Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Too-familiar tale of inner city superheroics.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
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 :
- Illustrator : Brittney Williams
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Adventures
- 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, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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