In the Trenches

Gr 4–7—Brothers Tuck and Hudson each have a magical weapon: a scarf that can stretch to impossible lengths and an umbrella that allows the user to fly. With the help of their talking squirrel friend Steen, Tuck and Hudson become the superheroes Stretch and Brella, protecting their neighborhood against the forces of evil. As this volume opens, the heroes return from a quick trip to the future. That time line is a disaster: without Stretch and Brella around, the world has fallen under the rule of a menacing man named Trench, who wields multiple magical items in this alternate reality. Tuck and Hudson return to the present knowing they have to track the items down, fast. The brothers find a new ally in Elvira, a girl who wears magical boots, and while they race against the clock, Hudson becomes involved in his first romance. The book hits the ground running, and while newcomers may not be lost, they will have to quickly acclimate to Tuck and Hudson's world. The artwork is magnificently detailed, right down to subtle facial cues. This is a wordy graphic novel, with the longer conversations oozing with characterization. Younger readers looking for a whimsical book will be immediately thrown. Despite the childlike presentation, the actual writing is more in line with a serious DC title, making this suitable for more sophisticated middle graders.