I’d be remiss if I didn’t use this platform to put my own work out there, and the biggest thing for me right now is my Kid Comet Series.
Kid Comet is a middle-grade superhero series following the adventures of Josh Jacobs, Jr. and his two best friends, Mikey and Xandra. They get into the types of challenges you would expect for a superhero story, battling villains and doing good.
But don’t let the cartoony cover and superhero premiss fool you. Kid Comet is so much more than that. It’s about grief and perseverance and forgiving yourself. It’s about friendship and mentors and doing what’s right. It’s a story that draws you in with the adventure but satisfies you with emotional depth.
In the first book, Josh is just learning about being a hero, but he’s also in a new town and in a new school. But none of those things are his biggest challenge. The very reason he is in Rockvale to begin with is because his dad has died. He and his mom came back to her hometown as they both deal with Josh Jacobs, Sr.’s death. If that in and of itself wasn’t difficult enough, Josh, Jr. blames himself for his dad’s death. So he’s not only dealing with grief but also guilt.
In the second book, Josh and his friends are on to another challenge. This adventure takes them to Chicago to track down Xandra’s sister who has disappeared. And amid that investigation, they uncover some strange pills and a shady pharmaceutical company. This is a thrilling mystery, but it also asks the question of how far you would go to support your friends and family. What lies would you be willing to tell to protect them?
This all sets up the third book, where we see some cracks forming between our three best friends. While this story concludes the mysteries uncovered in book two, we also explore jealousy and what it means to be a part of a team (on multiple layers). And this one also tests the bounds of friendship and probes what lengths you will go to to support and forgive your loved ones (even if they have hurt you).
As you can see, these books are deep. You can read them at the surface level and have a super fun superhero story. Or you can get a whole lot more out of them.
Whether you’ve got an 8-12 year old reader looking for some summer reading or are an adult (superhero fan or otherwise) looking for a great book to get into, you should check these out!
Yes, I’m biased. Sue me.
You can get Kid Comet books at my website. Or go to your local book store and have them order you a copy.