Review of Tomboy And Tomgirl

[Emmanuel Maduabuchi Eze]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tomboy And Tomgirl" by Gavin Thomas.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The major characters, Jonathan and Ayla, face taunts and bullying because they identify as a tomgirl and a tomboy. One day, Angel Gabriel informs them in a dream that they will be blessed with superpowers when they wake up. But these superpowers are not only for their own use. They will have to stop the evil forces threatening the existence of Laceyville.

Going forward Jonathan and Ayla are locked in a seemingly unending war, from fighting Fire Woman, Earth Man, Wind Man, and Water Woman to fighting Sam Flounder, Lucius Fuhrman, Ella Dee Kate, elemental amoebas, mutant tapeworms, and a host of others. Can they come out of these unscathed?

I enjoyed reading "Tomboy and Tomgirl: Earth's Unconventional Superheroes" by Gavin Thomas. I was impressed by Gavin's incorporation of some astrological concepts into the narrative, which helped explain Ayla and Jonathan's unique qualities. Ayla and Jonathan's devotion to each other was well thought out. I would say this bond and their unique abilities were the bedrock under which the storyline thrived.

The tension between Ayla and Jonathan's team and the evil forces was intense and intriguing. My favorite scene was the battle against Lucius Fuhrman. It was a long, action-packed power clash with high-end twists and turns. There were times I was afraid of what would happen to Ayla and Jonathan. I also enjoyed the suspense of never knowing when the battle would finally end.

The mediums for summoning the angels in battles and the support system from the volunteers were brilliant additions. Gavin has an impressive writing style, and I really appreciated that he kept the chapters short. The story evolved in quite remarkable ways. For example, Lucca Fuhrman's phenomenal split into two forms brought a new dynamic to the power clashes.

However, I felt there were areas that needed to be improved in this book. Michaela's rescuers should be in a better position to ask her her name. Little Michaela naturally ought to be too traumatized by her experience with those mutant wasps and intimidated by the sight of those strangers. So, I felt it was unnatural for those extraordinary heroes to begin to introduce themselves to that little girl as if they were answerable to her. Michaela's audacity during that conversation put me off.

Also, such attack mechanisms as "fireballs," "whirlpool," "tidal wave," and "lava wave" sometimes felt overused across the many battles fought. But then I appreciated the introduction of aquakinesis, pyrokinesis, terrakinesis, and aerokinesis into the warfare. I feel the minced oaths should have been minimized or, better still, avoided entirely if the intention is to maintain a clean language. For these reasons, I am removing a star, so "Tomboy and Tomgirl: Earth's Unconventional Superheroes" gets four out of five stars. But then this book has interesting elements that will appeal to lovers of sci-fi and adventure fiction.

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Tomboy And Tomgirl
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[Kibet Hillary]

I was not sure what to think about the book just from reading the title but it is good to read that it is action-packed and that one would also keep guessing due to the unpredictable nature of the plot. Thank you for the review, @Emmanuel Maduabuchi Eze.