The Vanished (Shuri: A Black Panther Novel #2)

The theme of missing girls from countries around the world—including Pakistan, France, Kenya, the U.S., and the Philippines—is important, although the identity of the perpetrator complicates matters. Fans of the first volume will enjoy returning to Wakanda.

Shuri, Wakanda's tech-genius princess and King T'Challa's pesky little sister, is back in this second title in the "Black Panther" series. Though training takes up most of the royal teen's time, she still keeps a watchful eye on any threats to Wakanda from the outside world using her multi-point digital surveillance system, Panther Reconnaissance Operative Watch Lattice (PROWL). It alerts her to an upcoming technology conclave that she wants to attend with her brother, but soon it is warning her of serious problems in the world beyond Wakanda: Young girls with STEM talents are being abducted. When one of those closest to the princess becomes a victim, Shuri must draw on all of her training, her innate abilities, her courage, and her faith in the power of friendship to rescue the girls and put things right. With prose and a storyline aimed at a younger audience, the narrative arc is true to the spirit of the original comics. There are crossover appearances by a number of Marvel universe characters beyond the "Black Panther" series. VERDICT Fans of the comics, not to mention middle graders who love strong female protagonists using their brains as well as their bravery to save the world, will appreciate this latest in the popular series; recommended for junior high collections.—Kelly Kingrey-Edwards, Blinn Junior Coll., Brenham, TX