Captain Superlative! is another in the list of Missouri's Mark Twain award nominees for the 2020/1 school year. I must admit that it took me a while to buy into the writing from this author. Once I fell into the pattern of writing, the premise for the story started really appealing to me. An unknown student, dressing as a superhero, solving problems for other students by using her "superpowers" to do things like open doors for others, prepare study guides for upcoming tests, and stand up for victims when they are bullied. She was able to win me over with the whole thing.
 | From Goodreads: "Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!" |
Unfortunately, there is another element to the story - a secret that Captain Superlative holds - that makes the story turn at the end. What was a cool, quirky school story becomes another kids book with a character who has to deal with a terminal disease. While that is probably the element that inspired the book for this author, it ended up getting in the way of my enjoyment. I didn't need a heavy revelation for this book to move me. I was already inspired to be kind and do good for other people, and I didn't need the secret. This book could have wrapped up differently, with a happy ending, and I would have been perfectly fine with it.
Still, as is often the case, this was a decent read. It was on that I turned pages in and read fast because the author sucked me into the plot and made me want to scream at Janey, the main character, for her weak choices and alienating and insensitive comments.
Still, as is often the case, this was a decent read. It was on that I turned pages in and read fast because the author sucked me into the plot and made me want to scream at Janey, the main character, for her weak choices and alienating and insensitive comments.
