The Misshapes

December 1, 2015

Gr 6-10-Flynn (pseudonym for writing duo Stuart Sherman and Elisabeth Donnelly) continues the catalogue of the teenage mishaps of Sarah Robertson, a Misshape who wields untrained dominion over weather forces. This second installment tackles the frenzy of the latest U.S. presidential election and its ripple effect into the quaint hamlet of Doolittle Falls. Sarah spends her time managing the personal dramas of her deadbeat brother, absent dad, and secretive best friend, while worrying about the suspicious partnership between fully fledged Heroes and powerful politicians. Though the cast of characters are encouragingly diverse, the protagonists suffer from too little development, and readers will be left craving more about these talented teens and their unique powers. Sarah takes steps to explore her own skills, but only when her male crush (a weather-working Hero named Sam) encourages her, at all other times remaining fearful of her abilities. Disappointingly, this volume fails to carry the spirit of The Misshapes: The Coming Storm (Polis, 2014), in part because there are frustratingly few details until late into the book regarding corrupt corporation PeriGenomics or of reported supervillain Lady Oblivion's abrupt disappearance. Teens are required to rely on the tension built up in the first novel to maintain their interest here, and new readers will not find any clues to the story arc, past or present. The writers wait too long to move the story along, instead creating a novel-length press of the pause button. VERDICT A lukewarm sequel to the previous energetic series opener.-Chelsea Woods, New Brunswick Free Public Library

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 13, 2014
Writing as Flynn, first-time novelists Stuart Sherman and Elisabeth Donnelly make a strong debut with this trilogy opener, set in a world populated by superhumans. Fifteen-year-old Sarah Robertson can control the weather with her emotions and yearns to attend Hero Academy, where she can train to be a full-fledged Hero. Instead, her lack of control, coupled with her mother being an infamous supervillain, brings her rejection and assignment to the local high school. But as Sarah meets other so-called Misshapes rejected by the Academy, she makes new friends and finds her own self-worth and confidenceâwhich comes in handy when the outsiders catch wind of a plot to rid the world of Misshapes and others deemed unworthy. The authors conjure a world teeming with intriguing characters and unusual powersâthe abilities to turn liquid into alcohol or conjure spectral backup singers are among those represented, a welcome deviance from more typical power sets. Stilted bits of dialogue and narrative occasionally mar the story, but the book never loses its sense of wonder and excitement. Worthy of the comics it takes inspiration from. Ages 10âup.