Sort of Super by Eric Gapstur - HIGH

 Sort of Super by Eric Gapstur, 234 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Aladdin (Simon), 2022. $21. 9781534480292 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG (mother leaving); Violence: PG (bullying, superhero fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Middle school superhero Wyatt wants to help people, but his dad wants him to hide his superpowers. Younger sister, Adeline, who is super smart, has just moved up 2 grades to start in Wyatt’s class, which is lucky, because while Wyatt is a great executor, she is a great planner. Together, Wyatt and A+ (Adeline’s superhero name) solve a mystery of missing animals that their father, a police detective, has been trying to solve for weeks. 

 The colorful illustrations sold me on this book. I found the beginning a little confusing as to whether Wyatt was actually a superhero or just a kid with a great imagination, but to my 12 year old son, it was clear that Wyatt had superpowers. He loved the suspense, action, and overall the entire story. This debut graphic novel for this author had the feel of a Marvel superheroes graphic novel, but with younger teens. Overall, a book that I think many middle grade students would enjoy. 

Reviewer J. Rosskopf