GUARDIANS OF PORTHAVEN

One family stands between a city and destruction.

In an alternate future North America, Malcolm has trained to be a Guardian along with the rest of his uniquely superpowered family, the Gravenhursts. They are known as the city’s protectors against the klek, mysterious alien robot adversaries, as well as leaders in technological innovation. Now, on his 15th birthday, Malcolm’s wish is finally coming true, as he is presented to the public at a media event. But Malcolm wants to help people by fighting regular street crime, like the superheroes he idolizes from old comic books. He makes a rare exit from his family’s towering skyscraper and goes on patrol only to find something unexpected: Drew, someone else with powers. Drew introduces him to Blair and Kazue, more superpowered kids; their friend Ibrahim is missing, along with others. Initially thrilled, sheltered Malcolm isn’t expecting to learn from them that people’s powers don’t work outside the city limits and that his family has some connection to these unsettling truths. Arbuthnott revels in some tried-and-true aspects of superhero stories—presenting lots of action, pondering questions of morality, and protecting humanity against alien invaders—making for exhilarating storytelling. But the book goes deeper as Malcolm comes face to face with the limitations of his earlier, limited understanding of crime, policing, and society. Malcolm is White; Drew and Blair have dark skin, Kazue’s name indicates Japanese heritage (she and Blair are girlfriends), and Ibrahim is cued as being of Middle Eastern descent.

Superpowered fun with depth besides.