Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/01/2017 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 choices—plus 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 villains—a brainwashed cabal dedicated to driving African American “filth” back down into slavery—are 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. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 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 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.