Secrets and Sidekicks

Gr 3-6–In in this third installment, middle schooler Katie continues to train as a sidekick for secret superhero Mousetress and her cadre of 217 highly intelligent cats. Rampaging robots keep appearing all over town, but no one believes Katie when she accuses Benito Benton (aka Eastern Screech) of being the mastermind behind the chaos. Her struggles with physical sidekick training alongside friendship drama result in even more stress. When Katie’s overworked mom starts to join her for “cat sitting,” Katie wonders how much longer she can keep her sidekick-life a secret…or if she’ll have to give it up for good. This well-paced, visually appealing middle grade graphic novel continues to develop its unique superhero world. Katie is a relatable main character who struggles with feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and doubt. The multitude of cats and their special ops roles, such as Mew Mew the disguise expert and Seamus the Math Genius, add humor to the storyline. Represented within the artwork is a diverse cast that includes white (Katie and her mom, Jess), brown-skinned (Beth, Marie), and Black (Madeline) characters.