Girl on Fire
Too-familiar tale of inner city superheroics.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Girl on Fire is a superhero graphic novel co-written by musician Alicia Keys and Andrew Weiner. Although well-written, the plot relies too heavily on comics cliches. Many fight scenes -- punching, kicking, power blasts -- but little bloodshed. The antagonist is a drug dealer, and his crew is shown packaging drugs for distribution. There's a tender first kiss and holding hands.
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What's the Story?
As GIRL ON FIRE opens, Lolo Wright witnesses her brother being violently restrained by a cop. She uses her newly discovered superpower to break them them up, and before long, the local criminal gangleader knows her secret and wants her to work as an enforcer for him. She seeks help from a boy with super strength, and together they fight for their loved ones' safety.
Is It Any Good?
In comics, origin stories are a staple of the medium, but this tale of a girl discovering her powers feels a bit too familiar. Co-written by musician Alicia Keys and Andrew Weiner, Girl on Fire puts its likable, ethnically diverse cast cast through the expected moves. There's an angry young man named "Runt," and it doesn't take much to guess the role he plays. Lolo's powers don't seem to follow any logical pattern, and there's no explanation of their origin or limitations. Readers looking for any connection to Keys' life as a musician are likely to be disappointed. Comics fans may find the plot cliched, even the threads that are supposed to generate interest for a sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Girl on Fire depicts life in the inner city. How does living in poverty affect children and the adults around them?
What does name-calling do to a person's self-esteem? How can kids push back against bullying?
How do criminal gangs form? What do they offer kids that they can't find at home?
Book Details
- Authors: Alicia Keys, Andrew Weiner
- Illustrator: Brittney Williams
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Adventures, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Harper Alley
- Publication date: March 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 11 - 15
- Number of pages: 224
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: May 10, 2022
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