Metropolis Grove

Gr 3-7–Summer has arrived in the peaceful suburb of Metropolis Grove, and best friends Alex and Duncan are all set to build a fort in the woods. Their duo unexpectedly becomes a trio when a new friend appears: Sonia, who’s just moved from the big city of Metropolis. They all become fast friends, but tension arises: Sonia is obsessed with Superman and even saw him once, but Duncan doesn’t believe he exists. Sonia decides to prove that Superman is real, and a mysterious cave discovered deep in the woods inhabited by a very strong man with a blue suit and red cape does the trick. But Sonia’s got a secret—the man is actually Bizarro, the giant clone of Superman, who doesn’t know how to control his own strength. Can Sonia help Bizarro become the hero he wants to be and keep her secret from getting out? This adventure is funny, fast-paced, and engaging, with details from the DC world sprinkled throughout. Bright, full-color illustrations have a friendly, cartoonish charm. Duncan, who is white; Alex, who is Asian; and Sonia, who is South Asian, offer a great example of how to deal with conflict in a friend group.