This story in the “X-Men: First Class” series opens with Jean Grey’s two male friends fighting over who should date her. She does not think she needs defending by either of them. She is so angry that she strikes both of them using a powerful force. When she talks to Professor Xavier, he tells her that her anger is getting the better of her and she needs to take a break for a while. She can return to the study of her super powers when she feels better. Jean returns home, where her parents are eager to see her. She goes to the mall and has flashbacks to her first childhood trip there. The rest of the book is about her memories of the past and the process of coming to terms with the terrible emotional roller coaster she experienced as the result of her best friend’s death. The Professor visits her in spirit, and Jean gains a powerful and important understanding about herself. She realizes all of the times she thought she had used her powers in the best way she could, she really had not; this was the time to change. The storyline is interesting, and I always like it when the main character can admit a mistake and set out to correct it. However, the illustrations are blurry and some are abstract. Still, graphic novels are a great way to hook a non-reader, or help a struggling reader. A short forward to familiarize the reader with the character and setting at the start of this book would have been helpful. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs AGERANGE: Ages 10 up.
