Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation (A Jack Blank Adventure)
Gr 5-8–Jack Blank's dull life as a 12-year-old orphan ends when he is attacked by a mechanical monster, then whisked off to the Imagine Nation, a floating island populated by superheroes. The boy makes a few friends and several enemies, explores the parameters of his own newfound superpowers, and tries to uncover the mystery of his origin. The backstory of the Imagine Nation takes a while to develop but ultimately pays off in a richly imagined world with strong appeal to fans of comics. The island is populated by a fun cast of heroes and villains, many of whom Jack already knows about from the comic books he loves to read. Brisk narration captures the superhero world with a mixture of fast-paced action, wry humor, and occasional heartfelt speeches about courage and friendship. Jack's destined role in a looming alien invasion is revealed gradually and quite effectively, and he becomes a more interesting protagonist as he learns more about himself. Several surprising plot twists toward the end lead to some serious moral struggles, along with just the right amount of plasma blasts, fusion cannons, and major explosions that make up the engaging scenes of super-battles. Most of the supporting characters are largely defined by their hero personae, but these are varied enough to make all of them interesting. The fairly ubiquitous premise of an ordinary boy with hidden powers is used here with originality and purpose, with especially careful plotting that leads to an exciting and thought-provoking conclusion.Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR© Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.