Sidekicked

by John David Anderson

Overview

The Avengers meets Louis Sachar in this hilarious and action-packed tween novel by John David Anderson, which Publishers Weekly called a "superhero story that any comics fan will enjoy" in a starred review.

Andrew Bean might be a part of H.E.R.O., a secret organization for the training of superhero sidekicks, but that doesn't mean that life is all leaping tall buildings in single bounds. First, there's Drew's power: Possessed of super senses—his hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell are the most powerful on the planet—he's literally the most sensitive kid in school. Then there's his superhero mentor, a former legend who now spends more time straddling barstools than fighting crime. Add in trying to keep his sidekick life a secret from everyone, including his parents, and the truth is clear: Middle school is a drag even with superpowers.

But this is all before a supervillain long thought dead returns to the city of Justicia, superheroes begin disappearing at an alarming rate, and Drew's two identities threaten to crash head-on into each other. Drew has always found it pretty easy to separate right from wrong, good from evil. It's what a superhero does. But what happens when that line starts to disappear?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062133151
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	06/24/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	436,004
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

John David Anderson is the author of many books for young readers, including Sidekicked and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wife, two kids, and perpetually whiny cat in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.

Editorial Reviews

In this engaging middle-grade adventure, Anderson (Standard Hero Behavior) again examines the idea of heroism, this time through the lives of superpowered sidekicks. Thirteen-year-old Andrew “The Sensationalist” Bean is part of the H.E.R.O. program for aspiring sidekicks, but his mentor, the legendary Titan, is an alcoholic no-show, leaving Andrew to fend for himself against supervillains and their deathtraps. When the infamous Dealer returns from the dead and reunites his deadly henchmen, the entire city is put at risk. Adult heroes are vanishing, their sidekicks are under attack, and someone associated with H.E.R.O. may be a traitor. Amid the chaos and danger, Andrew tries to embrace his heroic potential. Anderson tackles some heady topics, including superhero morality, teenage confusion, and divided loyalties, playing with the usual comic book tropes without treading on overly familiar ground (even for fans of Jack Ferraiolo’s similar 2011 novel, Sidekicks). There’s a lot to enjoy, from memorable characters to a complex yet accessible plot, in this superhero story that any comics fan will enjoy. Ages 8–12. Agent: Quinlan Lee, Adams Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Welcome to Highview Environmental Revitalization Organization (H.E.R.O.), a covert high school program for gifted children who possess powers that might make them super one day. Well, a superhero, kind of super. For now they are training to become sidekicks matched with superhero mentors, all under the noses of their teachers and parents. Andrew Bean (a.k.a. the Sensationalist) has the extraordinary abilities to smell, taste, hear, see, and touch things that no one else can. Oh sure, flying or super strength might be cooler powers, but he can smell what the neighbors are having for dinner a block away. Andrew is sidekick to the super famous Titan, whose strength and super powers have brought down many super villains; unfortunately, Titan is now he is "off grid" and wants nothing to do with saving lives or mentoring a kid with super senses. That does not stop the Killer Bee from kidnapping the Sensationalist and the Silver Lynx (Jenna, who Andrew has a huge crush on). The villain dangles them over a pool filled with a thousand gallons of hydrochloric acid. Sure, Jenna's mentor saves them just in the nick of time, but the Titan should have been there for Andrew. That is part of the Super Hero Code of Conduct. The Titan has checked out at the worst possible time, because the Dealer and the Three Jacks have broken out of prison, and they seem to have a direct link to all things sidekick and superhero. This is an adventurous look at everything Super from an angle of the sidekick. It is a fun read with nicely written sarcasm and teen angst as this S.I.T. (Sidekick in Trouble) deals with the day-to-day of a thirteen year old kid whose problems are a bit more than zits and girl problems. Reviewer: Toni Jourdan

Children's Literature - Toni Jourdan

Gr 4–7—With his less-than-spectacular superpowers and a partner who never shows up, Andrew finds that his life as a crime-fighting sidekick called "the Sensationalist" is fairly tame. When a mysterious villain captures most of the city's top "Supers," though, the 13-year-old has to find a way to thwart the evil plot and save the day. Andrew's self-deprecating, occasionally sarcastic narration lightly mocks superhero conventions with some fun and insight. Insecurity about his role neatly mixes in with typical middle school headaches, including teasing, romance, and school lunches. While Andrew's self-analysis drags on a bit at times, there are plenty of funny observations about the challenges superheroes face, including financial worries and outgrowing their spandex. The boy's relationships with other sidekicks, his teacher, and the retired Super who rejects him work fairly well to set up some tough personal and moral decisions. They also impact the gradually developing heroes-versus-villains plot, which includes a couple of slightly predictable twists and ends with a battle in which the sidekicks prove their worth. The action scenes are not especially involving, but the clever humor, coupled with some thoughtful exploration into the nature of friendship, courage, and heroism, makes this a solid addition to the field of superhero novels.—Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

School Library Journal

Comic-book fans like to talk about how much they hate sidekicks. No one dreams about being Robin. They want to grow up to be Batman. But it turns out that a sidekick is the perfect metaphor for adolescence. Sidekicks are smart, energetic and imaginative--and they have no authority at all. They can't drive or vote, but they can shoot electric bolts out of their fingertips. Anderson's main character is a sidekick named Andrew Bean. Like the best superheroes, he's down on his luck, always forgetting his utility belt when he needs it. Andrew is part of a school environmental club, H.E.R.O., that--in the novel's best joke--doubles as a training program for sidekicks (motto: "WE KEEP THE TRASH OFF THE STREETS"). Andrew's mentor is the Titan, an aging hero who'd rather go out drinking than fight crime. The novel's real theme is disillusionment. Before the last chapter, Andrew will have his heart broken more than once. The best superheroes always do. The book's big plot twists are never much of a surprise, but the smaller revelations are deeply moving. The secret that tore apart the Legion of Justice, which the now-dissolute Titan used to lead, turns out to be very simple and very sad. In the end, the tale is so heartbreaking that it's the perfect training manual for superheroes everywhere. And that means all of us. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews