Speed Reader by Matthew Cody

As we enter the last week of 2025, I think a little fun and amazingness would be just the right thing to add to our final books for the year. Granted, this one doesn't really release until March 2026, but I still like putting books onto your radars. Pre-joy is half the fun, right? Well, if this book is worth that. Anyway, it's the first in a new graphic novel series for middle grade readers and hits upon...

Ready for this?

Superheroes! I mean, is there anything more compatible with graphic novels than superheroes? So traditional. I do hope that this one is a lot of fun. However, I'm also a little bit hesitant due to the title because I definitely am on the lookout, right now, for books which center on the joy of reading and not complete messaging front-and-center. Speed Reader has me crossing my fingers hard that it stays in the exciting adventure direction and not a pure call for kids to read.

So, let's keep those fingers crossed, open this one up, and take a look.

SPEED READER, VOLUME 1

by Matthew Cody

Illustrated by Zack Giallongo

Andrews McMeel

Middle Grade Superhero   /   Graphic Novel

160 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING MARCH 3rd!!!

When Zander Fast discovers an old book that gives him the power of super speed, he finds himself the last in a long line of heroes. But is the world ready for a hero right now? The Flash meets The Bad Guys in this all-new, action-packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creator of the Cat Ninja books!

Zander Fast is always last—last to complete an assignment, last to finish reading, and last to the bus. Even worse, his Great Uncle Merv is constantly embarrassing him with his cheesy catchphrases and tall-tale stories. But when Zander receives a mysterious book in the mail, all of that changes. Suddenly, Zander has the speed (and popularity) he’s always wanted––and Uncle Merv’s stories no longer seem so far-fetched.

Between navigating the perils of middle school and balancing his newfound powers with his studies, Zander, his best friend Tanya May, and his trusty dog Spike must protect their hometown as it transforms into a wacky world of ex-heroes and villains. Will a mind-controlling villain have his way with the people of Cape City? Or will a new generation of heroes emerge to defeat him?

PUBLISHER    /    GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

What happened to all the superheroes and villains? This is the world Zander lives in, but it might take a fun flip in a direction he never expected.

Zander isn't exactly the star of anything. He's not great at sports, isn't great at school, and isn't popular... or even well-liked. When his uncle comes to class and tells of his adventures as the mechanic to a past superhero, the uncle's awkwardness makes Zander's already skim standing at school take a complete nose-dive. When he arrives home after school, he discovers a package on the doorstep with a book about speed reading, which is weirdly on-point since his teacher has informed him that the only way he'll pass his English class is to join the reading competition and pound away at a ton of books. But the book isn't what deserves attention; the gem inside is about to turn his entire life on its head.

This read melds the feel of traditional, superhero stories with a modern, middle grader's world. Zander is anything but special and wins the sympathy of readers quickly, especially since he's just trying to get by and isn't mean or even overly depressing. He even makes a new friend before the adventure kicks off. The idea that superheroes and villains were once commonplace in the town adds a smooth connection between the familiar, daily life and the fantasy. Plus, seeing an ex-villain at a cafe, enjoying coffee while wearing his flamboyant style (which hints at his earlier life) adds just the right touch to set the atmosphere. The beginning lets the reader sink into Zander's world without growing boring, and then, shoots off into adventure and excitement as he gains his powers and, suddenly, faces an entire slew of villains, who were waiting in the shadows. It's well-paced with everything needed to create a fun read.

The illustrations bring across the scenes with the needed emotions and give a slight reminder of past, superhero comics with occasional sound effects. The expressions on the characters add the last zest. The text is balanced with the images and flows well.

It's a fun beginning to what promises to be a quick-paced series for superhero fans.

And here he is...

Matthew Cody is the author of several popular books, including the award-winning Supers of Noble’s Green trilogy: Powerless, Super, and Villainous. He is also the author of Will in Scarlet and The Dead Gentleman, as well as the graphic novels Zatanna and the House of Secrets from DC Comics and The Bright Family from Epic/Andrews McMeel. He lives in Manhattan, New York, with his wife and son.

 

Seeker Society by Jana Tropper and Kyle Higgins

 I was in the mood for a little adventure, and today's read might just hold plenty of that. At least, that's what I'm getting from the cover. I think it gives steampunk vibes, but I'm not sure that's what this tale weaves around. According to the blurb, it's a type of academy read, but I'm also not sure it would fit into the same 'academy reads' category which was popular in the YA direction a couple years ago. Maybe, it will be more like a 

SEEKER SOCIETY

by Jana Tropper & Kyle Higgins

Illustrated by Zack Giallongo

& Whitney Cogar

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Middle Grade Fantasy   /   Graphic Novel

176 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING...

JUNE 3rd!!!

Shackleton’s School for Seekers is a haven for students as diverse as the magical gifts they possess. But as the new class of Seekers soon learn, the ability to hear voices from the past or sense an object’s history can lead to great knowledge...and even greater danger.

When Fern, Jordan, and Zack are selected for a mysterious class trip with Shackleton’s fearless Dr. Adichie, they’ve only just begun to explore the limits of their powers. It’s clear their teacher knows more than she’s letting on about the kids’ gifts—and the dangers they’ll be facing. But when an unexpected accident separates the trio from their instructor and leaves them stranded on an uncharted island, they’ll have to learn to rely on each other to survive the hostile environment and the Seekers’ equally hostile rivals, the Keepers.

This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel is now in print for the first time after its successful debut on the Epic! platform.

GOODREADS     /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

The ability to connect with the past leads to adventure and danger pure.

The School for Seekers is packed with students, who harbor various gifts...many which lean to peering one way or another into history, gifts in language, and more. While these might, at first, seem calm, these talents are more powerful than they appear. When a group of Seeker students accidentally lands on an island, the adventure is about to begin, but they might not survive it thanks to the deadly creatures residing there.

The illustrations are rich and allow the fantasy world to open up and invite in. The scenes are vivid, and the creatures radiate danger. Each moment hits with emotional clarity and makes this group easy to root for from beginning to end.

The tale is complexly woven and allows the information to dribble between the action, keeping tension high with just enough background knowledge to make things understandable. It flips between present, past, and somewhere in between constantly. Each time, this is marked with a short time note in a rectangle at the top of the page. This helps keep the flashbacks clear. While the constant back and forth allows for information to be dropped at just the right time (avoiding info dumps), it does break the story flow and pulled out of the main plot quite often. It almost grew confusing a few times as the sudden change needed to be recognized and worked in with the main plot every time to understand what was happening. While not my favorite tactic, it keeps the story compact and quick paced.

There's a large amount of diversity on the character end to make sure many aspects are included. This builds nicely into the teamwork as each student needs to learn to handle their own powers while discovering how to work with the capabilities of those around them. That also slides nicely into the mystery and makes it exciting as each clue discovered depends on this vibrant mix.

It's an interesting beginning to a series and lays the foundation for many adventures to come. Fans of quick-paced adventure with super-powers and teamwork involved as well as inner struggles are going to enjoy this one.

And here she is...

Jana Tropper, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a writer, presenter, and speech-language pathologist at a public elementary school outside Chicago. When she's not writing, reading, or playing video games, she enjoys visiting schools and has presented as both an educator and author at several events including C2E2, LITapalooza, New York Comic Con, and San Diego Comic Con. She lives with her husband, Josh, and their own three rescue dogs: Ripley, Newt, and Sandy Lambert.