Dull Boy

From School Library JournalGrade 7 Up—Avery Pirzwick is not at all dull. He pretends to be, since being different can be dangerous. He keeps his superpowers (he is incredibly strong and able to fly) secret from everyone, even his parents. Convinced that with great power comes great responsibility, he patrols his town, trying to right wrongs. After a few "strength malfunctions," he's sent to an alternative school for troubled youth and eventually meets some other teens who are equally extraordinary (e.g., Darla is a super genius, Catherine has razor-sharp fingernails, and Nicholas has a dangerous vortex raging in his chest). Together, Avery and his pals realize that they are not freaks; they even become heroes when they catch a mugger and rescue a lost scout troop. Meanwhile, the icy, mysterious Cherchette—an adult with superpowers—promises to help them reach their full potential if they will live with her. The kids eventually learn the truth about her nefarious plans, and a sequel is obvious at the book's end. Avery's narration, generously peppered with swear words, is hip, witty, funny, and sarcastic. His voice is the major strength of the novel. The secondary characters are less well drawn. Teens who enjoy science fiction/fantasy will chuckle over Avery and also be attracted to the characters' unique abilities.—\_Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME\_ Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FromHow do you hide super strength and the ability to fly? Fifteen-year-old Avery suddenly finds himself endowed with these amazing powers, but he can’t figure out how to control them or keep himself out of trouble. When Avery befriends other kids who are also superbly gifted, the small group bands together to try to use their powers for good. But who is the mysterious Cherchette, and why does she want Avery and (only) some of his friends to move in with her? This is a wild ride, and readers will find themselves immersed in the challenges faced by Avery and company. Despite an implausible conclusion that comes out of nowhere and does not live up to the buildup, the book’s ending does set up well for a sequel. With definite appeal to superhero-comics devotees ready for prose novels, this should also attract fans of rousing adventure stories. Grades 7-10. --Melanie Koss

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you're fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you're a former jock turned freak, you can't afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they're more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

Publishers Weekly

In her engrossing first novel, Cross introduces Avery Pirzwick, a misunderstood teenager with mysterious superpowers he keeps secret. Avery tries to use his super-strength and flying ability to help others, but mostly they just cause him grief ("the only 'super' I've been to my friends lately is super lame"). He quit the wrestling team after accidentally breaking another wrestler's arm, and after additional mishaps his parents send him to an alternative school. There, he meets other misfit kids with secret abilities, like Sophie, who can stick to walls, and Catherine, who has razor-sharp claws (and a temper). Unfortunately, Avery is also being dogged by Cherchette, a superpowered adult who aims to recruit Avery and his friends for her own purposes. Like the best superhero stories, Cross's novel has crisp action sequences and a good sense of humor, but also gets deep into the fears and struggles of teenagers who simply don't fit in. "Every single one of us has secrets," Avery reflects as the group grows more close-knit. "Only now we have them together." Ages 12-up. (May)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you're fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you're a former jock turned freak, you can't afford to let the secret slip. But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they're more than just freaks - together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price. Avery, A Teenaged Boy With Frightening Super Powers That He Is Trying To Hide, Discovers Other Teenagers Who Also Have Strange Powers And Who Are Being Sought By The Icy And Seductive Cherchette, But They Do Not Know What She Wants With Them.