The Extraordinaries

March 23, 2020
In Nova City, Nick Bell is an apparently ordinary high school student whose megacrush on local superhero Shadow Star leads him into wild stunts in a quest for his own superpowers. Though at first he only wants the stunts to bring him to Shadow Star’s attention, his motivations shift when a battle between Shadow Star and his nemesis, Pyro Storm, injures Nick’s police officer father, who is all he has left after the death of his mother two years earlier. Nick’s ADHD and almost comical optimism combine to make a charming and entertaining hero, and his equally amusing circle of inclusive friends is supportive of his emotional excesses. Though his strict but supportive father does his best to keep Nick out of trouble, the teen finds a way to put himself in the path of danger as his hero and Pyro Storm’s feud comes to a head. There’s plenty in this lighthearted, superhero-interested teen dramedy for kids who feel like they’re sometimes on the outside, including the positive representation of a teen with ADHD. Ages 13–up. Agent: Deidre Knight, the Knight Agency.

Michael Lesley's upbeat narration captures all the whimsy, humor, and heart of this YA superhero romp. Nick has been nursing a crush on Shadow Star, Nova City's most famous superhero, for years. He's even the author of one of the most popular Extraordinaries fanfics. But when he decides to become an Extraordinary himself to catch Shadow Star's attention, he learns a lot more about love, friendship, and himself than he anticipated. Lesley expertly voices all of Nick's teenage angst and does an expert job with the secondary characters. Nick's father is gruff and warm; his ex-boyfriend, Owen, is a bit haughty; and the Extraordinaries have powerful larger-than-life voices. This sweet queer coming-of-age story will please listeners looking for something fun, surprising, and affirming. L.S. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine