Available at Amazon

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

I thought when I asked for this book from Library Thing that I would be reading it with my 12 year old but apparently he has his own summer reading plans. Sigh. Meanwhile, I read it myself.

I think, overall, I loved it. There is a lot to like. Yes, Mik wants to be a Super Hero with super powers but this is based on his overall desire to help people. So he takes the opportunity to help people where he can. He takes the initiative and is not doing it for the praise. He often hides what he’s doing even from those closest to him. Love that. At some point he finds the value of the library and the non-stereotypical librarian he befriends. I work in a library so I love that too. In dealing with a bully issue, they address the fact that the bully has problems that have made them that way but also that that is not an excuse for victimizing someone else and it should not be allowed. He learns to ask for help in a future incidents. I love all that too. Like many kids he is always trying to build superhero equipment. What I liked about that was that the author allows us to see that this doesn’t always work out as planned which I think is every kid’s experience. They have ideas for building something really cool but then things are too awkward or come apart and they just sort of have to make do. Mik has to do that a lot and I’m sure kids can relate to it. Also, the fantasy element of the book was sort of unexpected and I liked that part too.
As a parent of course I was cringing at the things that he didn’t tell his parents because, you know, I’m sure mine tell me everything ; ) The danger he was in at times made many situations unnerving as an adult, which also must mean it’s believable.

So it has the superhero/fantasy thing going on but also a really realistic element that would probably make a kid feel like this could happen to them. I think it could be a great series. Just from working in the library and having kids, I’m thinking, in my area it would be good for ages 7 (for really good readers) to 12. I’m going to suggest my library order a copy and I’ll definitely recommend it to people I know . The bar is set so high for this age group with Harry Potter and any Andrew Clements book and lots of other good fiction so I give this 4 stars instead of 5. Maybe 4 1/2. I really liked it. ( )