Do pigeons have superpowers?In this lighthearted graphic adventure, Emilio is a born-and-raised New York City pigeon who spends his days scavenging human food with friends Winslow, a sparrow, and Carmen, a starling. Emilio loves the comic book Winged Heroes, lionizing the superhero raptors within its pages. In reality, the birds of prey that he idolizes see him as food, and when one of his romantic ideas takes him and his friends far from the safety of their roost, he sees the truth of the pecking order. A storm then blows the bird friends off into the countryside, leaving these city birds stranded. Soon Emilio learns that he may just have his own superpowers that will enable him to save Carmen and Winslow-and that there may be some truth to the Winged Heroes after all. Author Thompson has penned an engaging romp that slyly mixes bird facts into its fast-paced plot, showing readers the fascinating abilities many common birds possess. A mix of both narrative and nonfiction, this genre-busting full-color graphic novel works equally well as a pleasure read and in classroom settings, and it's a must-have for fans of First Second's Science Comics series. The majority of characters are avian, but the background human characters are racially diverse. Aftermatter includes a note on page navigation, discussion questions, and bird photographs and facts.A fun romp for aspiring ornithologists. (Graphic animal fantasy. 7-12)

Gr 48 Emilio is a rock pigeon living in New York City and learning a pigeon's most valuable lesson: how to not be attending. Emilio also loves getting the latest issue of "Winged Heroes," a comic all about heroic birds saving Birdkind in NYC. When Emilio gets a little too wrapped up in his favorite fantasy, his friends and his sister get blown off course to an unknown island, and Emilio must find the power within himself to save them. Also presented are page bios of each of the Winged Heroes next to a page of their real-life counterparts and many scientific facts. This is a fun adventure story that will quickly have readers drawn into the plight of these city birds. Many readers who love comics will also connect with Emilio's passion for the Winged Heroes. Greene's illustrations are brightly colored with some fairly detailed cartooning. Characters are pleasantly expressive throughout their faces and bodies, but the movements of each character incorporate how birds really move. The hero and real-life bird pages provide exceptionally lifelike illustrations of the real birds next to awesomely posed heroes that are sure to please. VERDICT A good choice for those who enjoy the "Science Comics" series or are ready for the next step after "InvestiGators."Sara Smith