A little bit super : with small powers come big problems / edited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.

Select an Action

Title:

A little bit super : with small powers come big problems / edited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.

Author:

Henderson, Leah, editor, author.

Schmidt, Gary D., editor, author.

Krosoczka, Jarrett, author.

Cartaya, Pablo, author.

Grimes, Nikki, author.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz, author.

Perkins, Mitali, author.

Young, Brian (Brian Lee), author.

Lukoff, Kyle, author.

Zoboi, Ibi Aanu, author.

Park, Linda Sue, author.

Nayeri, Daniel, author.

Lai, Remy, author.

Medina, Meg, author.

ISBN:

9780358683421

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

278 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Contents:

A river of thoughts / 2.4 seconds to sonder / Shift / Matchmaker / The chameleon's kiss / Corwin the empathic / Fingers crossed / Welcome to The Gabby Moore Show / Roll on / The hieroglyph / The boy with the demon claw / Asian parents dictionary / Shadow rescue: a tale of heroic Rodentia

Abstract:

"The kids in these humorous short stories each have a minor superpower they're learning to live with. One can shape-shift--but only part of her body, and only on Mondays. Another can always tell whether an avocado is perfectly ripe. One can even hear the thoughts of the animals in the pet store! But what these stories are really about is their young protagonists "owning" a power that contributes to their individuality, that allows them to find their place in the world, that shows them a potential they might not have imagined."-- Publisher description.

Subject Term:

Ability -- Juvenile fiction.

Middle school students -- Juvenile fiction.

Identity (Psychology) -- Juvenile fiction.

Social change -- Juvenile fiction.

Individuality -- Juvenile fiction.

Heroes -- Juvenile fiction.

Great powers -- Juvenile fiction.

Middle school students -- Fiction.

Superheroes -- Fiction.

Ability -- Fiction.

Identity -- Fiction.

Individuality -- Fiction.

Self-realization -- Fiction.

Social change -- Fiction.

Short stories.

Grandes puissances -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Élèves d'école moyenne -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Aptitude -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Identité (Psychologie) -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Individualité -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Héros -- Romans, nouvelles, etc. pour la jeunesse.

Heroes and heroines -- Juvenile fiction.

Self-realization -- Juvenile fiction.

Genre:

Added Author:

Young, Brian (Brian Lee),

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Juvenile Fiction Book Hardback	120791003143163	J LIT	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

In these hilarious stories by some of the top authors of middle grade fiction today, each young character is coping with a minor superpower--while also discovering their power to change themselves and their community, find their voice, and celebrate what makes them unique.

The kids in these humorous short stories each have a minor superpower they're learning to live with. One can shape-shift--but only part of her body, and only on Mondays. Another can always tell whether an avocado is perfectly ripe. One can even hear the thoughts of the animals in the pet store! But what these stories are really about is their young protagonists "owning" a power that contributes to their individuality, that allows them to find their place in the world, that shows them a potential they might not have imagined.

Because if you really think about it, we all have something special and unique about ourselves that makes us a little bit super. We all have the power to change as an individual, to change our communities for the better, to have a voice and to speak up. These playful, thought-provoking tales from some of today's top middle grade authors prompt readers to consider what their own superpower might be, and how they can use it.

Written by Pablo Cartaya, Nikki Grimes, Leah Henderson, Jarrett Krosoczka, Remy Lai, Kyle Lukoff, Meg Medina, Daniel Nayeri, Linda Sue Park, Mitali Perkins, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Gary D. Schmidt, Brian Young, and Ibi Zoboi; coedited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.

Reviews (3)

Horn Book Review

This imaginative collection presents thirteen stories from an all-star team of authors, including Nikki Grimes, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Linda Sue Park. A heartfelt introduction by the coeditors sets up the theme and through line: these are short stories of middle-school kids growing in self-knowledge and empathy as they realize that they each have some sort of gift. ("Because everyone has a power, and that power matters, no matter how small or inconvenient it may seem.") The compilation is cleverly organized into two parts: "The Power of Discovering Who We Are" and "The Power of Being Who We Are." Abilities portrayed include time-jumping, shape-shifting, telepathy, the courage to speak truth to power, the ability to sense when avocados are ripe, and more. In Kyle Lukoff's story, a child learns to take steps to trust and affirm his own wishes about his gender identity; in Mitali Perkins's, a chameleon gives a girl magical cultural code-switching abilities. Whether big or small, silly or serious (or both), every power is brought to life through a nuanced, diverse cast of characters and entertaining, thought-provoking plots. While the narratives lean whimsical, this entire project offers readers a careful, serious, and profound invitation to reflect on issues of identity, responsibility, social justice, and the myriad ways that people's gifts -- in both perception and application -- can affect others' lives, relationships, and the wider world. Illustrations not seen. Elisa GallMarch/April 2024 p.91 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Review

A collection of 13 short stories by acclaimed authors for young people featuring kids who use real and imagined superpowers to positively affect their lives and those of others. The kids in these entries are dealing with many common challenges: wanting to fit in, feeling shy, longing for real friendships, and developing courage. In Pablo Cartaya's "2.4 Seconds to Sonder," Maximiliano has become accustomed to fading into the background: His time-jumping abilities take him into the bodies of "random extras in history," but he learns that "nobody's life is random or pointless," whether they're noticed or not. In Nikki Grimes' "Shift," which is told in poetry form, Imara uses her shape-shifting abilities to try to blend in with the mean girls at her school, but this doesn't make her happy. She learns an important lesson: "Who are they to say / I'm not perfect / exactly the way I am?" In Pam Muñoz Ryan's "Matchmaker," Sofia Delvechio uses mystical powers from her family's matchmaking business to build a friendship network and help others. This collection of stories, which is divided into two sections--"The Power of Discovering Who We Are" and "The Power of Being Who We Are"--is broadly appealing; the diversity of characters, powers, and voices serves to highlight the protagonists' inner lives and the importance that relationships play in helping them develop their senses of self. Final art not seen. An engaging and imaginative look at the powers of childhood. (Anthology. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Heavy-hitting, notable writers join forces in a memorable collection of short stories "about middle-school kids who discover in themselves some sort of small superpower." And by "small," the authors took this assignment seriously. These aren't characters who can lift cars or fly, but, rather, consist of an emotionally intuitive time jumper with no control over which host body he'll inhabit, a restaurateur's daughter whose ability to magically discern perfectly ripe avocados saves their bottom line, and even a lonely seventh-grader whose "right arm is now possessed of a . . . demon in the shape of a claw." And there are rodents. So many rodents. In other words, these are not your run-of-the-mill, cape-and-tights-clad superheroes. These are kids with relatable struggles learning to embrace that quirky bit of themselves that makes them unique, and empathetic lessons follow. The book's 13 digestible, independent stories are divided into two sections, the first featuring characters gazing inward toward self-acceptance, and the second with kids harnessing their potential to serve their community's greater good. Numerous award-winning contributors (think Meg Medina, Kyle Lukoff, and coeditor Schmidt) keep delightfully inclusive and accomplished company in this emotionally grounded, compassionate collection that's perfect for sharing alongside Flying Lessons & Other Stories (2017), edited by Ellen Oh, and the authors' individual works. Interstitial art was unavailable for review.