Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities

October 1, 2012
Many residents of Copperplate City are fond of local superhero Captain Stupen-dous, but 12-year-old Vincent Wu and his best friends Max and George are diehard fans. When a new supervillain, Professor Mayhem, arrives in town with a giant robot, and Captain Stupendous starts acting strangely after their first battle, Vincent and his friends try to figure out what’s going on (and what it has to do with Vincent’s crush, Polly Winnicott-Lee). Debut author Jung smartly balances
adventure and comedy in a story about (unwanted) power and responsibility that pokes fun at superhero conventions along the way (Professor Mayhem, like a true supervillain, takes his time to explain his evil plot in full). Jung’s fast-paced storytelling, filled with comics-inspired gadgetry and sound effects, makes the story’s action sequences come alive, and thanks to Maihack’s b&w spot illustrations, Vincent, Polly, and the others look like they’re ready to star in an animated series. Superhero fans also will appreciate the sly nod to Clark Kent/Superman when the book jacket is removed. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

September 1, 2012
This is a superhero story for people who've read too many superhero stories. When Captain Stupendous flies through Copperplate City, every cellphone starts to ring. An emergency text might appear: "STUPENDOUS ALERT: GIANT ROBOT. 24TH & BYRNE." There will be an announcement over the nearest loudspeaker: "LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES ARE IN EFFECT IMMEDIATELY!" Drivers will abandon their cars. Grown-ups will cram into doorways. Kids will be chanting, "STU-PEN-DOUS, STU-PEN-DOUS." The students at King Kirby Middle School have grown up hearing supervillains shout, "FLEE IF YOU MUST!" and, "YOU FACE PROFESSOR MAYHEM, DOLT!" To readers, these lines will be cliches--especially if they're comic-book fans--and in fact, the book is full of cliches: Vincent Wu is a dork, obsessed with superhero trivia and longing after the cutest girl in school. Some people will put down the book after 50 pages, thinking they know what's coming, but there is a giant surprise on page 58, one that is too big to give away here. Two hints: Captain Stupendous may not survive every battle. And almost everyone in Copperplate City has a secret identity. Don't we all? The book never completely escapes cliche. Every chapter has lines like "SOON EVERYONE WILL KNOW WHO I AM, CAPTAIN STUPENDOUS!" But this is a genuinely new sort of superhero story, and it will surprise even people who are tired of sound effects and capital letters. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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December 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-Vincent Wu knows everything there is to know about Copperplate City's most beloved superhero, Captain Stupendous. He talks about him at dinner. He does reports on him at school. He is even a founding member of the Captain Stupendous Fan Club. When the hero takes a bad hit rescuing Vincent's not-so-secret crush, Polly Winnicott-Lee, he returns slightly different. He no longer has the skills he once had, and he is nearly pulverized in a rematch with the giant automaton he's bested before. In a last-ditch effort to save Vincent from being crushed, and to escape the battle, Stupendous takes off with the boy in his grasp. There is a revelatory moment when Stupendous unveils his secret identity: Polly. During the last battle Stupendous died and passed his abilities to her. It is now up to Vincent to train her and convince her that what he thinks of as the best gift ever is worth keeping. Jung has created an interesting city with a diverse population, reliant on and in love with superheroes (it has four Captain Stupendous fan clubs). The characters experience a good bit of growth, and kids will get a kick out of a teenage girl transforming into a muscle-bound man when performing herculean feats. The plot, funny and exciting, follows a lot of generic superhero themes. There are occasional mild swear words, which are jarring in a text so otherwise perfectly suited to this audience. For those trying to find some accessible adventure stories with a hint of romance, this is a good additional purchase.-Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, ME

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2012
Grades 4-7 For Vincent Wu, there is nothing as important in the world as Captain Stupendous, Copperplate City's own real-life superhero. As president of the best (albeit three-member) Captain Stupendous fan club, his knowledge is unsurpassed. Indeed, the only thing to rival his superhero obsession is his interest in one Polly Winnicott-Lee, the best girl in school, in his eyes. So Vincent is understandably perplexed when Captain Stupendous and Polly turn out to be one and the same. But there's no time to figure it out. Professor Mayhem has kidnapped Vincent's mother and taken her to his lair beneath stinky Lake Higgleman. Can Vincent, Polly, and friends save the day? Amid the battles with giant alloy robots and alien visitations, Jung explores some interesting curiositieswhat would middle school be like in a world where superheroes existed?and offers some honest and resonant ideas on the matter. With snappy and authentic dialogue, layered plotting, full-on science, and sweet preteen romance, Jung's boisterous debut is a winner. Here's hoping we haven't seen the last of this bunch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)