It isn't until prom night that all is revealed, and Raven remembers her life before in a traumatic way. Plus, a new boy at school seems a little too interested, too quickly in Raven. But odd things start happening: Raven hears voices, her thoughts make bad things happen, and a bird-shaped shadow looms over her. Viv's sister, Natalia, takes the 17-year-old in, and with the help of her strong-willed cousin, Max, Raven starts to regain a sense of herself, even if she still can't remember anything. VERDICT Lovers of superheroes will appreciate this complex origin story.-Anna Murphy, Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklynīooklist Review After a terrible car accident, Raven loses nearly all her memories, including everything about her life with her foster mom, Viv. Raven's style (a chic, violet-tinged bob dark hair and nails combat boots) will appeal to budding punks. Particularly lovely is the New Orleans scenery the ornate balconies and crumbling graveyards evoke the gritty beauty of the city. Picolo's gorgeous illustrations are dynamic and nuanced. In Natalia's appeals to the spirit world, Garcia presents an empowering representation of New Orleans African American spiritual life. Raven's romance with the all-too-perfect Tommy Torres initially feels tacked on but ultimately finds a place in the increasingly complicated plot. Her Raven is curious and kind, but the star of this tale is Max, whose fierce loyalty, unending patience, and strong moral compass make her the best friend we all wish we had. Garcia's ambitious origin story of a Teen Titan is funny and unequivocally feminist. Meanwhile, Natalia knows a sinister force is operating on Raven and seeks the counsel of the spirit world. Raven and Max must learn what's causing these strange abilities. Not only can she sense their emotions but when she wishes ill on the school mean girl, she discovers that her dark thoughts actually come true. At school, Raven is overwhelmed by the deafening anxieties of her classmates. Raven moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mother's sister, Natalia, and Natalia's daughter Max. School Library Journal Review Gr 7 Up-Seventeen-year-old Raven grieves the loss of her foster mother, but she can't remember her at all-the car wreck that took her mother's life took Raven's memories, too. Readers without prior knowledge of the character may be confused by the jumpy plot and vaguely developed characters, but Garcia's exploration of the connection between memory and identity offers a promising entrée to the Teen Titans series. Picolo's spare, effective use of color and slightly edgy art helps situate the story in a supernaturally tinged world of high-school drama. Garcia (the Beautiful Creatures series) reframes Teen Titans comics character Raven as a young adult discovering her powers, focusing more on issues of identity and navigating teen social spaces than on superheroic battles (though this reboot has some of that, too). Recovering her memories might explain these strange phenomena, but Raven isn't sure she wants to be the person she was before. She also starts to have nightmares, hears the thoughts of people around her, and can seemingly cause bad things to happen just by thinking about them. There, she quickly bonds with her new foster sister and finds school friends while finishing her senior year. DC will release the newest addition to the Teen Titans graphic novel series, Teen Titans: Starfire, in July 2024.Publishers Weekly Review After an accident kills her foster mother and leaves Raven with amnesia, she is sent to New Orleans to live with her foster mother's sister. Given the popularity of Garcia and Picolo's DC work thus far, there's a chance that her new adventure could finally be the YA story that fans have been waiting for. Starfire was previously featured in a YA graphic novel from DC, I Am Not Starfire, though it met with mixed reviews. Her relationship with Robin and rivalry with her villainous sister have all helped lead her to be a stand-out member of the team. Starfire has featured in numerous works of art by Gabriel Picolo, from birthday parties to Halloween. While the announcement is very exciting, the graphic novel is also a year away. The Teen Titans have also received numerous adaptations in media, been featured in major comic events, and the team just replaced the Justice League in the DC Universe. Over the past several decades, the team have undergone several changes, gathering a multi-generational following. The Teen Titans have been a fan-favorite team since their debut in 1964, at one point being perhaps the most popular superhero team on the stands. Considering how much of a following he and Kami Garcia's DC work has garnered, it's not surprising to see their partnership continue. Brazilian comic artist Gabriel Picolo frequently shares Teen Titan-centric art on social media, alongside fan art and variant covers.
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