The second book in the Super Sidekicks graphic novel series is all about the sidekicks standing on their own. The world's leaders and the superhero grownups have been captured by The Mother of the Sea, who's sick and tired of the damage us humans are wreaking on the planet, and it's up to Junior Justice (JJ), Flygirl, Dinomite, Goo, and Ada, the most intelligent belt buckle in the universe, to save things and start the world on a better path. Mother of the Sea has put together a Trash Titan - a giant monster created out of all the trash from the Pacific Ocean - and wants to destroy all the land dwellers, so talking her down is going to take all of the skills the Sidekicks have at their disposal!


This is a perfect series for readers who are moving up from chapter books. It's a fast-paced adventure story with fun superheroes who show the adults a thing or two about respecting kids and the planet. Illustrations are colorful, and the beginning of the story carries incredible weight: drifting trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; seagulls feeding plastic bottle caps to their babies; a sea turtle swimming with a plastic soda ring around its neck. Watching the Trash Titan form from the tons of junk polluting the waters, you kind of want to root for the Mother of the Sea. Naturally, the adults are all clueless, but the kids know what's up! Empowering kids to save the world one piece of junk at a time, Super Sidekicks: Ocean's Revenge includes tips on reducing our trash footprint, and tips on how to draw Dinomite and Goo.


Super Sidekicks: Ocean's Revenge is a winner of the Environment Award for Children's Literature. See more of Aung Than's artwork and learn about his other work at his website.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
The Side Kicks/Junior Justice group returns to take on a new adventure. Something has kidnapped all of the superheroes and stripped them of their powers. This being then takes the world leaders and holds them as well. The only ones who can save the planet from the giant plastic being are the former sidekicks who have banded together. Readers see them learn as they go and make smart cooperative decisions to rescue everyone and save the cities. They make an agreement with the "evil" opponent to have everyone - superheroes and leaders - work together to clean up the seas.
Aung Than uses a soft touch to emphasize the underlying theme of plastic destroying the ocean habitats. From the first illustration, readers see the plastic floating everywhere. The artwork is creative and supports the story line. Looking forward to the next adventure.

My 10 year old loves to read the books with me and I like to include his review as he is really the target audience of the book. Here is his take on the book: "The book was good just not too memorable. The characters had funny names and were interesting but I didn't understand the beginning of the book and I"m surprised how all those hero's could be taken down so easily. The end was by far the best part. I give it a 4. "

I liked the message, the characters, and the illustrations. I also liked that the main side kick didn’t have super powers but was still able to make a difference. Goo was too cute. And I really liked the lizard. I will be looking for future editions.