Flash Fire

May 15, 2021
This sequel to the superhero tale The Extraordinaries (2020) is jampacked with action, nefarious plots, romance, and puns. Nicholas Bell has it pretty good: Though he's only 16, he's got a strong, positive sense of self (critical for a gay teen) in addition to a supportive dad, great friends, and an adorable boyfriend, Seth. Seth's alter ego is the superpowered Pyro Storm, who can manifest fire and spends much of his free time aiding local citizens in their fair city. Nick is proud of Seth and does everything he can to support him, including orchestrating Pyro Storm's rebranding efforts via social media and composing hot fanfic--if Nick does say so himself. Of course, Nick has his own struggles, like dealing with his ADHD, massive headaches, awkward visits from a sketchy rich dude (long story), and some explosive secrets on the verge of being revealed. Spending more time with these characters is an absolute delight; the love they share and readily profess for each other, both platonic and romantic, is beautiful to witness. Of particular note is the tension between Nick's cop father and the middle-class Black family of Gibby, one of Nick's friends. The discussions by both parties are frank, with Nick's father ultimately taking responsibility for his past misconduct and Nick showing growth in understanding Gibby's parents' perspective. Nick and Seth are White. Another extraordinary installment. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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July 23, 2021

Gr 9 Up-This sequel to The Extraordinaries retains the authentic neurodivergent narration, hilarious embarrassing moments, and joyful queer love of the previous volume while calling into question whether police officers can be good people if they are complicit in an inherently flawed system. Nick has the greatest boyfriend in the world. Not only is Seth kind, patient, and devastatingly sexy, but he's also the extraordinary Pyro Storm, who uses his fiery superpowers to help the people of Nova City. But when Simon Burke, CEO of Burke Pharmaceuticals and father to supervillain Shadow Star, announces his plan for monitoring extraordinary activity, Nick and his friends are understandably nervous. When it becomes apparent that he is manipulating the Nova City Police Department, things seem pretty bleak. It's a good thing that there are new extraordinaries on the scene, including a couple of big surprises. As in the first installment, this has a post-credits scene with a big reveal, hinting at another volume. VERDICT Purchase where the first volume was popular, and recommend to teens who enjoy queer romance, laugh-out-loud sex comedy, and superhero tropes.-Shira Pilarski, formerly at Farmington Community Lib., MI

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