THE SECOND CHANCE OF DARIUS LOGAN, by David F. Walker, Scholastic Press, July 2, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)
A young man is given the chance at redemption in The Second Chance of Darius Logan, a YA novel by David F. Walker.
Darius Logan is far from a hero. Since his parents were killed, he has spent most of his life navigating foster homes and shelters, abandoned neighborhoods and decaying buildings. All Darius knows is survival. Life was hard enough, but now he finds himself being hunted by the police after a drug deal he never should have been involved in goes bad. And when they catch him, Darius is positive he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
But in place of a long prison sentence, Darius is handed an opportunity almost too good to be true: the chance to get away from his circumstances by joining the Second Chance program of the Super Justice Force, a league of people with special powers who strive to do good and protect the world from harm. Darius soon discovers a strength he never knew he possessed, but evil forces manifest and threaten to destroy everything he holds dear. Will Darius be able to save the world when he faces a deadly — and all too familiar — enemy? —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
I’ve got to be honest. I’m not much of a superhero person. I never was into comics or the movies and literature that was born from them. However, after reading The Second Chance of Darius Logan, I can understand why people are drawn to them.
Author David F. Walker takes themes of social justice and identity, courage and second chances and blends them into an action-packed story full of mystery, adventure and heart.
Darius is a sympathetic main character that you want to root for. His growth throughout the novel is strong. His surrounding supporting characters are strong as well, with Walker highlighting the commonalities and struggles everyone from a top-tier superhero to the guy who mops the floor shares.
I don’t know that this genre is one that I’ll ever be obsessed about, but I do know that if the books are written as well as The Second Chance of Darius Logan, I will enjoy them. I look forward to more books from David F. Walker.
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