Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2018 Admitted by mistake to a school for children with special powers, 11-year-old Murph Cooper demonstrates that there’s more to being a hero than superpowers. Though a few graduates do indeed go on to earn places in the Heroes’ Alliance, it turns out that the school’s major mission is shaming students into hiding their “capabilities”—which, more often, are making one’s teeth scream or summoning soup, instead of any obviously useful talents—in order to lead normal lives. Hardly, though, has Murph begun to feel part of a group of friendly no-hopes, mockingly dubbed the Super Zeroes, then a wasp-man villain swoops in to create instant minions using mind-control helmets. Time for the Super Zeroes to spring into action and, through teamwork, demonstrate that leadership ability, selfless courage, and people skills are as “super” as any other powers. Salcedo emphasizes the farcical elements here with occasional fine-lined caricatures, but by the end, few readers will fail to see the Zeroes as true heroes, even if they don’t look the part. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.