Not Your Sidekick

The non-superpowered teenage daughter of two minor league superheroes ends up secretly working for their worst enemy%E2%80%94as an intern. Jessica Tran, 16, would like to be a hero like her parents and older sister, but if she can't do that, working in the Experimental Division at Monroe Industries will at least help with college applications. Much to her surprise, it's a front for the dreaded villain Master Mischief. Jess takes the job anyway, and she quickly comes to enjoy working with the mysterious mecha-suited M and her longtime crush, volleyball star Abby. Soon, Jess learns that strange things are afoot, with numerous villains disappearing, and the Heroes' League of Heroes may be involved. Lee (Seven Tears at High Tide) offers up a fast-paced, engaging tale set in a quasi-dystopian 22nd-century America where the line between hero and villain is often blurred. With a diverse cast of characters, both in terms of sexuality and ethnic background, and a wholly adorable romance for Jess, it's a lively exploration of morality in a superpowered age. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. (Sept.)