In Search of Superpowers (Fantasy Pin World #1)

Limited edition enamel pins grant middle schoolers Angela, Skylar, Sophie, and Travis superpowers in Lawrence’s dynamic series opening debut. Having been raised by her widowed father, Angela finds it difficult to adapt to her wealthy, soon-to-be stepmother’s privileged world. Skylar, who is nonbinary, works to help support their family but feels overwhelmed by their responsibilities. Sophie, her twin sister Becca, and the siblings’ two mothers live a comfortable life, but Sophie is tired of feeling as if she and Becca must be identical in every way, especially as Sophie starts crushing on another girl. And athlete Travis would rather focus on video game coding and hanging out with his crush and best friend, Rhyan, than run track. When, following an eerie explosion and news of a local amusement park’s expansion, the four classmates obtain mysterious powers and band together to discover the source of their tradeable gifts, which include telepathy, extreme agility, leadership, and artistic talent. Occasionally awkward dialogue stymies narrative momentum and deflates the intersectionally diverse characters’ endearing interactions, which are depicted via b&w spot illustrations by Cacao (The Secret of the Ravens). Ages 9–12. (Jan.)