The Last Battle

February 1, 2018
In this trilogy closer, two superhero brothers and their magical friends face their nefarious foe for the ultimate battle.Jumping right in where middle volume In the Trenches (2017) concluded, brothers Tucker and Hudson--also known as the magically enhanced superheroes Stretch and Brella--are breathing a bit easier after defeating their evil teacher Mr. Motstander. Unfortunately, their small island home does not stay quiet for long, and the brothers soon discover that their adversary has persisted. Motstander seeks to destroy the brothers' reputations, exploiting the fickleness of public favor in the age of social media. With the help of their friends who possess their own magically imbued objects, the motley crew gears up for what can only be a battle to the death. Genre constraints are thoroughly smashed as this nontraditional superhero tale weaves a quirky pastiche of time travel, light romance, and fantasy. Brothers Tuck and Hudson are white, while secondary characters offer some diversity both racially and in terms of disability; shallow development among these characters is particularly frustrating. Hansen's bold line-and-wash illustrations easily transition from world to world, whether he is evincing the boys' small island community, prehistoric scenes of rampaging dinosaurs, or a fantastic, medieval-ish landscape populated by dragons. Though this volume declares itself the conclusion, the end hints at more adventures to come.An interestingly unconventional amalgamation of tropes and genre. (Graphic adventure. 9-12)

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March 15, 2018
Grades 3-5 The Secondhand Heroes trilogy concludes in suitably epic style, as practically the entire population of Scraggy Neck Island meets in the titular final battle. On one side, the brothers who gained superpowers from items purchased at an ancient wizard's yard sale and the allies they've accumulated, some with powers and others with simple chutzpah. On the other, Trench, whose yard sale powers have ratcheted his domination-obsessed brain into mania. Though Trench turns the islanders against the boys at first, the loyalty of their friends rallies them, and stalwart teamwork tips the scales against their powerful and morally grotesque enemy. Hansen has successfully combined elements of high fantasy and superheroism into an action-packed blend, but his secret is the middle-grade emotional realism that glows warmly beneath the fireworks, and he brings the relationships and emotional arcs to a satisfying conclusion as well. His accessibly human character design makes it easier for young readers to imagine themselves in the midst of the excitement, while the colors and faces seamlessly graft honest feelings onto larger-than-life deeds.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)