Renegades by Marissa Meyer

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Pan Macmillan, 2017. ISBN 9781760555313
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Who doesn't want to be a superhero? Nova despises the Renegades that failed to save her family during the age of anarchy. Taken in by her uncle, the notorious Ace Anarchy, just before The Battle for Gatlon, Nova was raised with the ideals of the anarchists, however neither she, nor her alias Nightmare, were ever quite right for the anarchists. Having retreated underground with the survivors, Nova is thrust back into the fray when a plan to kill Captain Chromium leads the renegades directly to their hiding place. A new plan must now be set in motion, one which her uncle would have approved of - going undercover into enemy territory. Nova must become a Renegade to discover how they can be overthrown and how she can keep her anarchist family safe. However, being a Renegade means adopting a whole new world-view. Can Nova maintain her anarchist roots in spite of the comradery of the Renegades and the particular attentions of Captain Chromium's son, Adrian?
In a world where there are prodigies who can use their powers for good (joining the Renegades) or evil, social structures are threatened as the people go from anarchy to a reliance on superheros. Exploring ideas of loyalty, friendship, and open-mindedness, Nova discovers that no one side is entirely right or entirely wrong. I would highly recommend for fans of superhero or dystopian fiction aged twelve and up. I am certainly looking forward to the sequel!
Kayla Gaskell, 22

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