Review by Booklist Review
Coal's life with the McKay family and his best friend and sidekick, Door, has shaped up nicely. He's figured out how to use his superpower of invisibility more craftily by playing pranks on classmates, which sparks the idea of pranking for pay (though the thrill peters out before long). But new worries are just on the horizon; Mirror Tech, the company that produces the garments that protect him, has been taken over by Echo Biometrics, led by a mysterious CEO who goes by the name Recall. Coal reaches out to Dr. Achebe, now under house arrest, for answers, but only gleans that another invisible person is following and observing him. As with the first book in the series, the plot spirals quickly, pulling in the McKay family as new challenges arise. Coal is once again an engaging character, well supported by the unique characteristics of his foster siblings--the middle child, Mari, is especially an enjoyable force to be reckoned with. This promising sequel leaves the hope that more adventures are on the way.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Coal Keegan (Boy 2.0, rev. 11/24), with the help of his foster family and best friend, is slowly but surely learning how to navigate his superhuman ability to make himself invisible. With the sudden arrival of Coal's biological aunt, the adults in his life begin to argue about where he (and his gifts) should live. As Coal becomes frustrated with having to adhere to the demands of others, he begins to make choices independently, with potentially dangerous results. When he is forced to partner with an old nemesis, Coal discovers that there are more eyes on him than originally thought, and he's going to need both the support of his loved ones and his own wits to save himself (and possibly a few others). Baptiste balances action with introspection, and Coal remains a compelling protagonist: vulnerable, impulsive, and deeply human even with his powers. The supporting characters are varied and provide a range of perspectives, some lending humor and others urging caution as they attempt to help. Explorations of ethical medicine and AI practices are woven throughout, with references to historical cases (e.g., Henrietta Lacks; the Tuskegee experiment), likely prompting readers to question issues of consent and surveillance. This second thrilling and thoughtful installment again trusts its audience to consider what it means to be seen and what it costs to disappear. Eboni NjokuJanuary/February 2026 p.67 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Still reeling from a harrowing kidnapping and trying hard to adapt to his loving new foster family, an artsy Black middle schooler with a lot on his mind is caught at the crossroads of biotech and personal growth. Win Keegan, who goes by "Coal," inherited his special ability to camouflage his body at will from his ancestors' traumatic experiences in the Jim Crow South. He's a superpowered child who (unfortunately) had to take care of himself for too long. Now, in between secret missions for his foster siblings and bestie, as well as art commissions for his classmates, he's feeling pulled in too many different directions and facing expectations that don't give him the space to figure out who he wants to be. When a rogue robot starts following him around, he's alarmed. He's all too aware of the unethical history of racialized medical practices like the Tuskegee Experiment and the treatment of Henrietta Lacks, and he can't help wondering if he's caught up in something similar. The philosophical threads of this sequel toBoy 2.0 (2024) are complex, but the action is fast-paced while allowing Coal, his always-hungry best friend, and his supportive (but privacy-invading) foster family time to reflect on the nature of care, ethics, and support for the most vulnerable. The refreshingly accessible story contains elaborate and entertaining set pieces that balance the heavier, sadly relatable elements. Powers of invisibility bring a lot to light in this compelling sequel.(Science fiction. 9-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
