The Misshapes: The Coming Storm

Gr 7–10—Sarah Robertson is one of the many residents of Doolittle Falls with supernatural powers. She dreams of attending the nearby Hero Academy where she can learn to control her weather-altering abilities alongside her crush, Freedom Boy. When the rejection letter arrives from the Academy, Sarah fears she'll be labeled a "Misshape," the derogatory name for teens with sub-standard powers. This disappointment—on top of the recent disappearance of her mother and an impending threat to all Misshapes—forces Sarah to reexamine what's really important in her life. There is much here for fans of "Harry Potter" to enjoy: a school for teens with super powers, a dramatic sporting event called Harpastball, and humorous characters such as Butters, a boy whose super power is summoning a ghostly singing group that broadcasts his thoughts musically (he hasn't mastered sending them away yet). And for romance fans, there's a love triangle brewing here, too. The writing style is sometimes choppy and awkward, though most readers will overlook these flaws and become lost in this imaginative, action-packed series opener.—Alison O'Reilly Poage, formerly at Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, NY