Cape - Book One of the League of Secret Heroes series

I had debated about picking this book up when I saw it in Barnes & Noble - but when I saw it in Walmart for considerably less than cover price, I thought, "Why not?" I mean, after all, it is the first book in a new series; it is about superheroes who happen to be female; and it offers pages of story scattered throughout the book in comic book format - so what's not to love about it? Granted, I have never heard of the author, Kate Hannigan, so I am not familiar at all with her writing, but with so many positive things going for it, I figured I would at least find something to like about it.  And boy, did I ever!

Cape, the first book in the new League of Secret Heroes series, is the story of Josie O'Malley (and yes, she's Irish), a young girl in the heart of America in the middle of World War II.  Her father has gone off to fight in the war, and her mother works a second job helping to build war ships.  Josie's cousin is also involved in the war effort, so Josie is determined she is going to do something to help fight the good fight as well!  It doesn't matter that she is still in middle school - she is an expert puzzler and can figure out just about any code, so she and her friend Emmett skip school to answer an ad in the paper that is searching for decoders and puzzlers.  Jose is so excited, and she is so sure of herself, that she is actually the first person to finish the test!  But then she notices something odd - the man giving the text places all of the boys' tests in one pile, all of the girls' tests in the other; and when the last person finishes, he discreetly pushes the girls' tests into the trash!  The man even has the gall to ask Josie about her friend Emmett - but Josie knows something is up and refuses to give him the information he is looking for.

And while Josie and her two newfound friends (Mae and Akiko) are discussing the matter with the mysterious Mrs. Boudica, all hell breaks loose in the hall.  It tuns out the man giving the test was actually a supervillain, and one of the few superheroes left is trying to stop him - when he is suddenly vaporized and the villain escapes!  All that remain are the hero's cape, mask, and boots.  The girls pick them up and feel an odd sensation.  And soon enough, they discover there is a reason that the mysterious Mrs. Boudica singled the trio out - they discover that they have superpowers, and with great effort, they transform into violet, emerald, and orange clad heroes who can fly and fight crime!

But, remember, these are kids in the 1940s!  While they love their comic books and they are fascinated by the heroes who haven't been seen in years, they don't know the first thing about super powers or how to use them to defeat a villainous criminal who can turn into a huge snake.  Hannigan plays this for real - these kids are not sure of themselves, but they have their own squabbles and their own family dramas - plus, in the era they live in, Hannigan doesn't hold back from the discrimination that both Mae (being Black) and Akiko (being Japanese-American) faced at that time.  And, as can be expected with middle-school children, there are also bullies their own age to deal with.  Plus, throw in some German spies, some uncertain allies, and a double-agent as well, and there is no doubt that you'll get a great read.

What is surprising, and I did not realize until I reached the end and read the Author's Note - some of the supporting characters in the story are based on actual people from World War II, and the secret computer being worked on by Josie's cousin and her associates was a real-life project!  I've always said that mixing in some real facts and true stories in with the fictional tales of a good book can only increase its readability and enjoyment.  Hannigan does a flawless job mixing the real with fiction, and it definitely makes for a fun-filled, adventurous, exciting story!  (And having asthma myself, I can certainly identify with Akiko, who struggles with her allergies and breathing issues.)

 The League of Secret Heroes is not to be missed, and I am hoping it will be more than just a three-book series (as most seem to be on today's market...)

RATING:  10 secret messages made with milk out of 10 for introducing a new group of super heroes into the world that are fun to read!