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Summary
Summary
In this fresh new take on the world of superheroes, explore what it's like to be the non-super half of a dynamic duo. Spoiler alert: it's not easy being super-adjacent.
Claire has always wanted to work with superheroes, from collecting Warrior Nation cards as a kid to drafting "What to Say to a Hero" speeches in her diary. Now that she's landed a coveted internship with the Chicago branch of Warrior Nation, Claire is ready to prove she belongs, super or not. But complicating plans is the newest WarNat hero, Girl Power (aka Joy), who happens to be egotistical and self-important . . . and pretty adorable. Bridgette, meanwhile, wants out of WarNat. After years of dating the famous Vaporizer (aka Matt), she's sick of playing second, or third, or five-hundredth fiddle to all the people-in-peril in the city of Chicago. Of course, once Bridgette meets Claire--who's clearly in need of a mentor and wingman--giving up WarNat becomes slightly more complicated. It becomes a lot morecomplicated when Joy, Matt, and the rest of the heroes go missing, leaving only Claire and Bridgette to save the day. In this fresh and funny take on the world of supers, author Crystal Cestari spotlights what it's like to be the seemingly non-super half of a dynamic duo with banter-filled romance and bold rescues perfect for readers seeking a great escape.
Author Notes
Crystal Cestari lives just outside Chicago with her daughter. Her hobbies include avoiding broccoli and wandering the aisles at Target. She holds a master's degree in mass communication, and writes all her stories longhand. She is also the author of the Windy City Magic series. Visit Crystal at www.crystalcestari.com and on Twitter @crystalcestari.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up--Twenty-year-old Bridgette has been dating the hottest superhero in the Chicago Warrior Nation chapter: Matt, aka Vaporizer. After four years together she's tired of being kidnapped by villains, generating hatred from jealous WarNat fans, and being a priority below rescues and social media. While Bridgette is looking for a way out, 17-year-old Claire is looking for her way in, hoping to acquire the prestigious internship that will let her rise from within. On her final task to prove herself worthy, Claire runs into Joy, aka Girl Power, the unexpected replacement for beloved hero Blue Streak, who rescued Claire when she was young. Joy confounds Claire with her lack of WarNat knowledge, but she can't help but be drawn to her and the pair slowly fall for each other. Claire and Bridgette unite when a threat known as Siege targets the heroes and they have to decide if they should hide or fight. Told in alternating chapters between Bridgette and Claire, this novel offers the perspectives of both a seasoned insider and a WarNat fan learning about the realities of the world. Cestari crafts realistic protagonists who grow and learn throughout the course of this fantasy novel, which contains fully realized and memorable side characters. While this book is often lighthearted, the characters deal with tough situations and life-altering decisions. VERDICT This romp through the world of superheroes will appeal to those who like a little romance thrown in with their action.--Rebecca Greer, Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, FL
Publisher's Weekly Review
A pair of young women teams up to save their superhero significant others when the Chicago chapter of Warrior Nation comes under siege. Paper artist Bridgette Rey has been dating Matt Rodriguez, aka the invisibility-wielding Vaporizer, for years, but she's tired of his heroic exploits taking priority. Aside from a childhood rescue by iconic Chicago Warrior Blue Streak, hero-obsessed Warrior Nation intern Claire Rice never met a hero before newcomer strongwoman Joy Goodwin, alias Girl Power. The two develop an intense attraction after Joy rescues Claire from a kidnapping. When all four Chicago heroes vanish mysteriously, Claire and Bridgette bond over their shared concern. As the national Warrior Nation organization ostensibly turns its back on the situation, the young women lean on each other, cultivating a deep friendship as they work together to be their own heroes, unravel conspiracies, and find their missing partners. The relationships are charming, but friendship is the real highlight, as are resonant messages about empathy and agency ("After all, if I'm not the hero of my own story, who is?"). Readers don't have to be super fans to appreciate this fun, empowering romp. Ages 14--up. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Media. (Mar.)
Kirkus Review
Fandoms and feelings collide in this epic tale of superhero plus ones.Summer break sees purple-haired, 17-year-old Claire vying for a highly competitive internship with Warrior Nation, a group of superheroes. But none of the fan theories she devours could prepare her for falling for the group's youngest recruit, a "hot, teenage girl" named Joy, aka Girl Power. Meanwhile, fellow teen Bridgette wants to make a name for herself as an artist without banking on the fame of her superboyfriend, 20-something Matt, aka Vaporizer. When a supervillain kidnaps Warrior Nation's heroes, Claire and Bridgette must step up and save Chicago in their stead. But can they uncover the villain's identity before it's too late? Cestari's (The Fairest Kind of Love, 2019, etc.) latest packages internet fan culture alongside corporatized superhero culture for a smartly contemporary twist. The narrative shifts between Claire and Bridgette, interspersing text messages, tweets, and excerpts from fake media. While basic criminal motivations make for an ultimately weak resolution, the text is buoyed by its quick plot, contagious tone, and banter-filled romance. The pressure on heroes to develop personal brands invites surface-level discussion of the impossible standards placed on women. Though two heroes of color make up Warrior Nation's quartet (Vaporizer has "dark chocolate eyes" and "caramel" skin; Earthquake is cued as black), the story is primarily driven by white main characters. Sky-high superfeels. (Science fiction. 14-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Superheroes are real, and Claire is obsessed with them, so when she lands an awesome internship with the Chicago branch of Warrior Nation, she basically can't keep it together. The fact that her idol is retiring and his replacement, Joy, code-named Girl Power, has a ton of attitude (even if she is supercute) barely dampens Claire's enthusiasm. Bridgette, on the other hand, has no enthusiasm to spare. She loves her boyfriend, Matt, aka Vaporizer, but his online superfans harass her nonstop, and she gets kidnapped constantly by bad guys. When a group of superpowered villains overwhelms the heroes, it's up to Claire and Bridgette--normal people who know superheroes better than anyone--to save the day. Though at first glance this is a frothy, fun play on the superhero genre, Cestari (The Best Kind of Magic, 2017) smartly digs into the contradictions inherent in many--especially branded--forms of feminism: Warrior Nation wants "Girl Power to save the day" but attempts to outfit its new hero in provocative costumes that she hates. A thoughtful and thought-provoking romp.
