Stuntboy, in the Meantime

Starred review from October 11, 2021
Portico Reeves, secret alter ego Stuntboy, lives amid a lively, largely Black community at “the castle”—apartment building Skylight Gardens. As Portico, he navigates tense interactions with bully Herbert Singletary the Worst, the stress of his ever-fighting parents, and his own anxiety, or “frets.” As Stuntboy, meanwhile, his job is “keeping other superheroes safe, so they can save the world!” And he definitely has his hands full watching out for the castle’s various larger-than-life characters—rolling down the stairs for a neighbor who’s a “little wobbly,” taking a tumble in lieu of shoelace-obsessed Mr. Mister, and blowing salt-and-vinegar chip crumbs in his dad’s face to stop his parents’ fighting. Zola Brawner, best friend for 163 days, offers support, comparing Portico’s fighting parents to episodes of an in-universe television show, but his folks’ dismissals and descent into the “mean time” threaten to worsen the frets. From vibrant, comic book–style art with ample color by Elaine Bay to running gags and commercial breaks that balance serious moments, there’s plenty to enjoy about this engaging, high-energy collaboration by Raúl the Third (Strollercoaster) and Reynolds (Stamped). Ages 7–12.

Starred review from January 1, 2022
This ingeniously crafted illustrated novel offers a multifaceted and heartfelt take on the classic superhero story. Portico Reeves is a kid with a "secret secret" -- he likes to think of himself as Stuntboy, a homegrown and self-styled superhero whose power is "making sure all the other heroes stay super. And safe. Supersafe." The selfless Stuntboy protects the quirky and racially diverse cast of characters in his apartment building, particularly his own family members and his best friend Zola. Instead of super strength or flight, Stuntboy performs a variety of odd "stunts" to help others, which also lets him burn off some energy. When he is Stuntboy, the young hero isn't affected by his anxiety, or "the frets," which are made worse for Portico by his parents' constant bickering and his relentless bullying by "Herbert Singletary the Worst." In ten episodic chapters, Reynolds employs fast-paced, realistic dialogue loaded with wordplay and humor. A parallel narrative, in the form of the television show Super Space Warriors, artfully reflects Portico's parents' impending separation. Raul the Third's cartoon illustrations are integral, active components of the story. From the smallest possible detail in a skyline to commanding double-page action spreads, the art makes Portico's world feel real and vibrant. Bay's color work is invaluable, oscillating between pulsating palettes and subdued screentones. Keeping to the superhero tradition, the creators end on a cliffhanger, leaving readers with a promise of more adventures to come. Patrick Gall

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2022
This ingeniously crafted illustrated novel offers a multifaceted and heartfelt take on the classic superhero story. Portico Reeves is a kid with a "secret secret" -- he likes to think of himself as Stuntboy, a homegrown and self-styled superhero whose power is "making sure all the other heroes stay super. And safe. Supersafe." The selfless Stuntboy protects the quirky and racially diverse cast of characters in his apartment building, particularly his own family members and his best friend Zola. Instead of super strength or flight, Stuntboy performs a variety of odd "stunts" to help others, which also lets him burn off some energy. When he is Stuntboy, the young hero isn't affected by his anxiety, or "the frets," which are made worse for Portico by his parents' constant bickering and his relentless bullying by "Herbert Singletary the Worst." In ten episodic chapters, Reynolds employs fast-paced, realistic dialogue loaded with wordplay and humor. A parallel narrative, in the form of the television show Super Space Warriors, artfully reflects Portico's parents' impending separation. Raul the Third's cartoon illustrations are integral, active components of the story. From the smallest possible detail in a skyline to commanding double-page action spreads, the art makes Portico's world feel real and vibrant. Bay's color work is invaluable, oscillating between pulsating palettes and subdued screentones. Keeping to the superhero tradition, the creators end on a cliffhanger, leaving readers with a promise of more adventures to come. Patrick Gall

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 15, 2021
Not-so-secret superhero by day and kid from apartment 4D by day as well, Portico "Stuntboy" Reeves will need all his tricks to withstand the great threat facing his family and the anxiety that comes with it. Portico loves living in Skylight Gardens, an apartment complex as large as a castle, but he cherishes the people and community the most--with the exception of Herbert Singletary the Worst. Herbert is a bully and often a source of Portico's "frets," or debilitating anxiety, but neighbor and bestie Zola provides great support to both Portico and his super alter ego. The latter's purpose is to keep all the other uniquely heroic folk in Skylight Gardens safe through an arsenal of self-sacrificing distractions and awkward hijinks. Raul the Third's illustrations are both dynamic and cleverly slapstick as Portico skillfully tumbles down stairs to prevent an older resident from falling or flops in front of his parents to momentarily stop them from fighting. Reynolds' narrative gradually reveals the impact Portico's parents' impending separation is having on their deeply sensitive son even as he can't fully grasp what's going on around him. Superlative, action-packed art and cheeky narration combine to tell a story of emotional intelligence on a superheroic scale while remaining consistently funny and undeniably thoughtful. Most characters read as Black. A boy finds a creative coping mechanism in this original tale that speaks to the heart. (additional sketches) (Adventure. 7-12)

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Starred review from October 15, 2021
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* Feeling like he's "living in a television where behind every door is a new TV show," young Portico Reeves kicks off this hybrid format series by introducing himself as Stuntboy, "the greatest superhero you've never heard of." He also takes note of his fellow apartment residents--notably, best friend Zola Brawner and "weenaged snot-bot" Herbert Singletary the Worst ("Yes, that's his real name"), bully and archvillain, both recent arrivals. Through 10 slice-of-life "episodes" interspersed with breaks for life rules ("1. Run up and down the hallways. All the hallways. Always") and full-color inset panels recapping oddly parallel plotlines in a beloved sci-fi show that invariably climax with "An Explosion of Great Magnitude," the narrator records his growing anxiety over the "meantime" arguments his parents have been having lately about their possessions--a sign, he twigs at last, of their impending separation. For a time he feels (and the illustrations depict literally him as) split in half, unrecognizable to friend and foe (ex-foe by the end: Herbert the "Not So Bad After All") alike. Ra�l the Third and colorist Bay add an abundance of high-energy line drawings with variously hued highlights to this helter-skelter ramble, and Reynolds closes with a slick segue to the sequel.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Reynolds is The National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, a mega best-seller--do we even need to go on? You know who he is. Pair him with award-winning Ra�l the Third and this one will fly off shelves as quickly as it arrives.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2022
Color by Elaine Bay. This ingeniously crafted illustrated novel offers a multifaceted and heartfelt take on the classic superhero story. Portico Reeves is a kid with a "secret secret" -- he likes to think of himself as Stuntboy, a homegrown and self-styled superhero whose power is "making sure all the other heroes stay super. And safe. Supersafe." The selfless Stuntboy protects the quirky and racially diverse cast of characters in his apartment building, particularly his own family members and his best friend Zola. Instead of super strength or flight, Stuntboy performs a variety of odd "stunts" to help others, which also lets him burn off some energy. When he is Stuntboy, the young hero isn't affected by his anxiety, or "the frets," which are made worse for Portico by his parents' constant bickering and his relentless bullying by "Herbert Singletary the Worst." In ten episodic chapters, Reynolds employs fast-paced, realistic dialogue loaded with wordplay and humor. A parallel narrative, in the form of the television show Super Space Warriors, artfully reflects Portico's parents' impending separation. Raul the Third's cartoon illustrations are integral, active components of the story. From the smallest possible detail in a skyline to commanding double-page action spreads, the art makes Portico's world feel real and vibrant. Bay's color work is invaluable, oscillating between pulsating palettes and subdued screentones. Keeping to the superhero tradition, the creators end on a cliffhanger, leaving readers with a promise of more adventures to come.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)