ALA Booklist (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Known for graphic novels steeped in magic realism, author Larson (Chiggers, 2008; Mercury, 2009) now adds the superhero genre to her repertoire of coming-of-age stories. Two story lines run alongside each other here. One is about Mel, who pours her feelings at the loss of a beloved friend into her online diary only to have her grief manipulated by a powerful cyberstalker. The other is about Lin, who answers a mysterious cell-phone call and transforms into a superhero charged with saving Mel. Both girls are controlled via technology, but only Lin is conscious of the changes taking place, forcing her to incorporate her new powers into her life, ready or not. Clever plotting and Pantoja's expressive, manga-influenced artwork help to pull the reader through the intertwining stories, setting up a strong introduction to what will surely become a series. Fans of Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon will find a lot to like here, and the added technological twist adds a freshness to the subgenre.

Horn Book

Lin, a teen who writes superhero adventures, inadvertently becomes a superhero herself via her cell phone; she thwarts a robbery then stops the digital possession of another teen and ultimately must face off against the villainous cyber-force behind it all. Strong characters and a quick plot with suspenseful loose ends will leave readers wanting sequels. The black-white-and-purple manga-style art has broad appeal.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Lin, a zine-writing 15-year-old who-s just moved to a small town, becomes an unwitting Sailor Moon-style superhero, activated by mysterious cellphone messages and visited by a -dispatcher- who nags her until she suits up. Her nemesis is a shadowy villain who possesses a glamorous rich girl in order to snare a boy named Trace. Pantoja-s heavily inked lines hew closely to manga conventions (she also illustrated the Manga Math Mysteries series), with action-packed panel sequences, big eyes, and outsize expressions. Oddly, it-s the teens- relationships with their parents that are most nuanced. Lin has a gentle, academic, stay-at-home father, while Trace-s parents are harsh toward him but loyal to each other (an older brother-s death is hinted at but left unexplored). Larson-s (Mercury) dialogue veers from clichéd (-Relax,- Lin-s dispatcher tells her. -You-ll know what to do. It-s all in your program-) to certifiably clever: -If you noticed any ways I could, like, improve the whole robbery experience,- says a mask-wearing robber, -I-m totally open to feedback.- Boasting a high proportion of strong, independent girl characters, this book is suitable even for younger readers. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)

School Library Journal (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 7 Up-This contemporary superhero story is a departure for Larson, who has previously done a graphic adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time (Farrar, 2012) as well as stories of magical realism. Three central characters reside in Barnhurst: new girl Lin is devoted to the creation of her zine, which she prints at a local photocopy establishment. To date she has sold one copy. Mel works at a local costume shop, providing period attire for tourist photographs. From home she blogs about her personal life, especially the pain following the accidental death of her horse. Trace is the nerdy photocopy shop manager, harboring a not-too-secret crush on Mel. Life changes for these teens when Lin uses her cell phone to report an attempted robbery. She inadvertently presses a button that dramatically transforms her into a superhero and subdues the would-be thief. She is baffled, exclaiming afterward, "What a rush! That happened, right? There's no way that happened." Meanwhile Mel connects with a shadowy online individual who promises to erase her heartbreaking blog posts. He exerts his influence to digitally transform Mel into a troll. With assistance from Trace, Lin frees Mel from her troll state and life resumes its familiar routine. Not surprisingly, a final panel image of Lin's cell phone suggests her superhero adventures will continue. Main characters are well developed with clear motives. Segues between scenes have a cinematic feel and effectively move the story forward. Pantoja's heavy black-line drawings, large eyes, and angled action panels give the art a mangalike appearance. Barbara M. Moon, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY