Storm: Dawn of a Goddess

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess tells the backstory of Storm, one of Marvel’s X-Men: how one orphan-turned-street thief became one of Marvel’s most beloved heroines. Written by Tiffany D. Jackson, this story is absolutely captivating, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, and of course, wanting more.

Ororo is tragically orphaned as a young girl, and she’s taken in by a brotherhood of street thieves in Cairo. She learns how to slip a wallet out of an unsuspecting tourist’s pocket, remain unseen by authority, and most importantly, to keep her long, white hair hidden under a scarf. A quality of hers she’s always been ashamed of; all she’s ever wanted is to be normal, to not draw attention to herself, and to keep her emotions in check…because weird things seem to happen whenever she gets angry or upset.

Out of nowhere, Ororo starts having these vivid dreams of being in a jungle with a woman that looks like her. She tells her to come home, and these dreams start following her into daytime: Ororo hears the woman’s voice in her head and feels a strange tugging sensation inside of her, calling her to Kenya, where her mother’s ancestors are from. Scared by the strange weather events that keep happening when she loses control of her emotions, she decides to journey to Kenya to break this “curse,” as she takes to calling it.

As Ororo traverses through Africa, escaping villains and henchmen that want to use her powers for evil, uncovering more secrets from her past, and forming unlikely relationships with strangers, she discovers more about herself than she’s ever known, but will it be enough to stop the evil forces tormenting communities all over the world?

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess could not have been more riveting, for tenured X-Men fans and for readers going in blind knowing nothing about Professor Xavier and his crew of mutants alike. Myself falling in the latter category, it has me wanting to immerse myself in the franchise, not only to see who Ororo becomes, but to learn more about the other characters as well. This universal interest is a testament to Jackson’s expert writing, drawing readers of all backgrounds in for a young girl’s thrilling quest.

Aside from the captivating storytelling, though, is an important message for the young adult audience that might pick up this book simply for a good superhero story. It hits on many of those tricky themes that are at the focal point of teenager-hood: trying to fit in, feeling ashamed of defining physical characteristics, learning how to regulate your emotions. These are all real-world feelings, and while Ororo may be a superhero with incredible powers, she’s also getting that butterflies-in-your-stomach before your first kiss feeling. The way that Jackson brings Ororo down to earth while she simultaneously is controlling the weather makes this book relatable, allowing readers to put themselves in Ororo’s shoes and experience this journey for themselves.

Tiffany D. Jackson is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous titles, including Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and The Weight of Blood. She’s won the Coretta Scott King—John Steptoe Award for New Talent and was a nominee for the NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens.