Brik

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY-For the most part, 12-year-old Drewenjoys life in the town of Yonkers, despite its decline and its bullies. Herelishes the stories his grandfather tells, and then there's Chase Hirsch, thecrush Drew wants to impress. When the Russian mafia kills his grandfather, Drewcalls on his Jewish heritage to create a golem to protect the neighborhood froma mysterious and deadly figure known as Little Stalin. Glass and Benson craft acompelling tale of vigilante justice whose many violent moments come alive indebut illustrator Singh's shadowy artwork (when Drew first discovers that hisgolem, which he names Brik, is alive, the creature is busy mutilating smallanimals in the woods). Singh lacks some consistency in reproducing thecharacters, particularly Drew, yet these variations manage to capture anessential aspect of Drew's life, caught between being the child he was and theman he's to become. With steady pacing and a story arc that both resembles anddeviates from traditional superhero norms, the creators have delivered a stronggraphic novel. Ages 13-up. (July)