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Published in USA
Jun 2013
384 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Alternate History
Publication Information
Drew Bean might be a part of a secret organization for the training of superhero sidekicks, but that doesn't mean that life is all leaping tall buildings in single bounds.
Drew is possessed of super senses - his hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell are the most powerful on the planet - making him literally the most sensitive kid in school. And then there's his best friend, Jenna - their friendship would be complicated enough if she weren't able to throw an eighteen-wheeler the length of a city block. Add in trying to keep his sidekick life a secret from everyone, including his parents, and the truth is clear: middle school is pretty much a drag regardless of whether you have superpowers.
But this is all before a super-villain long thought dead returns to the city of Justica and Drew's two identities threaten to crash head-on into each other. Drew has always found it pretty easy to separate right from wrong, good from evil. It's what a superhero does. But what happens when that line starts to disappear?
Fans of The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy will love Sidekicked, John David Anderson's hilarious middle-grade superhero novel.
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"Starred Review. There's a lot to enjoy, from memorable characters to a complex yet accessible plot, in this superhero story that any comics fan will enjoy. Ages 8–12" - Publishers Weekly
"In the end, the tale is so heartbreaking that it's the perfect training manual for superheroes everywhere. And that means all of us. Ages 9-12." - Kirkus
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John David Anderson is the author of one other novel for young readers, Standard Hero Behavior. He lives with his wife, two kids, and whiny cat in Indianapolis. He hates sloppy joes, isn't too fond of neckties, and has no notable superpowers to speak of. Yet.
A beautifully written and uplifting debut novel.
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