Josie Black has been working as a secret agent: If only she could remember any of it.J.B. is a shy, underperforming teen who one day discovers that her entire life is a lie. After she notices gaps in her memory and her mother's continuous gaslighting attempts, J.B. learns that not only is she a programmed special operative for a mysterious organization called the Company, but she also possesses skills including speaking multiple languages and expert fighting moves. But she can access those only when her mother-another operative-speaks a series of imprinted commands that subsequently pause her memory. It is imperative for J.B. to gain control of her life, but thankfully she has her best friend, Zoe, on her side as well as a little help from the CIA. This graphic novel is filled with potential but is unevenly told with its whiplash-inducing shifts, from fun agent antics and the silliness of the truth behind the Company to the utter horror of J.B.'s mom's abusive behavior. The novel's lack of an emotional core leads to an unearned climax, but J.B. and Zoe's friendship and their adventures are fun. Illustrator Meola's original style effectively supports the story with cartoonlike, minimalist panels and a terra-cotta palette that both captures J.B.'s horrifying powerlessness and her eventual freedom. Redheaded J.B. appears White; Zoe has darker skin.An intriguing premise let down by flawed execution. (Graphic thriller. 14-18)

Gr 7 Up-A teen discovers a secret identity and tries to forge her own path. Josie is always exhaustedshe travels with her mom on business trips but usually ends up sleeping through the whole adventure. Sometimes she loses track of time, and there are gaps in her memory. Josie's parents tell her these experiences are normal for a teen, and though Josie knows that's not true, she can't figure out what's going on. Finally, her mom reveals that Josie is a spy. Her mother works for the Company, a spy agency that has secretly programmed Josie to fight and speak a dozen languagesall without Josie realizing it. Her mom tried to stop it, but, as she tells Josie, "You don't say no to the Company." Josie doesn't want to be controlled any longer, and she'll do anything to find out the whole truth. Despite a thrilling premise, this graphic novel fails to build excitement. Anderson's attempts to fold in a message about defining one's own destiny fall flat due to poor plotting and character development. Sketchy, red-tinged art lacks definition and often makes the narrative hard to follow. Josie and her family are white; her friend Zoe appears to be brown-skinned. VERDICT This story of a girl secretly turned spy wrestles with an intriguing plot but fails to deliver. Traci Glass, Lincoln City Libraries, NE