Spider-Man Stories from the Spider-Verse

Gr 5 Up--Showcasing a diverse group of award-winning and best-selling authors, this captivating collection of stories will have fans of the Spider-Verse cheering for joy. The central villain Carolyn Trainer, alias Dr. Octopus, reveals her scheme to destroy all Spider-Heroes across the Spider-Verses. Araña, the initial Spider-Hero to confront Dr. Octopus, gives readers a sneak peek of what these heroes will be up against. Each story adeptly presents the unique abilities and cultural identities of its Spider-Hero. Particularly noteworthy is Steve Foxe's "Immaterial," delving into the life of Cooper King, aka Web Weaver, who navigates both the fashion world and their identity as a transgender youth. This narrative intricately weaves emotional depth into the character's backstory, adding extra layers of meaning to Web Weaver's adventures. Despite the engaging content, these stories lack connective tissue and feel very separate until the final story. Additionally, character ages (late junior through high school) and average story length (32 pages) may limit interest to upper middle school and above, despite character voice and narrative topics geared towards middle grade. While Spider-Man enthusiasts will find this anthology a delight, the mismatch between intended and actual audience may make this a tough sell for general readers and libraries. VERDICT This collection will be devoured by devoted fans but will find limited audience beyond that.--Louie Lauer