Speed Reader (The Speed Reader #1)

Combining superhero antics with adolescent triumphs and tribulations, Cody (the Cat Ninja series) and Giallongo (Seeker Society) deliver a spirited graphic novel series launch about a tween uncovering his family’s fantastical legacy. Despite his last name, Zander Fast isn’t a particularly speedy runner; that, combined with his family’s reputation for publicly insisting that they’re descended from superpowered ancestors, is a source of shame for Zander as he endures schoolyard ridicule about his lack of athleticism and his relatives. But when he’s struck by lightning while holding a mysterious crystal, Zander gains superspeed, just like his missing grandfather, the legendary Felix Fast, whom Zander’s uncle Merv claims once protected Cape City from villainy. As Zander uses his powers to excel on the school track team and in classroom reading challenges, he also embarks on a fledgling vigilante career that unearths secrets from his grandfather’s past. Flashback sequences inspired by traditional superhero comics alternate with animated present-day events rendered in bold, saturated color. Readers will revel in the narrative’s breezy, comedic tone, which relays high-octane adventure with aplomb and emphasizes reading as a tool for knowledge and power. Characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Kate Testerman, KT Literary. (Mar.)