MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW: Captain Superlative! by J.S. Puller
ABOUT THE BOOK
"Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"
Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?
Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.
But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.
REVIEW
Like Wonder by R.J. Palacio, Captain Superlative is a book that touches the heart. I ended up in tears more than once. As in Wonder, this book revolves around the changes brought about by one person. But in Wonder, the main character is the one that inspires change. But in Captain Superlative, the main character, Janey, is a bystander. She goes out of her way to be invisible. She doesn't consider herself the type to rock the boat. Especially when Dagmar Hagan decides to torment Paige. Janey knows it's wrong, but she has no desire to become a target herself and so like everyone else, she does nothing. Things take a strange turn however when Captain Superlative shows up in full-on superhero costume, blue wig, red cape and all. Captain Superlative's declaration leaves Janey feeling strange and overwhelmed. At first Janey is just curious about this seventh grader running the halls of the school doing good deeds. But she feels increasingly drawn to this girl who seems to have no fear of Dagmar and her cronies or of being called a freak. After following her home from school one day, Captain Superlative approaches her at school and invites Janey to be her sidekick. At first Janey appalled by the very idea. But after witnessing Dagmar crossing a line, she's unable to hold back any longer and finds herself joining Captain Superlative's campaign of goodness. But there is more to Captain Superlative than there appears, and Dagmar certainly isn't going to take her loss of power lying down. Will Janey find the courage within herself to carry on, even if she must do it on her own?
Puller has created a story full of joys and heartaches as Janey learns about the possibilities that exist outside of social invisibility. And yet, stepping forward into the spotlight can be terrifying, especially when a bully is just ready and waiting to make you a target. I loved the relationship between Janey and her father. Her father's sense of humor helped balance Janey's serious nature and encouraged her to take a leap of faith after Captain Superlative sought her help as a sidekick. The awesome kind acts that Janey and Captain Superlative do made me smile as Janey learned the happiness that comes with helping others. I'll admit though that Dagmar's actions bothered me greatly, especially since there was never a teacher around to do anything about it. I figured out her reasons for behaving the way she does quite early in the story, but it didn't make her behavior any more palatable. Puller does a nice job though of combining humor with emotion, leading to a story that isn't as heavy as it could have been. It's impossible not to root for Janey and Captain Superlative and their campaign of kindness. A campaign that leaves the entire school changed.
Loved this book!!!!
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