Lolo Wright is only 14 but is in the 10th grade with her older brother James who is 16. Their father is extremely proud of their achievements but Lolo gets sick of the snide remarks and ridicule about being smart.

One day in the school corridors, an angry guy shoulder bashes Lolo. He seems oblivious to it, but suddenly Lolo experiences something strange. She can hear what’s inside his head.

This is Michael – but he usually gets called shorty, runt, or other names due to his lack of height against his peers. This has been the thorn in his side of late and he is still hurting at rejection from the football coach. His home situation is rocky too, being told he will soon have to find somewhere else. Little does he know a local drug dealer named Skin is planning to harness Michael’s anger at the world, for his own uses.

One night after school Lolo and her brother James are caught up in a robbery and mistaken identity. James is targeted by the police and thrown to the ground and choked by an officer. James is left reeling at the shock and injustice of it, but there’s also more to his fears. It was Lolo who saved him.

Seeing her brother gasping for air on the ground brought something out of Lolo. Something powerful, but scary. She gives the officer a taste of his own medicine just by looking at him. They flee the scene, but someone has been watching from the shadows.

Lolo mulls over the event in her head, over and over. How did she do that? James is still in shock and not ready to talk about it. When he is, he remembers something his mother said when Lolo was a baby. She had power within her even then.

Lolo begins to practise her powers, unaware she will soon need them to stand up against Skin who is threatening everyone she loves. Skin finally takes a step too far after Lolo refuses to work for him, forcing Lolo to step up and face him, risking everything including her own life.

A story of courage, kindness, determination and sheer brutality, this graphic novel is on fire. The story is well told and excellently portrayed in full colour, the characters authentic, the action alive on the page, and the menace within the character’s lives loud and clear.

Nearly 15 yr old Lolo (Loretta) Wright is dealing with school bullying, insecurity, and a deep down unaddressed loss of her absent mother. Discovering a strange power within her helps build her confidence, but also attracts dangerous elements which she tries to deflect. Finally facing the thug who has upturned their lives brings a magnificent moment of ultimate girl power!

Loved it!

Authors – Alicia Keyes / Andrew Weiner

Illustrator – Brittney Williams

Age – 12+

(2022, Harper Collins, Prejudice, Racism, Bullying, Drug Dealer, Violence, Crime, Superpowers, Supervillain, Neighbourhood, Threats, Guns, School, Romance, Stereotypes, Police brutality, Family, Grandmother, Courage, Pride, Secret)