Brainstorm Vol 85: Super superhero reads for all

Want to inspire readers to look for ways to help others? To campaign for what is right? To be a voice for the voiceless? Superhero books are all about those things and more. Oh, and they’re usually fun too. Here’s some superhero books for all.

Picture Book Resource

Supertruck by Stephen Savage
During normal days, all the trucks and buses and normal vehicles go around doing their normal jobs. But when a horrible snowstorm hits none of the vehicles can move. That's when garbage truck sneaks away and becomes Supertruck! He comes out and saves everyone from the piles of snow. But when the snow is gone, no one can figure out where Supertruck came from or went.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Superhero Fans: This one features a superhero safe for little kids with shades of reality. 
• Vehicle Fans: The illustration style is quite appealing for little kids, making this a perfect read for those little ones who can get enough of trucks, cars, and other vehicles.
• Real Life Superheroes/Gratitude for Everyday Jobs: We don’t get snow where I live, so we don’t have snow plows. However, we do have garbage trucks. Could we consider garbage men a kind of superhero for rescuing us from piles of trash? You could brainstorm with kids ways to make everyday superheroes in your neighborhood feel appreciated.
• Altruism: I think it is fantastic that Supertruck does his good deed and doesn’t feel the need for anyone to know he did it. You can challenge readers to be sneaky superheroes and do nice things for others just for the joy of helping.

Lower Grade Fiction Resource

The Princess in Black and the Bunny Horde by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, ill. by LeUyen Pham
Princess Magnolia and Frimplepants are on their way to a brunch engagement they are both really looking forward to, when the monster alarm goes off and the Princess in Black and Blacky must run to the rescue. But when they arrive, they don't see any monsters. It's just a field of cute, adorable, fluffy bunnies. What harm could a bunch of cute bunnies cause?

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Humorous Read: This is another hilarious adventure with the Princess in Black and Blacky. 
• Strong Princess Fans: If you haven't met this plucky princess, you need to. She rocks.
• Judging by Appearance Warning: The Princess in Black and Blacky’s newest nemesis is quite disarming but oh so dangerous (in fact, adults may be wondering if these bunnies previously were side characters in a British comedy movie for adults a couple decades ago...there are some definite similarities, though no bloodshed in this appearance). A good lessons not to judge by appearances, and of course, it's high entertainment. 
• Altruism: The Princess in Black is another great example of doing nice things for others and not seeking recognition for her accomplishments.

Lower/Middle Grade Graphic Novel Resource

Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Captain Amazing is getting older, so he's decided to hold auditions for a new sidekick. His pets are keen on filling the job, even if they don't all have super powers. Fluffy, the hamster, and Shifty, the chameleon decide to go out and try to build skills on the streets. Thankfully, Captain Amazing's retired sidekick Static Cat (aka runaway pet Manny) shows up and saves them from getting themselves killed. Against his better judgment, Manny trains them in basic crime fighting skills. Captain Amazing's other pet, Roscoe, aka Metal Mutt, is also out on the streets trying to build himself a reputation to get noticed by his owner. The day of the sidekick tryouts arrives and the pets feel like they have no hope of winning the job, until Wonder Man shows up and the pets become more concerned about saving Captain Amazing's life than getting the sidekick spot.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• All Superhero Fans: This superhero graphic novel is purely good clean fun. Entertaining enough for adults who still have a touch of kid inside, and safe enough for even lower elementary to read without adults being worried about the content (though the younger kids may need some help with the reading). The illustrations are a perfect complement to the story. They are fun and brightly-colored, and action-packed. All around, a great pick for a broad age range. And a cleaner alternative for superhero fans who aren't ready for the more prevalent adult-aimed superhero graphic novels.
• Graphic Novel Fans: This pretty much explains itself. It’s a graphic novel. Graphic novel fans will like it.
• Peacemaking/Life Lessons: This has a nice message about keeping priorities straight and resolving misunderstandings nicely wrapped up in the story. 
• Animal Lovers: Animal lovers will be thrilled by the thought of pets training to be sidekicks.

Middle Grade Fiction Resources

Almost Super by Marion Jensen
Every February 29 at 4:23pm the Baileys who have turned 12 since the last leap year or married into the family get a super power. Rafter and Benny Bailey are super excited because this February 29 they will get their powers. However, when 4:23pm hits, Rafter and Benny go from the heights of excitement to the depths of despair. The powers they get are duds. Completely and utterly useless. Which is going to be extra horrible, because Juanita Johnson, member of the Baileys’ archnemesis family the Johnsons would have also gotten her powers on the 29th and they have to go to school with her. Rafter and Benny are determined to figure out what the Johnsons did to them to take away the awesome powers they should have gotten and give them laughable powers instead. However, as Rafter grills Juanita about her family’s evil plans, he starts to uncover a bigger and more sinister plot.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Clean Superhero Fans: This is a superhero story that is high on fun and light on the violence and boo-boos (no one is ever killed or even seriously hurt in the battles). 
• Prejudice/Unjust Enmity: Underneath the humorous setup and fun superhero façade, this is an interesting tale about the importance of looking at things from both sides and overcoming prejudices and even bad family habits.
• Humor Fans: Despite potentially heavy topics of overcoming deep prejudices, this is and it’s sequel Searching for Super are quite humorously written. I thoroughly enjoyed both and devoured them quickly. 
• Fun Read Aloud: If you’re looking for a read aloud that would be good for a range of ages or tastes, try this one and it’s sequel. They’re great, and sure to entertain.

Young Adult Fiction Resource

Fallout (Lois Lane, #1) by Gwenda Bond
Lois Lane is starting yet another new school. This time her military General father is supposedly taking a permanent post in Metropolis and Lois needs to plan on staying for a while. Her plan is to make friends, settle in, and not make waves. No more trouble for Lois. But when the local editor of a newspaper invites her to join the staff of their high school branch, the Scoop, Lois can’t say no. And she never could have predicted that standing up for spelling bee champ Anavi in a story about the champion speller being bullied by gamers and ignored by the principal could mix her up in something way bigger and more dangerous than anyone imagined.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Thriller Fans: Wow, this was one intense read. Which given that this is Lois Lane in high school and you know she makes it ok to adulthood shouldn’t be nearly as intense as it is. But Bond manages to sell the danger. If you’re tempted to bite your nails, wear gloves while reading this. The danger builds slowly but steadily, and takes the form of mind games via online virtual reality games. It feels like that “out there not quite real world where superheroes abide” but has just enough plausibility there are some people who could get genuinely freaked out. 
• Light Scifi/Superhero Read: This is a light scifi read. There’s just touches of tech not quite really out there (yet). And for those who are curious, Superman only enters the story as an online friend, SmallvilleGuy, who refuses to share his identity for Lois’ safety. I’m not a huge Superman fan, but I still enjoyed reading this. 
• Real Life Ethics/Issues: This book touches on abuse of technology, ethics in technology, bullying and other hot topics in the real world but wraps it up in such a package you don't realize you're reading about heavy issues. It could spark real thinking about real life issues subconsciously.
• Strong Female Leads: Lois is a spunky, precocious heroine to follow around. That could be annoying, but she channels her spunk and smarts to fight for those who need a hero. One could argue that the real superhero in this story is the girl who uses words, rather than the guy with a cape.
• Clean Young Adult Read: If you prefer to chew your nails off without mature content, this is the book for you.

The Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson
A few years ago Calamity appeared in the sky. With Calamity’s arrival, people on earth started to develop super powers changing into Epics. But the powers corrupt those who wield them. Epics use their powers to enslave and control the rest of the normal people for their own gain and entertainment. Our hero is a young man who has studied Epics all his life. David joins a resistance group called the Reckoners. They are normal people who use their knowledge of Epics and some fancy tech to try and take down the evil overlords. It’s a long, hard battle filled with lots of twists and turns and surprises.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Just about Anyone/Dystopia Fans/Scifi Fans/Reluctant Readers: This series is one of those that has always been an easy sell to just about any teen or adult (except those who don’t like violence). All I have to say is that people with superpowers appear, the superpowers make them evil and a normal teen boy is trying to fight them. It has a solid fan base of both guys and girls, teens and adults, “readers” and “nonreaders.” Some get hooked by the dystopian world Sanderson created, some get hooked by the different look at superpowers and the horrible odds for our heroes, some get hooked by Sanderson’s amazing writing, and some get hooked by David’s horrendously bad similes (Sanderson knows just how to include humor at the right moments). The series is now complete with three books Steelheart, Firefight, Calamity and a few short stories. (Well, for now. I wouldn’t put it past Sanderson to think of some great new book to go with this series in another 5-10 years. He has a tendency to do such things.)
• Strong Male Lead in Dystopia-land: How many recent dystopian series can you think of that star a male main character? Not boyfriend of the main character or best friend of the main character, but THE main character? There aren't very many out there. David is part of a rare breed.

Young Adult Graphic Novel Resource

Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang & Sonny Liew
In early 1900s San Incendio, CA Hank is the son of two Chinese immigrants. His father runs a grocery, his mother works as a maid and the family just manages to squeak by. But one day Hank's mother runs into the superhero, the Anchor and gets it in her head that her son will become a superhero as well. She does everything she can think of to get him superpowers, but to no avail. However, she then hears of one superhero who just trained really hard so Hank goes into training. Once he's ready he goes out looking for someone to help, only to find that perhaps he needs more training. His mother is disheartened and Hank is pretty relieved, that is until the local Chinese gang lord requires double payment from the family. The ensuing trouble introduces Hank to an unexpected ally and gives him extra motivation to see justice in the world.

Activity Tie-ins/Target Readers:

• Humor Fans: This was much funnier and more entertaining than I expected. I absolutely LOVED the part when Hank's mom tried to turn him into a superhero. It is hilarious! 
• Asian Lit/Asian Characters: Hooray for an Asian superhero! I’m not even sure I can think of another one. I hope Yang and Liew continue to add more adventures for Green Turtle. 
• Comic Book History: The added notes on the original Green Turtle and the inclusion of an original comic were very interesting too.
• Historical Fiction Fans: This is set in gangster era California. It deals with some very real issues of that time period, such as prejudice and injustice, but in an overall fun package.
• Relatable Superhero: There’s a big turning point in this story when Hank finally realizes the deep need for justice in his city. Before that, it is mostly his mom’s idea (typical Tiger mom, just pushing her son to be super instead of a doctor or engineer). He’s a very relatable not-so-super superhero.