Stuntboy, in the Meantime

In this funny, action-packed graphic novel, readers are introduced to Portico Reeves (aka Stuntboy), a Black fourth-grader and superhero. Portico lives in the biggest house on the block, Skylight Gardens, and suffers from terrible cases of "the frets" (anxiety). Apartment 4D is home to Portico, his mom and dad, Gran Gran and their cat, A New Name Every Day. One-and-a-half doors down in apartment 4E is Zola Brawner, Portico's best friend and the only person who can get him to de-fret. Herbert Singletary the Worst, Portico's arch-nemesis and bully, lives behind the half-sized door between 4D and 4E. Herbert, who causes many of Portico's cases of the frets, also triggers Portico's realization that he is a superhero--his superpower is sacrificing himself to make sure all the other heroes stay safe. Those heroes? The eclectic group of people who live in Skylight Gardens. As Portico tries to dodge Herbert's bullying and cope with his parents' constant arguing, Stuntboy swoops in to save his neighbors and, hopefully, his parents' marriage.

This easily accessible and hilarious graphic novel is broken up into short episodes interrupted by commercial breaks with helpful tips on stunts. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jason Reynolds (Track series) creates a text that makes for a quick and easy read and the accompanying digital illustrations by Raúl the Third (Strollercoaster) match the tone perfectly. The artist uses loose, sketchy lines to show movement and adds pops of color to his black-and-white art to focus the eye on important details. Stuntboy, in the Meantime is a perfect book for seven- to 12-year-olds. --Natasha Harris, freelance reviewer

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