Bright family

Gr 5--8--Adopted by a genius power couple, Nia and Jayden Bright are naturally science nerds. When the siblings sneak into their parents' lab and teleport themselves to another dimension, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. While moving through different portals to find the way home, they spot their parents and go on a mission to catch up with them. After helping various planets sort through unimaginable crises, the Brights are reunited and must work together to make it through all of the worlds in the portal loop. Together, they face freezing temperatures, boiling conditions, and deadly quicksand. This charming, funny story emphasizes family relationships and the importance of communication. Characters vary in terms of personality; nearly every reader will find a character or situation to relate to. Information is laced into the narrative, too--in one scene, the Brights must remove invasive species from the wrong dimension to save plant life. The thoughtful language and storytelling complement Brooks's illustrations, resulting in a family that readers will want to see more of. Nia appears to be South Asian, Jayden is Black, the children's mother is Asian, and their father is brown-skinned. VERDICT A solid series starter for science fiction fans who enjoy graphic novels.--Angie Jameson, Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schs., Chagrin Falls, OH

Two genius children venture into the multiverse hoping to rescue their parents. Nia Bright, age 12, attends Morton Middle Academy, where she designs robots. Despite this impressive ability, she deems herself the failure of her supergenius family. Her 10-year-old brother, Jayden, has flunked out of several schools because none can challenge his intellect and he uses class time to design giant robots. Both are the adopted children of Banira Suzuki-Bright (the famous adventuring scientist) and Benjamin Bright (the prizewinning inventor); both crave the attention of their superstar parents. When Nia attempts to run away via their father's dimensional portal, their parents are mistakenly sucked through instead--and both kids then go through to rescue them. While there isn't much character development on offer, readers may delight in the various adventures the Bright kids experience as they jump their way through the multiverse attempting to rescue their parents. They help creatures and restore balance to worlds--and their family--as they make their way home. By the end of their adventure, all family members just might have a better understanding of one another and their impact on the worlds around them. Simple, realistic renderings with soft, bulbous lines create an upbeat tone, in concert with the energetic color palette and expressive faces. Nia, Jayden, and their father present Black; their mom is cued as Japanese. Highly entertaining light fare. (Graphic science fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.