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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)
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
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
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.
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.
Excerpts
Excerpts
Chapter One The New Kid Welcome to Noble's Green, Pennsylvania-- The Safest Town on Earth! The safest town on earth? thought Daniel. Couldn't sound lamer. Daniel Corrigan and his family saw the sign from their car just a few miles outside town. When it came into view, Daniel's father honked the horn of their minivan as his mother clapped her hands. Of course Daniel's baby brother, Georgie, had to join in, squealing with delight while kicking his plump legs against his car seat. Georgie was only two years old and he always just assumed that everyone was clapping for him, which was usually the case. Daniel's parents clapped when Georgie smiled or spoke or even burped. Instead of joining in the applause, Daniel just buried his nose deeper in his book. His mom warned him over and over again that reading in the car would make him sick, but he did it anyway. The Sherlock Holmes mystery The Hound of the Baskervilles was one of his favorites. Daniel had a thing for detective stories, and Sherlock Holmes was the best detective ever. Period. While Daniel was completely aware that a middle-aged, pipe-smoking British sleuth was not the typical hero of the average twelve-year-old boy, peer pressure meant little to him. He liked spending his time amidst the gaslit streets and horse-drawn carriages, the dangerous arch-criminals and, of course, trusty sidekick Dr. Watson. Daniel sometimes wished for a trusty sidekick. All he had was Georgie, who was too young to be of much help in anything. With a sidekick like Georgie, not even Holmes would have solved many crimes, thought Daniel. He would have been too busy clapping all the time. Besides, Daniel understood something that Georgie didn't--that his parents were clapping to get their minds off why they were moving in the first place. They were moving to Noble's Green because that was where Gram lived, and she was very, very sick. For Daniel, the best way to escape that sad fact was to disappear between the covers of a well-read book. The moving truck was waiting for them by the time the family minivan turned onto Elm Lane, the Corrigan family's new address. The truck was backed into the driveway as far as it could reach--it was one of those big tractor-trailer types and the front cab stuck out into the street. He didn't understand why they would need all that stuff, even if they were going to be here for a long time. The thought of their old apartment sitting empty back in Philadelphia filled Daniel with a strange sadness. When they pulled up, the movers were already unloading the truck. "C'mon, Daniel," said his dad. "We'll let your mom go in and tell your gram that we're here. I'll give you the grand tour." "Watch yourself getting out of the car, honey," said his mom as she unbuckled Georgie from his car seat. "The oncoming traffic can't see you with that big truck in the way." His dad smiled as he gestured to the giant wraparound porch. "Pretty cool, huh?" Gram's house was two stories tall, three if you counted the attic, and the whole thing was painted a sort of pale blue, with white doors and window frames. "You'll get the attic bedroom--it's got a great view of the mountain--and Georgie will sleep in the one next to ours." Daniel didn't say anything; he just focused on not looking impressed. They ended their tour at the back of the house, next to a set of double doors. They were closed, but Daniel could hear the sound of laughter on the other side. Daniel's father knocked very gently, and a small voice answered from the other side, "Come on in!" His father put his hand on Daniel's shoulder and gave him a reassuring squeeze, then opened the door. The master bedroom was bright and airy. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered two of the walls, and the light filtered down through the trees, shining in b Excerpted from Powerless by Matthew Cody All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
