Starred Review Heavy-hitting, notable writers join forces in a memorable collection of short stories "about middle-school kids who discover in themselves some sort of small superpower." And by "small," the authors took this assignment seriously. These aren't characters who can lift cars or fly, but, rather, consist of an emotionally intuitive time jumper with no control over which host body he'll inhabit, a restaurateur's daughter whose ability to magically discern perfectly ripe avocados saves their bottom line, and even a lonely seventh-grader whose "right arm is now possessed of a . . . demon in the shape of a claw." And there are rodents. So many rodents. In other words, these are not your run-of-the-mill, cape-and-tights-clad superheroes. These are kids with relatable struggles learning to embrace that quirky bit of themselves that makes them unique, and empathetic lessons follow. The book's 13 digestible, independent stories are divided into two sections, the first featuring characters gazing inward toward self-acceptance, and the second with kids harnessing their potential to serve their community's greater good. Numerous award-winning contributors (think Meg Medina, Kyle Lukoff, and coeditor Schmidt) keep delightfully inclusive and accomplished company in this emotionally grounded, compassionate collection that's perfect for sharing alongside Flying Lessons & Other Stories (2017), edited by Ellen Oh, and the authors' individual works. Interstitial art was unavailable for review.

Gr 5 Up —A collection of 13 stories, each written by a different author, centering ordinary characters with semi-extraordinary powers. The superpower is often small and easily missed by others, but can be inconvenient to the main character. When Meg Medina's Carla Perez, who has the power to shapeshift into a guinea pig, finds herself in a position where she must shift quickly, it requires removing all her clothes before doing so: "Geez! If anybody finds me in puris naturalibis and with my head in a cage, I'll be a guidance department case with no hope for parole." In Daniel Nayeri's dialogic entry, a boy grapples with a demon attached to his body in the shape of a claw. The line-up is full of notable authors, including Linda Sue Park, Brian Young, and Ibi Zoboi, and the majority of the entries are quite humorous. This book contains some language and imagery that may invoke some negative or scared feelings, and therefore may not be appropriate for younger children. Comic-panel artwork by Krosoczka is dispersed throughout. Diverse characters appear in each chapter. VERDICT This entertaining collection of stories is certain to keep readers interested from beginning to end. Great for those who love superheroes, short story collections, and humor.—Tracy Cronce