Chance Fortune and the Outlaws

Joshua Blevins has no powers whatsoever, yet he talks his way into Burlington Academy for the Superhuman under a borrowed identity and manages to lead a team of misfits called the Outlaws. Shane Berryhill's genuine love for Silver Age comics gives the novel real warmth — the school buildings named after Stan Lee and Jack Kirby signal the affection on every page — and the core message, that you earn your place through character rather than innate ability, is handled without becoming a lecture. The Outlaws team is diverse without feeling tokenistic. Dragon Page Cover to Cover praised the fast pacing, and multiple library reading lists, including the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age, have recognized it. Some conflict resolutions move too easily for the stakes involved, and the Silver Age references may need context for readers unfamiliar with comics history. A strong, family-safe choice for the 10-to-14 crowd.