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High stakes of middle school

Cover of Power Up
A review of Power Up by Sam Nisson, illustrated by Darnell Johnson

Although Miles and Rhys attend the same school, they don't know each other in real life, but in the online game Mecha Melee they are triumphant besties known as Gryphon and Backslash. The action in the book switches back and forth between in-game action and real-life family and middle school drama. The students at their school make up a diverse cast of background characters. Miles and his family are Black, and Rhys and his family have light brown skin and straight, dark hair. Great graphic novel for kids that directly addresses screen time, balance, bullying and those tricky middle school friendships.

Dec 10, 2021