Sort of Super (Sort of Super #1)

by Eric Gapstur (Author) Eric Gapstur (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: Sort of Super

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova meets the HiLo series in this first book in a funny, lighthearted new middle grade graphic novel series about a boy struggling with new superpowers--and middle school.

Eleven-year-old Wyatt Flynn had something amazing happen to him: he got superpowers! Good ones too, like super-flight, super-strength, and super-speed. The only problem? Wyatt got his superpowers totally by mistake, and his dad--who's been overprotective since Wyatt's mom disappeared--thinks he's too young for them and worries what would happen if everyone found out. So he makes Wyatt hide his powers.

Keeping such a huge secret from his best friends Beto and Nara is bad enough, but not being able to use his new abilities to defend them from the biggest bully at school makes Wyatt feel useless and frustrated. But his little sister thinks the good his powers could do is more important than following Dad's rules.

Slowly, the two of them become a dynamic crime-fighting duo right under their dad's nose. Lying to his dad isn't much easier than lying to his friends. But Wyatt might be able to make a real difference in the community...and maybe even find Mom. That makes it all worth it--right?

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-7--Eleven-year-old Wyatt Flynn longs to use his recently acquired superpowers, like speed, flight, invisibility, and strength, to help others. However, his dad, Sheriff Flynn, makes the tween conceal his powers. The start of sixth grade brings some changes (Wyatt's genius younger sister Adeline is now in his class, for instance), while other things, like bully Caspar, stay the same. Wyatt struggles to keep his secret from good friends Beto and Nara and fights the impulse to use his powers to make a difference. After Wyatt sneaks out of school to put out a fire one day, Adeline pulls the fire alarm to cause a distraction to get him back inside. A late-night trip to erase security footage of that event goes sideways when Wyatt and Adeline stumble onto an explosive secret about their principal. Readers looking for an original superhero story will find much to enjoy in Wyatt's journey as he chafes against his dad's restrictions and secretly teams up with Adeline in a series of escalating encounters. Giving off strong superhero vibes, the expertly colored and textured digital art uses a variety of panels and pop outs to engage readers, especially once the story's action starts to accelerate midway. Flashbacks fill in essential details like how Wyatt got his powers and backstory involving the children's currently missing mother. Most of the main cast--Wyatt, Adeline, and their dad and grandma--are white; classmates Beto and Nara are brown-skinned, as are other background characters. VERDICT A quirky, fun read sure to please fans of superhero graphic novels. The final moments of the book will leave readers eager for a sequel.--Pearl Derlaga

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Eric Gapstur
Eric Gapstur is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist living in eastern Iowa with his wife and two sons. His work can be seen in DC and Image comics, among others. Sort of Super is his middle grade graphic novel series.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534480285
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Aladdin Paperbacks
Publication date
March 22, 2022
Series
Sort of Super
BISAC categories
JUV053000 - Juvenile Fiction | Science Fiction
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV008020 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Superheroes
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
JUV071000 - Juvenile Fiction | Superheroes
Library of Congress categories
Brothers and sisters
Families
Family life
Graphic novels
Superheroes
Ability
Cartoons and comics
Comics (Graphic works)
Superhero comics

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