In Kid X, the sequel to Tracey Baptiste’s superhero middle grade novel Boy 2.0, 13-year-old Coal Keegan feels like he’s getting the hang of his invisibility powers—so much so that he’s started to outsource his talents, granting small favors around his neighborhood. But as Coal starts to get in over his head, he must reckon with his new identity and the dangers that come with it. PW spoke with Baptiste about using science fiction to contextualize reality and the power of stories to foster connection.

Why did you make Coal a young Black superhero?

There are historical fiction novels that delve into things that have happened—how Black people persevered. And there are Afrofuturistic stories about where we’ll be and how things will improve. I wondered what the bridge was between that. And the answer is superhero stories. I specifically wanted to write not just a superhero origin, but one that bridges the past and resonates into the future, and that’s how I came up with the backstory for Coal and how his powers developed.

How do you write about antiracism in a way that's both accessible and entertaining for kids?

It’s a delicate balance. I drew on my personal experiences as a parent. Every parent of a Black child has to walk that line because it’s our children’s reality. They’re very much aware of what’s happening in the world around them, and they have feelings about it. I’m not going to gaslight them and tell them that it’s better than it looks; I want to reassure kids that what they’re seeing is real. But I also want to give them something to hold on to. Science fiction has always helped people understand reality in a way that doesn’t feel as weighty.

What will readers find in future installments of your Boy 2.0 series?

Coal is a typical kid who has just discovered that he can become invisible. What would any kid do with this ability? They’re going to play into that . And sometimes they take things too far and things get out of control, and then they have to figure out how to pull it back. That’s where we are with Coal in Kid X.

What will you be talking about during your panel at TLA, “The Power of Story”?

Stories are the oldest thing we have that connects us. They’re what we build culture and community around. Everybody has a story. Storytelling is always going to be extremely important for humankind, not only in how we relate to one another, but also in how we stay connected.

Tracey Baptiste will join authors Avi, Nikki Grimes, and Jasmine Warga, along with librarian D’Anne Mosby for a Texas Library Association panel on “The Power of Story” in Room 370AD, George R. Brown Convention Center, Level 3, on Sunday, Mar. 29, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Kid X by Tracey Baptiste. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-1-6437-5382-9