Shades Of Blue Volume 1 - Softcover

Grade 7 Up–Move over, Batgirl, here comes Heidi Paige. While on a shopping trip at the mall, she encounters a mysterious stranger who bestows on her the ability to conduct electricity. Unfortunately for Heidi, her crush and her substitute English teacher also seem to be granted superpowers that are fighting against her. With the help of her nerdy sidekick, Marcus; physics teacher Mr. McMurty; and her shopoholic best friend, Heidi seeks to learn about the enigmatic forces behind both her enemies and her powers. With simple, yet highly enjoyable black-and-white illustrations and authentic teen voices, Harris has created a likable and approachable female superhero who will appeal to most girls, whether they enjoy superhero/action graphic novels or not. The cartoon violence is kept to a minimum; even during fight scenes there is no blood or gore, just good clean fun. Think MTV's Daria meets Michael Brennan's Electric Girl (AiT/Planet Lar) with a dash of superhero intrigue and you have Heidi Paige. This volume contains the first five issues. It is a sheer delight.–Jennifer Feigelman, Plattekill Public Library, Modena, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gr. 9-12. Heidi Paige, the protagonist of this graphic novel, is an "average" teenager with average problems--fitting in at a new school, keeping up with homework, and dealing with Marcus, the geeky neighbor boy who has a crush on her. But her life takes an odd turn after she awakens with blue hair and the power to control electricity. Although she tries to keep her powers from getting in the way of her normal life, weird situations pop up, and her best friend, K. T., and Marcus (who calls himself her sidekick) insist that she's the superhero for the job. This sarcastic, funny send-up of superhero comics hinges on great characterizations and an immensely likable, believable cast. But Harris also keeps the plot moving forward and the jokes flying. The art changes in mid-book, from more stylized work to a cuter, more classic comic-book approach, but both styles fit the story. A prologue, and epilogue, and a short behind-the-scenes strip introducing readers to the comics' creators round out the book. Readers both older and younger than the target audience will enjoy this, too. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved