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Summary
Summary
Superheroes soar in this promising debut--and they're kids!
Twelve-year-old Daniel, the new kid in town, soon learns the truth about his nice--but odd--new friends: one can fly, another can turn invisible, yet another controls electricity. Incredible. The superkids use their powers to secretly do good in the town, but they're haunted by the fact that the moment they turn thirteen, their abilities will disappear--along with any memory that they ever had them. Is a memory-stealing supervillain sapping their powers?
The answers lie in a long-ago meteor strike, a World War II--era comic book ( Fantastic Futures, starring the first superhero, Johnny Noble), the green-flamed Witch Fire, a hidden Shroud cave, and--possibly, unbelievably--"powerless" regular-kid Daniel himself.
Superhero kids meet comic book mystery in this action-filled debut about the true meaning of a hero.
Author Notes
Matthew Cody divides his time between writing and teaching college English. He lives with his wife and young son in New York City, where he is at work on his next novel for Knopf.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-7-Noble's Green is the "safest place on Earth." At least that's what the sign says when 12-year-old Daniel and his family move there to live with his cancer-stricken grandmother. His neighbor, Mollie, and her friends soon become his friends, and he discovers that they all have superpowers that many of them use to protect their town. Although Daniel doesn't have a superpower, he is very smart and loves detective stories like Sherlock Holmes, which come into play as he works to discover why the children have these powers, and why they lose them upon reaching their 13th birthday. A fire in an old orphanage, a meteor strike, a scary abandoned quarry, a comic book hero from the 1940s named Johnny Noble, and a villain in disguise all play a part in the mystery's solution. Matthew Cody's novel (Knopf, 2009) is narrated by Gary Dikeos. He provides a unique voice for each of the main characters, and his pacing and tone convey the excitement of this celebration of comic books and the true meaning of a hero from the tale's beginning through the inevitable battle between good and evil in the final chapters. A good choice for reluctant readers.-Ann Brownson, Ballenger Teachers Center, Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a wholly satisfying debut, Cody tackles themes of heroism, sacrifice and coming-of-age, as played out in a comic book-inspired good vs. evil scenario. Soon after arriving in the small town of Noble's Green, Pa., where his family has moved to take care of his ailing grandmother, 12-year-old Daniel Corrigan discovers the existence of real-life superheroes. In this town, certain kids develop superpowers, which they use in secret to perform good deeds (for the most part). One catch: as soon as they turn 13, their powers and all related memories vanish. As Daniel forges a friendship with these extraordinary youths, he uses good old-fashioned investigative skills rather than superhuman abilities to uncover the secret of their powers' origins and the dark force that has been preying on the town's children for decades. What do comic books from the 1940s, a pulp hero, a burned-down orphanage and a pair of superhuman bullies have to do with the mystery? It all comes together in a tightly woven narrative characterized by a persuasive premise, memorable characters, a bit of intrigue and a sense of wonder. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
Resembling a Golden Age comic without the pictures, this tale pits a group of small-town children with superpowerscall them "preteen titans"against a shadowy menace that robs them of those powers on their 13th birthdays. Coming to town with his family to care for his dying grandma, Daniel quickly spots his neighbor Mollie and her friends performing incredible feats. Soon he's in their confidence, as they demonstrate combinations of super-speed, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to turn invisible. All of them can also hear the clock ticking, however. Gifted not with superpowers but a sharp mind and a fondness for Sherlock Holmes stories, Daniel sets out to discover how and why his new friends, like generations of their predecessors, are being robbed of their abilities. Where those abilities come from never enters in, but the obligatory wily supervillain does, leading to a titanic climactic battle. Cody wears his influences on his sleeve, but has some fun with them (one lad's "power" is a super-stench) and crafts a tribute that, unlike M.T. Anderson's Whales On Stilts (2005), is more admiring than silly. (Fantasy. 10-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
When 12-year-old Daniel's family moves to Noble's Green, Pennsylvania, to be with his dying grandmother, new neighbor Mollie introduces him to her oddly assorted friends. He soon learns they all have superpowers. In fact, for 70 years talented kids have been responsible for the pattern of rescues that has allowed Noble's Green to call itself the safest town on earth. But what does it mean to be a hero? Although he can't fly or become invisible, Daniel is a pretty good detective, and he gets caught up in helping his new friends avoid losing their powers when they turn 13, as has been the pattern. A nearly complete set of 1940s superhero comics and some original drawings play an important role as the comic-book villain and hero both seem to have come to life. This first novel has an intriguing premise, appealing characters, and a straightforward narrative arc with plenty of action as well as some serious moments. A mystery and adventure treat for middle-school boys, who will clamor for a sequel.--Isaacs, Kathleen Copyright 2009 Booklist