Staff Review: Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, & Jacob Wyatt

Heroes and heroism are at the center of the 2015 summer reading program, when the library challenges readers of all ages to read something new. We do offer rewards to readers who meet or exceed the challenge, so be sure to check out the details for the Adult Summer Reading Program if you haven't yet.

At various points in our lives, we all look to a variety of people and professions for our heroes, but who is more obvious than a superhero? They might not be real, but they can provide inspiration to people of all ages. I'm still fairly new to the world of superheroes, but I have my favorites, including Kamala Khan, the new Ms. Marvel.

Written by G. Willow Wilson, and illustrated by Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt, Ms. Marvel is both entertaining and inspiring. This is the sort of comic book I wish I could give to my teenage self to read because she would've loved it. There will be some spoilers from this point forward, so be warned!

Kamala, a normal teenage girl, suddenly gains superpowers that allow her to save people just like her hero, Captain Marvel. Unfortunately, she gained them after sneaking out of her house to attend a party her parents specifically forbade her to attend. And that's the charm of this series, in between superpowered battles, Kamala faces challenges and questions familiar to most teens and young adults. Everyone has to learn how to balance the expectations of family, friends, and society at large, while still being true to the person you are inside. Kamala is exploring not just what it means to be a hero, but how she can be a hero and a good daughter to her parents who moved from Pakistan to New Jersey to give their children a chance at a better life.

Not that Ms. Marvel is 100% serious all the time, this is absolutely a fun series. Seriously, if I were limited to one word it would be fun. Kamala's shapechanging abilities are versatile, unstable, and used to great effect. The art is both detailed, with interesting backgrounds that make the setting a real part of the larger story, while still colorful and cartoony. The book does assume you have a basic familiarity with superheroes, but you don't need to get any of the references to other series or characters to thoroughly enjoy this series on its own.

There are currently two volumes of this series available, with the third to be released later this summer:
Ms. Marvel volume 1: No Normal
Ms. Marvel volume 2: Generation Y
Ms. Marvel volume 3: Crushed*

~Sarah, Adult Services

*Volume 3 is on order and will appear in the library's catalog for holds by the end of the July.

Science Friday: Underwater Greenhouses

Off the coast of Italy, a company has created underwater greenhouses, using the sea to grow plants like basil and strawberries. Read more about it here, see the livestream of the garden here, and check out some books that can help you think of creative ways to live in an environmentally-friendly way.

Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together by Sylvia Bernstein

The Conscious Kitchen: The New Way to Buy and Cook Food-- to Protect the Earth, Improve Your Health, and Eat Deliciously by Alexandra Zissu

The Locavore's Handbook: The Busy Person's Guide to Eating Local on a Budget by Leda Meredith

Made by Hand: Searching for Meaning in a Throwaway World by Mark Frauenfelder

Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich

The Plundered Planet: Why We Must, and How We Can, Manage Nature for Global Prosperity by Paul Collier

Shift Your Habit: Easy Ways to Save Your Money, Simplify Your Life, and Save the Planet by Elizabeth Rogers and Colleen Howell

Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living by Rachel Kaplan and Ruby K. Blume

#WCW Women Crush Wednesday- Cast of the "Ghostbusters" remake

By now, you've probably heard that Ghostbusters is being remade with the main characters as women. There have been some grumblings about this, but I can't understand how a new Ghostbusters film starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and my favorite current Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon could possibly be a bad thing.

Accessed at: http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/07/10/comic-con-2015-ghostbusters-gets-first-official-cast-photo

While we're waiting for it to come out, watch some movies starring the new Ghostbusters.

Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader are the Skeleton Twins, a brother and sister who haven't seen each other in ten years, but come together after they both suffer a tragedy.

Melissa McCarthy stars as a single mom whose 12-year old son sparks a friendship with their neighbor played by Bill Murray. (I wonder if McCarthy and Murray talked about ghostbusting while shooting St. Vincent.)

Leslie Jones is on Saturday Night Live and has a role in Chris Rock's Top Five, where Rock plays a comedian trying to become a serious actor.

Kate McKinnon is a current Saturday Night Live cast member and has done some voice work on The Venture Bros.