Gr 5-8 Supervillains and criminals meet their match with Tony Stark's friend Squirrel Girl, aka Doreen Green, a college freshman with the appearance, speed, and agility of a squirrel. Fitting in proves to be challenging, as normal girls do not talk to or have a squirrel sidekick, nor do they have super strength. Then there is Squirrel Girl's roommate, who has a tough exterior and is obsessed with knitting and her cat. Luckily, Squirrel Girl has a knack for winning people over. When Galactus threatens Earth, the heroine must rely on more than strength to defeat the Devourer of Worlds. She may have extraordinary strength, an army of squirrels at her disposal, a collection of Deadpool villain trading cards, and nut-inspired catchphrases, but it is her ability to form connections with people that proves to be her most powerful asset. North and Henderson have created a fun, fast-paced graphic novel that will appeal to Marvel fans as well as readers who are unfamiliar withor do not enjoytraditional superhero comics. Bright, bold color choices fit well with the humorous tone. Squirrel Girl is likable, confident, and endearingthe first scene shows her beating up muggers while enthusiastically singing her self-written theme song. The updated character design, snappy dialogue, and quirky characteristics make her a relatable heroine whom readers of all ages will root for. Also included is the 1991 classic Marvel Super-Heroes comic, in which Squirrel Girl first appears. VERDICT A first-purchase for all graphic novel collections. Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Squirrel Girl, the superheroine with all the powers of both a squirrel and a girl, is back to eat nuts and kick butts! In this volume, Squirrel Girl gets trapped in the 1960's Silver Age of Comics but, in her usual style, doesn't fight her way out of the situation but makes the most of it, such as creating a support group for other time-trapped individuals. Her enthusiasm is just as contagious as in previous volumes, and North's running commentary making fun of superhero culture and his own character is hilariously on point and candid as always. What's truly endearing about the character is her ability to reach a wide audience, fromhardcore comics fans to novice readers, as the "Letters from Nuts" fan page that graces the back of each issue attests. The Howard the Duck cameo towards the end is a great addition, since that character's current author, Chip Zdarsky, is one of the funniest writers in comics right now, second only, probably, to North. Henderson's artwork is once again a perfect complement, relying on cartoonish lack of detail to render figures goofy yet expressive. Another win for the cult favorite.