Book Review: Sidekicked by John David Anderson

Release Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Pages: 384
Received: ARC from publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary

From Goodreads:

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. There’s his superhero mentor, a former legend who now spends more time straddling barstools than he does fighting crime. And then there’s his best friend, Jenna – their friendship would be complicated enough if she weren’t able to throw a Volkswagen the length of a city block. 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 was all before a supervillain long thought dead returned to Justicia, superheroes began disappearing at an alarming rate, and Drew’s two identities threatened 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 break down?

Review

Super powers!

I'm a super sucker for books with super powered characters. I like playing around with the idea of powers and seeing all the nifty new ways characters can use their powers. Sidekicked had some pretty standard fare super powers (laser beams, strength, speed, agility, etc), but main character Drew's incredible sensory powers were both new to me and awesome!

I'm not sure I'd want all of them myself (I don't need to be able to smell the garbage any better than I already can), but I'd have a blast with most of them. Though Drew didn't use his powers as often as I would have liked, I loved every single scene when he did use them.

And, ok, I know it isn't noble or anything, but I especially loved when he used his super hearing to spy. I know there's a lesson about how it's wrong to snoop, but anyone who has ever even considered picking up a glass to give their eavesdropping a little boost can relate to Drew on this one.

Underdogs!

Drew is scrawny and not particularly suave, which would be fine in a normal MG book, but Drew is in a super hero book, so he totally stands out. His classmates (they're all heroes in training) are all stronger, faster, and, in Drew's opinion, a lot more useful than him.

Plus, their super hero mentors actually acknowledge their existence and save them if they're in trouble. Drew's super hero is too busy getting drunk and feeling sorry for himself. Of course, this all served to make Drew the fictional equivalent to that scrappy little shelter mutt that never fails to make my heart melt.

And, of course, we all know underdogs have a habit of winning the day. I won't give away the details, but rest assured, they're fist-pump worthy.  

Plot and stuff

Here's where I had to take away a few points. This book is LONG, and unlike some long books, I actually felt the length here.

There are a lot of pages that don't really advance the plot much. It was my love of Drew that kept me reading, but I wish there had been more action to hold my attention. Which is not to say there wasn't action, because there was and it was fantastic, but there were also a lot of lulls.

I did see the villain coming, but I think most MG readers will be surprised. Even knowing the big reveal, I still thought it was a pretty inventive twist that gave the villain a lot more depth than I was expecting from a MG super hero book. Big points for that.

Bottom line

Sidekicked reads like a standalone, but with room left for a sequel or companion novel. I've heard there's one in the works, and I'll for sure be reading it when it releases. John David Anderson is a new-to-me author who I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye on.

The balanced blend of humorous and serious makes Sidekicked a great choice for classroom reading. Funny enough to hold youngsters' attentions, but with enough depth to spark numerous discussions.  

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about Sidekicked that I haven't addressed?
Feel free to ask in the comments!

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