Sidekicks

Starred review from March 21, 2011
For his sophomore novel, Ferraiolo (The Big Splash) delivers a delightfully clever take on superheroes with this unpredictable adventure. Scott "Bright Boy" Hutchinson has been the youthful sidekick to grim avenger Phantom Justice for most of his life, and he enjoys the nightly fights against evil, especially since it's the only social life he has. When the fiendish and superintelligent Dr. Chaotic escapes from prison, his sidekick (and Scott's nemesis) Monkeywrench returns as well. Business as usual, until Bright Boy and Monkeywrench accidentally learn each other's secret identities. Now, forced to interact in real life, they discover they have more in common than they thought, a connection their respective mentors are none too happy with. But as Scott starts to find a measure of happiness, a series of revelations shatters his worldview. Now the sidekick must decide whose side he's really on. What starts as a tongue-in-cheek sendup of the superhero genre (complete with puberty-related embarrassing moments, costume malfunctions, and purposefully clichéd dialogue) rapidly swerves into new and engaging territory as Ferraiolo reveals the story's true depths. Ages 10â14.

Starred review from September 1, 2011

Gr 6-10-By day, he's Scott Hutchinson. By night, he's Bright Boy, Phantom Justice's tight-wearing sidekick. There has only been one criminal who has ever come close to defeating them, Dr. Chaotic and his sidekick, Monkeywrench. When the Dr. escapes from prison, trouble rears its ugly head. As Scott's character becomes a symbol of public ridicule, he starts feeling increasingly uncomfortable around his classmates. Longing to be rid of the school bully and to have a girlfriend, Scott wonders if the superhero life is really for him. To make matters worse, during a fight, Scott discovers Monkeywrench's true identity. His arch nemesis turns out to be none other than Allison Mendez, the girl Scott has had a major crush on forever. As the two start spending more and more time with each other, they realize that the lines of good and evil are a lot more blurred than anyone could've ever imagined. Will Scott continue to be a superhero and fight his crush/arch nemesis, or will he become a lover instead of a fighter? Narrator Ramon de Ocampo does a great job of bringing the characters in Jack D. Ferraiolo's novel (Amulet, 2011) to life. His unique voices truly encompass the characters' personalities. The intermixing of action, humor, and adventure is well-crafted by the author and brought to life by the narrator. Transitions and plot twists are performed smoothly and maintain viewer interest. A great addition to middle and high school collections.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT

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