The Gauntlet

July 15, 2016
With no time to assemble the Avengers, Iron Man must save the world solo in this fast-paced adventure novel.While on his way to a party, white billionaire Tony Stark--aka Iron Man--notices the sudden reappearance of a missing U.S. gunboat off the coast of a supposedly uninhabited Irish island and resolves to investigate despite having no backup and a party-pack Iron Man suit that is "locked and loaded with fireworks and disco music" and little else. A simple scouting mission uncovers a sinister plot to destroy a vitally important world eco-summit happening nearby, but before Stark can act, he is quickly captured and disarmed by an enemy who somehow possesses intimate knowledge of his Iron Man technology. Someone close to him is a betrayer. But who? Colfer deftly weaves together all of the crucial elements of an entertaining superhero story: dastardly villains, a feisty sidekick, a duel to the death, and a hero worth cheering for. This novel is tailor-made for Marvel enthusiasts and is peppered with in-jokes about everything from Dr. Strange's finger-waving tendency to Captain America's excessive patriotic fervor. Best of all, the author successfully captures the vulnerability and infuriatingly seductive arrogance of Stark, who polices the world to atone for his father's sins. Ideal for readers who are breathlessly awaiting the next film in the Marvel superhero franchise. (Adventure. 8-13)

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September 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-Readers familiar with the Marvel Universe know all about Tony Stark and his campaign to redeem the destructive legacy of Stark Industries, more often than not with the use of the Iron Man suit. While under his father's leadership, Stark Industries designed the most creative and destructive weapons in the world, and his dad was rather cynical about the use of technology. In this novel, written by the author of the "Artemis Fowl" books, these themes are never far from the forefront. Saoirse Tory, a young computer genius, tricks Tony, hoping to force him to save her sister, who she believes is being held captive. Unfortunately, one of Iron Man's many nemeses, the Mandarin, is waiting in the wings. Middle school readers, especially those who are fans of the superhero genre, will enjoy the action and changes of fortune as Tony fights to thwart the Mandarin's plans. The characters are well-developed; even the bad guys have interesting personalities. In the end, readers see how Tony has turned his father's cynicism on its head with a more hopeful application of Stark technology. VERDICT A solid addition to larger collections where Marvel fans abound.-Matthew Forster, Big Words, Clarkston, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2016
Grades 4-7 As a teenager, Tony Stark watched as his father turned his own peaceful invention into a weapon, forever changing the direction of Tony's life. Now, as Iron Man, he embarks on an adventure in Ireland, where he attempts to interrupt an attack on an ecology conference. Along the way, Tony's A.I. assistant transforms into a real-life girl, Saiorse Tory, who complicates things with her own mission to rescue her sister from a Cape Verdi orphanage. The plot thickens as the man Saiorse hires to help her turns out to be the villain Mandarin, Iron Man's target. Both Mandarin and Stark utilize futuristic, fantastic weapons as they fightone for evil, one for justice. The battles are descriptive, and suspense rises as readers wonder if Iron Man can succeed. Without his suit, does Tony have the energy to throw one more punch? Colfer, author of the popular Artemis Fowl series, has created a high-octane Iron Man adventure sure to be a hit with superhero fanatics.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2017
On his way to a publicity party as Iron Man, Tony Stark discovers something amiss on an Irish island that brings him face-to-face with his nemesis, the Mandarin. Though Colfer captures Tony's verbose diction--to the brink of meandering off-plot at times--his characterization is disappointingly inconsistent with the Iron Man of the comics.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)