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Hero is a Four Letter Word

Hero is a Four Letter Word
(Recess Warrior, #1)
By Marcus Emerson
Roaring Brook Press, 2017 (2014 c). Comics. 133 p.
Scrap, AKA Bryce, is the playground superhero. His best friend, Yoshi, is the toughest girl in school. Together they face down cootie ridden zombies and crazed female pirates. This is an amazingly clever comic book about the imaginary life on a school playground. Emerson includes the classic stereotypes; the girl that is always trying to kiss everyone, the boy who acts like a cowboy, the kid who talks like a TV narrator, the science nerd kid. There is a lot of talk about bases, and territories, and getting cooties. I am always impressed when an adult author taps into their younger self and captures what it is like to be a 4th grader again.  I honestly chuckled all the way through this one. 

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