Stuntboy, in the Meantime

by Jason Reynolds

Other authorsRaúl the Third (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2021

Status

Available

Publication

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (2021), 272 pages

Description

Portico Reeves' secret identity as Stuntboy allows him to use his superpower keep everybody safe, but when his superhero parents start fighting a lot he feels the responsibility to save them.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AliceaP
As a Children's Librarian, I try my best to be diverse in my reading choices. However, over the last couple of years while being at my current branch I've not read as much middle grade as the patrons I have the most interaction with are either pre-k aged or senior citizens. But then I saw all the
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press for Jason Reynold's latest book Stuntboy and I thought it looked too fun to pass up.

But this is not one of those books that translates to the "unintended audience" in my opinion. [A/N: The illustrations are a treat for any aged reader.] I felt utterly out of touch with the "youths" as I was reading this. lol This isn't bad news though! I have no doubt that middle grade readers will absolutely LOVE this book. The main character, Portico, is realistic and likable and his confusion over the meaning of words (the meantime being the main one) will be a delight to readers who do understand what's being said. It's the start of a series so if you have young graphic novel enthusiasts in your life this would be a great series for them to sink their teeth into.
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LibraryThing member surlysal
What can’t Jason Reynolds do!? A great graphic novel for people dealing with anxiety and/or have parents divorcing. If a continuation happened I wouldn’t be disappointed at all.
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Portico deals with anxiety. He leans heavy on his imagination. His new best friend brings joy to his life where his parents are increasingly fighting. It's clear they are separating, but Portico doesn't understand that this is about to happen.
Colorful, highly illustrated with some graphic novel
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features.
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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Portico Reeves imagines himself as superhero Stuntboy who has all kinds of superhero moves. But his secret identity is as Portico Reeves, a kid who lives with his parents and grandmother in the Skylight Gardens apartments. His best friend in the building is Zola and they both love the show "Super
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Space Warriors." His nemesis is Herbert Singletary the Worst whose bullying often gives Portico the "frets," or anxiety. But his parents' loud arguments and fights have been giving Portico the frets. Can Stuntboy save the family? As a total work, Stuntboy bounces around like a wild child who gets into everything. Raul the Third's illustrations are all movement: pop, zoom and flow, with the occasional explosive double-paged spread. Even the font is expressive. The non-stop story action will draw in even reluctant readers.
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LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Portico Reeves is a kid living in a "castle" -- an apartment building with lots of friendly neighbors. A new neighbor becomes his "best best" friend, especially since the two of them share a love of the same fantasy/superhero/action-adventure TV show. When they talk about taking on their own
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superhero identities, Portico's is that of Stuntboy, someone who will do all the action moves so that the other supers will stay safe. Everything is going great except that his parents won't stop bickering and fighting over everything as they plan to move into two new apartments in the building.

This book was a quick-paced, fun read. Portico and his neighbors are all a bit quirky but in a relatable way. At times, Portico has an almost Amelia-Bedelia outlook, such as how he constantly thinks of his parents' fighting as "the meantime" because they send him off to do something else "in the meantime" of their debates. It is a fairly sensitive look at divorce and the emotions that children go through while their parents are arguing, even with Portico being sort of oblivious to the fact of the divorce process for much of the book. He is very aware of being bullied by one neighbor though, and that storyline is also deftly handled, with the bully eventually being softened with a backstory of his own. And, Portico deals with having anxiety, which is stated as such but also described in child-friendly terms for the reader to understand what that feels like for Portico as he has panic attacks.

The story is presented in a kind of hybrid graphic novel-chapter book, which will appeal to kids who like books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Invisible Emmie, Pie in the Sky, and others. It also helps make the book read quicker, which can be appealing to reluctant readers. I did feel like the ending was a bit abrupt, but I suppose that's because other titles might follow in the series.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Super illustrations, hand drawn text and a collage-like quality make this book very fun to engage with. I also loved the episode breaks and the theme music treatment as each story begins. I didn't really know what to do with the lack of resolution each time Stuntboy interrupted his parents'
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arguments, and the storyline meanders all over the place -- which is innovative and engaging, but also deeply unsatisfying to me as a reader. Note, I am not the intended audience, so take what you will from that. I loved the exuberance of life in the building, Zola and Portico's awesome friendship, and the meditation/yoga ideas to help manage the frets. It's not the kind of book where the hero comes out empowered and manages to change the world; it is the kind of book that teaches kids how to endure what they can't change, and how to use their imaginations to take care of themselves.
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Awards

Audie Award (Finalist — Middle Grade — 2023)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2022)
Odyssey Award (Winner — Children — 2023)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2023)
Cocheco Readers' Award (Nominee — 2023)
Three Stars Book Award (Nominee — Middle School — 2023)
Schneider Family Book Award (Honor — Middle Grades — 2022)
New York Public Library Best Books: For Kids (Top Ten — Young Readers — 2021)
Project LIT Book Selection (Middle Grade — 2024)

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

272 p.; 8.5 inches

ISBN

1534418164 / 9781534418165
Page: 2.8121 seconds