Iron Man: The Gauntlet

Gr 4–6—Readers familiar with the Marvel Universe know all about Tony Stark and his campaign to redeem the destructive legacy of Stark Industries, more often than not with the use of the Iron Man suit. While under his father's leadership, Stark Industries designed the most creative and destructive weapons in the world, and his dad was rather cynical about the use of technology. In this novel, written by the author of the "Artemis Fowl" books, these themes are never far from the forefront. Saoirse Tory, a young computer genius, tricks Tony, hoping to force him to save her sister, who she believes is being held captive. Unfortunately, one of Iron Man's many nemeses, the Mandarin, is waiting in the wings. Middle school readers, especially those who are fans of the superhero genre, will enjoy the action and changes of fortune as Tony fights to thwart the Mandarin's plans. The characters are well-developed; even the bad guys have interesting personalities. In the end, readers see how Tony has turned his father's cynicism on its head with a more hopeful application of Stark technology.