Mod 7: 8th Grade Superzero by Reggie McKnight

Summary:

8^th Grade Superzero  follows the story of Reggie  McKnight, who is given the unfortunate nickname of “pukey” after throwing up in front of the whole school at the start of the school year.  He tries to fly by under the radar from here out, and instead spends time with his friend Ruthie who sticks up for him, and Joe who he creates a superhero comic called Night Man with.

He is eventually pressured by a student named Vicky to be her campaign manager during the school election even though he doesn’t want to, and she just wants to run for selfish reasons even though Reggie has a real interest in community service.  He forms an attachment with a kindergartner named Charlie in the Big Buddies program.   He also works with his church youth group doing a project for Olive Branch a housing for the homeless facility by creating a documentary.  His first visit to the shelter he interviews a man named George, whose situation and drinking/substance problem reminds him of his father.  This causes him to question his faith and God.

Reggie becomes more disillusioned with school and Vicky’s campaign, and his friend Joe begins pursuing new interest meaning Night Man is no longer being made.  He instead throws himself more into his work with Olive Branch and helps George and Charlie create a make-believe cardboard city at the shelter.  

Reggie later comes to Charlie’s defense against an 8^th grader bully by making fun of him in front of a school wide audience.  He then fails to stand up for Vicky in a later encounter and she fires him from being her campaign manager.  He feels bad for not standing up for her, and then Charlie makes fun of a little girl who was picking on him just like Reggie made fun of the bully, and Reggie decides he needs to set a better example for everyone and runs for class president himself.  His platform is based on civic responsibility and community service at the Olive Branch.

Back at the Olive Branch George has disappeared, which has made Charlie and the other kids depressed.  Reggie and his father look for George, but do not find him, but instead they engage in real conversation for the first time Reggie can remember.

Ruthie and Joe help Reggie with his campaign, but misses a school assembly to help Charlie who is still upset about George.  Ruthie is upset with him, but realized he did the right thing and forgives him for missing the assembly, and the campaign convinces other students to help out at the Olive Branch.  He ends up loosing the campaign, but he reaffirms his faith despite not understanding why suffering is present in the world, and the story ends with Ruthie and Reggie sharing a kiss. 

Olugbemisola, R. P. (2010). 8^th grade superzero. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.

My Impressions:

I had a hard time getting into this book as I am not a very religious person and there is a lot of religious overtones to the story.  I feel it has some positive messages and is your typical coming of age story otherwise.  It is well written and good fi you are into these kinds of stories, I simply am not, and never was.

Reviews:

    “Gr 6-8-Reggie McKnight is a smart but somewhat geeky eighth grader growing up in New York City. He earned the nickname "Pukey" during an unfortunate incident at assembly, and he hasn't been able to shake it. Life at his alternative school isn't all bad, though. Reggie's friends Ruthie and Joe C. have his back most of the time, and then there's beautiful Mialonie, who is showing some interest in him. But these days Reggie has a little more on his plate than lie can handle. His dad is out of work, and his mom works too much. He gets involved at a homeless shelter, befriending two of its residents, but is often at a loss for how to make a difference. And will lie ever work up the courage to overcome his reputation as "Pukey" and run for class president? The novel takes on a number of weighty issues including religion, homelessness, and getting involved without the heavy language and situations that are often a part of urban fiction. Although this moderately paced story will likely require some selling, it is a good one to recommend to readers who are looking for realistic fiction with a focus on social responsibility.”

Marie, J. (2010). [Review of the book 8th Grade Super Zero by R. Olugbemisola]. School Library Journal, 56(2), 123.

Usage in a Library Setting:

This could be used as part of a movement to make student sand teens aware of homeless issues in the the libraries town.  There could be a talk about the book and how patrons can help at local shelters or other ways.