Eighth-Grade Superzero

Starred review from December 14, 2009
Rhuday-Perkovich delivers a masterful debut, telling a layered middle-school tale filled with characters who are delightfully flawed and, more importantly, striving to overcome those flaws. Reggie McKnight has been saddled with the nickname “Pukey” thanks to a disastrous incident on the first day of school. Attempting to get through the rest of the year unnoticed, he spends his time with his best friends, political activist Ruthie (who shares Reggie’s Jamaican background) and aspiring rapper Joe C. While working on a project at a homeless shelter with his church’s youth group, he becomes increasingly interested and involved in the community, leading to his participation in his school’s presidential race, first as an adviser to a classmate, eventually as a candidate. Rhuday-Perkovich doesn’t take shortcuts, forcing Reggie to deal with a world in which he doesn’t always get the answers or successes he wants, and the book shines as a result. Messages of social justice—whether through church projects, parental discussions, or recognition of racial biases among his friends—complement the story and characters, rather than upstage them. Ages 10–14.

February 1, 2010
Gr 6-8-Reggie McKnight is a smart but somewhat geeky eighth grader growing up in New York City. He earned the nickname "Pukey" during an unfortunate incident at assembly, and he hasn't been able to shake it. Life at his alternative school isn't all bad, though. Reggie's friends Ruthie and Joe C. have his back most of the time, and then there's beautiful Mialonie, who is showing some interest in him. But these days Reggie has a little more on his plate than he can handle. His dad is out of work, and his mom works too much. He gets involved at a homeless shelter, befriending two of its residents, but is often at a loss for how to make a difference. And will he ever work up the courage to overcome his reputation as "Pukey" and run for class president? The novel takes on a number of weighty issues including religion, homelessness, and getting involved without the heavy language and situations that are often a part of urban fiction. Although this moderately paced story will likely require some selling, it is a good one to recommend to readers who are looking for realistic fiction with a focus on social responsibility."Jessica Marie, Renton Public Library, WA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2009
Grades 6-9 Ever since his nervous stomach betrayed him on the first day of school and he threw up on the principals shoes, Reggie has been universally known as Pukey. No wonder his main goal is now to be as invisible at school as possible. This starts to change when his church youth group becomes involved with a volunteer project at a neighborhood homeless shelter and Reggie discovers the value of community activism. Before you know it, hes declared himself a candidate for class president, become a Big Brother and an oral historian, and more. It may be an overstatement to call Rhuday-Perkovichs large-hearted first novel agitprop, but theres no question about the didactic purpose. Unfortunately, in her quest to persuade her readers to her point of view, she sometimes lapses into lecturing instead of creating, and a few too many subplots slow down the narrative pace. Nevertheless, she manages to bring both passion and compassion to a story that has its moments of humor and genuine emotion, and will be highly useful for classroom discussion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)