Review by Frank Plowright
The Runaways are back together again, even those presumed dead, and they’re living in the underground mansion Chase inherited from his parents. As seen in Find Your Way Home, though, while some Runaways have barely moved on in two years, others have. Karolina is in college, and Molly is loving middle school. Wouldn’t it be great if she could stay there forever and never have to face the coming problems of adulthood?
Not counting dinosaur Old Lace, Runaways features six lead characters, yet chapter by chapter there’s never any feeling that Rainbow Rowell’s neglecting any of them. They all have their personalities and their problems, and even if it’s just a sarcastic comment about starting a job, they have a moment every chapter. The title, though, reflects Molly’s experiences with her best friend Abigail. Rowell’s clever writing has the cast providing advice to Molly about her age with none of them realising what’s actually at stake, and when the maguffin is eventually activated it’s a complete surprise unwrapping another fine idea.
As noted, though, everyone gets a moment, so we’re also treated to Victor receiving a visit from a contradictory old buddy, Karolina’s past affecting her present, the views of someone used to operating as part of a superhero team and so much more. This is amid personality clashes and other character reactions flowing naturally from the continually strange events. Rowell’s so good at making you understand why people are wrong, yet consider their options limited.
The glue holding everything together is Kris Anka’s artistic skill. He delivers personality and action, yet can effortlessly slip into a magical environment from the past. The cast wouldn’t be nearly as loveable without the visual emotions he gives them and he’s exceptionally intuitive.
Comedy within tragic circumstances, unexpected romance and energetic unpredictability featuring a bunch of extremely likeable characters… This is excellent, and for readers familiar with the old Runways there’s one hell of a cliffhanger ending. That Was Yesterday is next.
