Marv and the Pool of Peril

Marvin has a secret: when he puts on a special super-suit, which is powered by kindness and imagination, he becomes Marv the superhero. So far, nobody but his Grandad – who Marvin inherited the super-suit from – knows.

However, being a part-time superhero doesn’t mean that Marvin is all-powerful. In fact, when Marvin’s friend Joe invites him to a water park for his birthday, Marvin is pretty nervous about it, because he’s afraid of being in the water. Being brave helps, but when a crafty supervillain called Hydro appears at Wave World with her three robot sharks, chaos ensues. Can Marvin overcome his fear of water and defeat Hydro?

This next instalment in Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles’ illustrated series is another relatable adventure for younger primary readers. Like Kevin and Katie Tsang’s Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts  series and Tom Percival’s Dream Defenders series Silas and the Marvellous Misfits, Marv’s adventures centre firmly around overcoming fears and being kind to others, with adventures that feature recognisable childhood settings. It’s nice to see the relationship between Marvin and his supportive, loving grandfather, and, of course, see a black boy as the heroic superhero protagonist.