America Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez

Gr 9 Up—America Chavez, aka Ms. America, previously highlighted in Marvel's "The Avengers" and "The Ultimates," gets her own solo comic in this rollicking, high-energy offering from Gabby Rivera (Juliet Takes a Breath). In this volume, which collects issues #1–6, the frosh at Sotomayor University battles aliens, heartbreak, uber-fans, and her past with attitude, a galaxy-bending fist, and the help of her close friends Hawkeye and Prodigy. Marvel readers will be intrigued by the many adventures of the Latinx superheroine and will chuckle at the cameos made by Captain Marvel, Peggy Carter, the X-Men, Moon Girl, and many more. The tale is powered by themes of unity, girl power, friendship, and family. Sometimes the dialogue is a bit on the nose and the action sequences feel slightly haphazard, but America's search for her identity and roots will resonate with many teens. The vivid art accentuates the frenetic pace of the narrative and truly packs a punch. The Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout add another layer of authenticity and nuance. VERDICT A strong choice for most collections. Purchase where there's a devoted comics following. —Shelley M. Diaz, School Library Journal