Gr 7 Up-Tom Token is the first black studentand black mageto be admitted to St. Ivory's Academy of Spellcraft and Sorcery. Tom's first day sees him fighting racist students and encountering faculty wearing Klan hoods, but he also befriends Lindsay, his student liaison, and soon, he stumbles onto a conspiracy. It looks like there might have been black students at the school in the past. Tom sets out to unravel this secret, with the help of not only Lindsay but also the ghosts of legendary wizards Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. The world of St. Ivory's is littered with references to "Harry Potter," Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Sailor Moon , the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even more obscure media, such as G Gundam , much of which might fly over younger readers' heads. There are also allusions to racial tensions throughout history; those who reread and reexamine imagery will be richly rewarded. The pace is brisk, and Tom and Lindsay receive only a modicum of backstory before the story picks up. But the vivid, anime-esque artwork and creative, at times explosive panel layouts make up for the gaps in characterization, engrossing readers in a one-of-a-kind adventure. VERDICT Barnes and Kirkland's dynamic tale is best described as Jordan Peele's Get Out for the graphic novel set. Action packed, thoughtful, and visually delicious, this is a story that's not to be missed. Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

When Tom Token enrolls in the St. Ivory Academy of Spellcraft and Sorcery, he knows that he's their first ever student of color, but he doesn't realize that Headmaster Lynch wizard shamelessly garbed, along with other faculty, in KKK robes s been oppressing Black people for centuries. With the help of sympathetic classmate Lindsay Whitethorn and the ghosts of magical freedom fighters Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, Tom must fight to recover John Henry's powerful hammer and overthrow the school's racist administration. Clearly, Barnes is not going for subtlety here; almost every element seems designed to remind the reader that we live in a world of overt white supremacy. Unfortunately, this exploration doesn't delve much deeper than surface level, with more energy spent on fight scenes than world building or character development. Kirkland dazzles with a number of dynamic action sequences, drawing inspiration from Japanese manga and video games, and while this collaboration begins to make a strong statement with bold representation, little attempt is made to address the important questions they've raised.