unOrdinary, Volume 2

Gr 9 Up–John is finding it harder and harder to keep his “Unordinary” persona alive at Wellston Private High School. With his friend Seraphina stuck at home suspended, and other highly ranked classmates like Isen and Arlo finding cracks in his cover story, John’s walls are closing in, as he’s just not sure whom he can trust anymore. But with further threats looming, John is going to have to figure out quickly who he can and can’t depend on. The smash WEBTOON series continues its run in print format, picking up where the first volume left off. Character arcs are fleshed out further, with John’s father (and author of the Unordinary book at the franchise’s heart) making an entertaining appearance midway through. The art looks great throughout, particularly during action sequences, with the dynamic colors from the opening volume returning for an encore. Colored-in speech bubbles are also a cool touch. In a time where young adults turn to comics, in print or online, for socioemotional support, many teens will be able to see themselves in the characters. Whether it’s John having to hide his true self, or Seraphina wondering what’s the point in striving to be perfect at all times, the characters feel relatable. Teens will be entertained by this story, while also finding it identifiable—as much as one possibly can in a world where superpowers run rampant!