somehow manages to look both vibrant and curiously washed-out all at once and adds to the diluted feel of the novel. Cardboard and convoluted. (Graphic adventure. 9-12)

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June 1, 2016
Grades 3-5 On the small island of Scraggy Neck, the town comes out for a yard sale at the home of the recently and mysteriously deceased Mr. Marlin. What no one knows is that Mr. Marlin may have been a wizard and all his objects contain incredible powers. Enter Hudson and Tucker, brothers who have recently found themselves in possession of magical scarves and an umbrella, and befriended by a talking squirrel. The brothers become amateur superheroes, battling other yard sale attendees who possess magical objects and considerably more selfish dispositions. Hansen works a nifty story out of his clever concept, with genuine humor, realistic characterizations, emotionally intense stakes, and agile battle sequences. The lifelike faces and figural work, as well as the warm, earthy tones of the art, help keep things tied together even when the tale takes a sharp time-traveling left turn into a fantasy world where the boys meet a tough-as-nails dragon who becomes their trainer. Age-appropriate lessons are indeed learned, and the urgent cliff-hanger promises that there are more charmingly sincere adventures ahead.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)