School Library Journal Starred Review (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 5–8— A thrilling superhero origin story. Win "Coal" Keegan, 13, has just been placed in a new foster home and he takes a walk through the neighborhood to scout locations for his chalk art. A neighbor fires a gun at him and he is chased by the police. Coal is terrified; his fear triggers a family gift and Coal's skin becomes invisible. In his search for the cause behind his newfound power, Coal catches the attention of Mirror Tech Industries and must find his answers before they find him. The McKay kids, his new foster siblings, are quick to rally around Coal as he learns more about his new ability. Friendships new and old bring the perfect amount of levity and humor to a highly suspenseful story. Although this is a superhero tale, Baptiste beautifully weaves in a variety of significant topics like racial justice, science, and mindfulness. The villains' search for Coal resolves itself very quickly at the end, but hopefully the origin story here paves the way for future adventures. Coal and the McKays are cued Black and most other characters are racially ambiguous. VERDICT This is sure to be a hit with fans of the X-Men franchise, but Baptiste's inclusion of real-world topics is the story's true superpower.— Maria Martin

ALA Booklist (Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Understated at the start, Win "Coal" Keegan is transported from one foster home to another. After living in a home with only a single foster parent, Coal is overwhelmed by the McKays' bustling household of five. Though wary that he might be moved again, Coal soon settles in with Jackson and Candace McKay and their children, Aaron, Mari, and Hannah. This seemingly introspective story twists when a frightening incident leads to Coal being pursued by the police. When he hides behind a dumpster, he shockingly turns invisible. Trying to research his newfound ability leads Coal to a biotech company, and his previously unknown past swings into focus. Baptiste (Moko Magic: Carnival Chaos, 2024) combines realistic issues of identity and finding a home with an sf spin, ultimately presenting an absorbing plot. Her characters are thoughtfully multidimensional, from Coal to his supportive foster family to Door, the good-natured and irrepressibly funny best friend. Baptiste neatly contrasts Coal's sense of social invisibility to his actual invisibility, all of which lead him to finding his place in the world.

Kirkus Reviews

A Black boy has no reason to trust anyone and a lot to learn about himselfEver since he was found by a firefighter as a baby 13 years ago, Win "Coal" Keegan has felt alone. He'd hoped that his latest foster parent, Tom, would adopt him, but after Tom's sudden mental health episode, Coal is moved to the McKays' home. They're nice enough, but trusting is hard for "melanin-rich" Coal, a gentle and thoughtful young artist who's experienced more than his share of trauma. One day, when he's chalking the street in commemoration of a young Black woman who was shot during a routine traffic stop, a disgruntled stranger shoots at Coal, triggering an unbelievable response-his skin changes color, camouflaging and protecting him. After Coal eventually opens up to his best friend and the McKay kids, they all get caught up in a world of dangerous secrets, and information about Coal's birth mom and complicated origins emerges. The novel thoughtfully illustrates some of the harsh realities of being a uniquely vulnerable, dark-skinned boy in a world that refuses to see you and the resulting anxiety that can occur. Luckily Coal is surrounded by people who give him the support he needs in ways that are heartwarming and impressive, and they ultimately lead to a positive place.An experiment in grace and care that's as hopeful as it is imaginative.(Science fiction. 9-14)