UNORDINARY

A teen navigates the vicious hierarchy of his private high school, where social elites exert their magical powers.

New student John struggles with being “the school zero”; nevertheless, he’s courageous and doesn’t back down from defending others. His only friend, Seraphina, is revered, but the popular kids blame John for her change of attitude as she becomes less invested in being the best at everything. John has endured the bullying and violence, but when Seraphina gets suspended for a month for possession of a banned book by John’s father, one that spreads a message of peace, he starts to lose his grip. Things aren’t going much better for Seraphina, who’s been sent back to an abusive, controlling home. Without Seraphina’s protection at school, powerful classmates start digging into John’s mysterious past, uncovering dark secrets. Meanwhile, in a storyline that may be more fully integrated in a future episode, a gang called EMBER is targeting and killing vigilante superheroes. Built around an enduring friendship, this engaging read adapted from a popular, long-running WEBTOON series offers an accessible exploration of fairness and justice that will resonate with readers who have struggled with social inequalities at school. The manga-style art is fresh and expressive, effectively conveying shifts in mood. Characters are light-skinned and have a range of hair colors from blond to mauve and light green.

Readers will eagerly await the next volume of this superhero adventure.