The stakes skyrocket in this thrilling series continuation.John, the school zero, finds himself growing closer to the boy who's his polar opposite in their private school's social hierarchy-but Arlo's intentions may not be as pure as John's. While John genuinely wants to befriend him, Arlo might be more interested in pushing John's buttons in order to see whether he's really as powerless as he claims. While John ultimately makes an irreversible decision, Seraphina makes her own momentous choice: She's done being controlled by her family, and her friendship with John motivates her to follow through and persist until she's free. Though they have an emotional, much-anticipated reunion, going back to school might not be so easy now that Seraphina is being targeted by a mysterious group who pose a serious threat to her life. The higher-ups in the school hierarchy start to suspect that there's more to the militia group EMBER, who are targeting superheroes, than the press lets on. The complex characters are neither clearly good nor unambiguously evil, and their problems and the dangers they face escalate in this volume as relationships become more strained and complicated, bringing people to their breaking points. The bright, colorful illustrations bring to life this intense story, which features exciting pursuits and even more thrilling fight scenes. The art strongly expresses characters' emotions, particularly during battles.Another page-turning volume with intriguing character development. (extras) (Graphic adventure. 14-18)

Gr 9 Up— John is finding it harder and harder to keep his "Unordinary" persona alive at Wellston Private High School. With his friend Seraphina stuck at home suspended, and other highly ranked classmates like Isen and Arlo finding cracks in his cover story, John's walls are closing in, as he's just not sure whom he can trust anymore. But with further threats looming, John is going to have to figure out quickly who he can and can't depend on. The smash WEBTOON series continues its run in print format, picking up where the first volume left off. Character arcs are fleshed out further, with John's father (and author of the Unordinary book at the franchise's heart) making an entertaining appearance midway through. The art looks great throughout, particularly during action sequences, with the dynamic colors from the opening volume returning for an encore. Colored-in speech bubbles are also a cool touch. In a time where young adults turn to comics, in print or online, for socioemotional support, many teens will be able to see themselves in the characters. Whether it's John having to hide his true self, or Seraphina wondering what's the point in striving to be perfect at all times, the characters feel relatable. Teens will be entertained by this story, while also finding it identifiable—as much as one possibly can in a world where superpowers run rampant! VERDICT This second volume continues to do a lot of what its predecessor did well. Stirring characters, impressive art, and a rousing plot makes this a worthwhile purchase for young adult collections.— Joe Pascullo