Power Up

December 1, 2020
Two middle school boys with epic gaming skills face a new challenge--making friends. Eleven-year-old gamers Miles and Rhys may not know each other in real life, but on Mecha Melee they make an unstoppable, platinum-ranked duo. They use strategy and teamwork to take on their enemies, and when one of them goes down, they won't abandon one another. Despite their winning streak online, both boys struggle with parental expectations and friendships at school. While Miles falls in with the popular kids who make fun of anyone who's different, Rhys, the new kid at his school, spends all his time alone until a group of bullies starts targeting him and decides to expose the secret of why he transferred in the first place. The students at their Phoenix, Arizona, school make up a diverse cast of background characters. Miles and his family are Black, and Rhys and his family have light brown skin and straight, dark hair. Their parents may push them to try new experiences, but they also display an earnest desire to support their sons. Bright, vivid colors and varied layouts communicate the intensity, high stakes, and drama of the video game sequences, making them all the more immersive. In the midst of the action, at the story's core is a sensitive narrative about the desire to find belonging. A high-scoring power combo of fast-action gaming and real-life friendship. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

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January 1, 2021
Grades 3-7 Miles and Rhys are friends, even though they haven't met and don't know each other's real-life identity. They play together as Gryphon and Backslash in Mecha Melee, an online game, and they are quickly becoming the best team around. But, their real lives are a bit more complicated--Rhys, aka Backslash, is the new kid at school, and Miles, aka Gryphon, is trying to determine who his real friends are. Unfortunately, Rhys also has to deal with Luke, the school bully; when Luke takes it too far, and Miles doesn't get involved, Rhys doesn't know who to can trust. With Battlecon coming to town, will these two gamers realize a great friend is closer than they think? Bold, colorful artwork full of dynamic action and an inclusive cast of characters make this graphic novel a quick and engaging read. The two different illustration styles, representing the game as well as real life, fit well together and are easily distinguishable. A fun and heartening story that shows that a new best friend could be right around the corner.

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