Public School Superhero

by James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts, Cory Thomas (Illustrator)

Overview

Inner city middle school student Kenny Wright imagines himself as a superhero-but when he faces peer pressure and bullying, can he find his strength in real life?

Kenny Wright is a kid with a secret identity. In his mind, he's Stainlezz Steel, super-powered defender of the weak. In reality, he's a chess club devotee known as a "Grandma's Boy," a label that makes him an easy target for bullies. Kenny wants to bring a little more Steel to the real world, but the question is: can he recognize the real strength and goodness inside himself? Or will peer pressure force him to make the worst choice of his life?

Interspersed with fantastic illustrations and comic-book panels, this book aims to both entertain and to provoke dialogue about identity, belonging, and doing the right thing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316265980
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/03/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	329,235
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.62(h) x 0.88(d)
Lexile:	560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. The creator of the Max Einstein and Middle School series, he founded JIMMY Patterson to publish books that young readers will love. He lives in Florida with his family.

Hometown:

Palm Beach, Florida

Date of Birth:

March 22, 1947

Place of Birth:

Newburgh, New York

Education:

B.A., Manhattan College, 1969; M.A., Vanderbilt University, 1971

Website:

http://www.jamespatterson.com

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Public School Superhero:

"The authors never get too preachy for their own good.... Told with the humorous style characteristic of Patterson when he's in preteen mode, the novel fits right in with I Funny, Middle School, and the like. Adding to the book's charm [are] comic-filled pages that help further illustrate Kenny's inner workings as well as present just plain fun superhero stories. A smart and kind story topped with just the right amount of social justice."—Kirkus Reviews

"Packed with fast-paced tween-speak, Public School Superhero will entertain and enlighten.... Readers will also enjoy the multiple pages of funny, comic book-style illustrations packed with superhero stunts and preteen angst.... Definitely buy this one."—School Library Journal

"With admirers of all ages, don't be surprised if everyone wants to get their hands on [Patterson's] latest."—Booklist

Praise for I Funny:
A #1 New York Times Bestseller

"....Poignant.... Readers learn about [Jamie's] devastating loss and recovery from a tragic event....The affecting ending, which reveals a more vulnerable Jamie behind the guise of his humor, celebrates Jamie's resilient spirit."—Kirkus Reviews

"In all, a brimming bucket of bada-bing!"—Booklist

"The broad humor that runs throughout this heavily illustrated story... masks personal pain, demonstrating resiliency in the face of tragedy."—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life:

* "As Patterson artfully weaves a deeper and more thought-provoking tale of childhood coping mechanisms and everyday school and family realities, readers are drawn into a deeper understanding of and compassion for the main characters."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Readers will discover the best kind of child: one that is intelligent, artistic, and brave.... A world perfectly described through a 12-year-old's point of view...a satisfying and progressive tale with real sweetness."—Kirkus Reviews


"A keen appreciation of kids' insecurities and an even more astute understanding of what might propel boy readers through a book.... a perfectly pitched novel."—Los Angeles Times


"Cleverly delves into the events that make middle school so awkward: cranky bus drivers, tardy slips, bathroom passes and lots of rules.... Hopefully, this isn't the last we hear from Rafe Khatchadorian."—The Associated Press

"It's a chatty, funny, engaging book, one that often addresses the reader directly. It's filled with energetic cartoons... that will appeal to your little rebel, depicting teachers as dungeon-keepers, matadors and flying dragons. Patterson... knows how to structure a plot and builds in some surprising—even touching—twists.... Rafe is the bad boy with a heart of gold."—The New York Times

"The book's... dynamic artwork and message that 'normal is boring' should go a long way toward assuring kids who don't fit the mold that there's a place for them, too."—Publishers Weekly

"Incredibly detailed and imaginative illustrations . . . add depth and humor. . . . an enjoyable story that even the most reluctant readers should enjoy."—Library Media Connection

"There is substance as well as appeal here.... Patterson deftly manages the pace of revelations that take readers deeper into Rafe's fragile trust.... Readers ready for something else in the same vein but more substantive than Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Peirce's Big Nate should be introduced to Rafe."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

04/01/2015
Gr 4–6—By day, Kenny Wright is an average middle school kid, living in Washington, DC. But he has three things against him: he loves his grandmother, earning him the nickname "Grandma's Boy;" he's smart, because Grandma makes him study; and he has an affinity for chess. These facts could make life rough for any kid, but at inner-city Union Middle School, it makes him a prime target for bullying. Enter his alter-ego, Stainlezz Steel, a superhero who performs feats of valor from thwarting a robbery by ruthless thugs to rescuing cats, generally keeping the city streets and his school safe for the weak and nerdy. Union Middle School faces some tough situations as well: budget cuts, teacher and principal turnover, and low-performing students. Trying to stay out of trouble seems to get Kenny in deeper and his new principal isn't having any of it. Can Stainlezz Steel save the day or will Kenny find a way to save it on his own? Packed with fast-paced, tween-speak, Public School Superhero will entertain and enlighten. Kenny is relatable and his relationship with his grandmother is touching. Kenny is African American and his classmates include kids from a rich and realistic diversity of racial and ethnic backgrounds, adding to the overall appeal of this novel. Readers will also enjoy the multiple pages of funny, comic book-style illustrations packed with superhero stunts and preteen angst. VERDICT Definitely buy this one.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH

School Library Journal

2015-01-20
Kenny's dreams of superpowered heroics provide a respite from his tough school.Kenny Wright loves his grandma, chess and superheroes. Less loved is his school, an overcrowded, underfunded cinderblock straight out of the fourth season of The Wire. A string of peculiar circumstances puts Kenny in the position of teaching his enemy, Ray-Ray, how to play chess, but this crummy state of affairs may be just what Kenny needs right now. Just as Patterson (Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life, in print 2011) used comic observations to explore a culture ruled by test scores, this outing is an examination of inner-city schools, a subsection of our educational system plagued by budget cuts, principal-hopping and a society that may have written them off entirely. Thankfully, the authors never get too preachy for their own good. The cultural analysis is secondary to Kenny and the relationships he has with his friends and his grandmother. Told with the humorous style characteristic of Patterson when he's in preteen mode, the novel fits right in with I Funny (2012), Middle School… and the like. Adding to the book's charm is a periodic collection of comic-filled pages that help further illustrate Kenny's inner workings as well as present just plain fun superhero stories. A smart and kind story topped with just the right amount of social justice. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Review