Eight years ago, as just a nine-year-old, Darius Logan lost his parents and baby brother in The Attack. Since the band of ACU-64 Killbots wreaked havoc, destroying his life and devastating his neighborhood, Darius has been fighting to survive. His juvenile probation officer, Edith O’Malley is the closest thing to family he has looking out for him. However, Darius is a fighter who refuses to give in to fear. “If he knew anything at all, he knew how to fight—it came as naturally as breathing” (9).
Eventually, Darius gets himself into trouble with the law, and he can’t fight his way out of the sentence. Edith expresses her disappointment that he is about to go to prison, despite Darius’ father’s advice: “Don’t be a stereotype. Never become a statistic” (27). Although Captain Freedom rescues Darius from that fate and invites him to serve his time with Super Justice Force (SJF), the superhero first asks him: “What happened to the kid who was Student of the Year? Was he killed in The Attack as well” (28)?
In trying to form an answer, Darius reflects: Every day since his parents were killed was a fight simply to stay alive, one filled with finding sleep despite an empty stomach while living among rats and roaches, one in which no one cared whether his next meal came from a kitchen or a garbage can. “It has been nearly eight years of living hell” (28).
In Second Chance, a rehabilitation program operated by SJF for ex-convicts who need help starting a normal life after prison, Darius will still be under arrest, but he won’t go to prison. Dr. Sam Omatete wants to take the program to another level—one that rehabilitates criminals before they become “hardened” by the system, and Darius will be one of his test subjects: the Poster Child of Special Circumstances.
These details provide the backstory to David F. Walker’s debut young adult novel, The Second Chance of Darius Logan. As readers come to understand the plot and its characters, we encounter theories about “the twenty-fourth chromosome, the genetic disorder resulting in Kurtzberg-24-Syndrome, which gives a human being superpowers” (44). We also realize the flaws of the prison system and recognize a need for programs like Second Chance, programs that “stop career criminals before they become career criminals” (62). In Dr. Sam’s opinion, “Prison turns all men—no matter what color they are—into animals” (63).
While working for SJF, Darius meets a variety of ex-cons, superheroes, and ex-law enforcement officials, all fighting crime. Under the influence of their mentorship, Darius gradually transforms—both literally and figuratively. He forms friendships, finds a surrogate family, and kisses his first girlfriend. He also learns to channel his anger and his grief.
Darius experiences other coming-of-age moments when he learns to really care while working as a volunteer with ESTEAM: Enlightenment, Strength, Truth, Empathy Among Metahumans, a support group for children whom others might refer to as “freaks and monsters”. Later, he realizes two important lessons: “I always thought superheroes were perfect people leading perfect lives. It’s nice to know they’re screwed up just like everyone else” (117); and “Looking good is no substitute for being effective” (263). Ultimately, Darius reaches superhero status as he balances knowledge and strength to find his power.
- Donna