Miles Morales: Straight Out of Brooklyn

Miles Morales: Straight Out of Brooklyn

book

2019

WISE
92%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Miles Morales proves that saving the world is easy compared to finishing your homework and staying on your parents' good side.

Amazon4.7
Common Sense Media

Where to Read

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid is stuck in a 'brain rot' loop of short-form videos, this is the antidote. It’s fast-paced enough to keep their attention but deep enough to actually leave them with something to think about.

Miles Morales is the hero we need right now—he's kind, he's diverse, and he's actually a kid. This isn't just another superhero book; it's a solid piece of modern fiction that happens to have some web-swinging in it.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9 and up. It’s written for a middle-school audience but has enough heart and style that high schoolers (and parents) won't be bored reading along.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Miles is a standout role model. He’s a kid who actually loves his parents, cares about his community, and struggles with the very real guilt of letting people down when his 'job' gets in the way of his life.

Imaginative
82

While it's a standard superhero setup, the visual storytelling and the specific 'Brooklyn' flavor of Miles' world-building are top-notch and invite kids to see their own neighborhoods as places where heroes live.

Safe
92

It's a Marvel comic, so expect stylized action and some punching, but it's devoid of the 'grit' or gore found in older-skewing titles. Disregard any 'spice' ratings found in generic search snippets; this is clean, teen-appropriate action.

Enriching
86

Offers great representation and explores themes of identity and responsibility without feeling like a lecture. It’s a fantastic way to bridge the gap between 'watching movies' and 'reading for fun.'

Parent Info

Why It Might Be Great

  • The art is vibrant and modern—it doesn't feel like those dusty old comics in the back of the shop.
  • Miles is incredibly relatable; his 'superpowers' don't solve his problems with school or his social life.
  • It’s a perfect entry point for kids who loved the Spider-Verse movies but haven't picked up a book yet.
  • Great focus on family dynamics and the importance of having a support system.

What to Watch For

  • Standard comic book violence: robots, villains, and plenty of 'thwips' and 'pows.'
  • Miles occasionally skips school or sneaks out, which might spark a 'why can he do it?' conversation.

Conversation Starters

  • "Miles feels a lot of pressure to be perfect. Do you ever feel like you have to hide parts of yourself to fit in?"
  • "Why do you think it's important that Spider-Man lives in Brooklyn now, not just Manhattan?"
  • "If you had to keep a giant secret from your parents to help people, would you do it?"

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