Stuntboy, in the meantime

"Wellllllcome to Stuntboyyyyyyyy in the Meannnnnnntime! Introducing the one and only..."

Stuntboy (Portico Reeves) lives in a castle (apartment building) next door to his best friend, Zola Brawner (another superhero). Portico has been spending a lot of time at Zola's apartment recently, because his parents are arguing a lot ("in the meantime"). News of two apartments and growing piles of boxes aren't quite enough to clue Portico in that his parents are divorcing - it takes new kid Herbert Singletary the Worst (or maybe Herbert Singletary the Not So Bad After All?) to point out what's really happening.

Reynolds' lively language and Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay's kinetic art pair seamlessly, each enhancing the other. Interludes of Super show more Space Warriors episodes show a different style of art and storytelling; Zola and Portico use the show to explain their world to themselves ("You know what this sounds like?"), similar to Spaceman Spiff in Calvin & Hobbes.

Ends with "to be continued," so more Stuntboy is on the way.

Quotes

If being nosy had anything to do with actual noses, Mama Gloria would have a face full of them. Just noses, everywhere. (71)

"Being a super[intendent] is just about taking care of things. Looking out for people. That's all." (Soup, a.k.a. Joe Munch, 131)

What we all believe is [Mr. Chico] saying he started DJ'ing a long long long time ago, back when hip-hop was just a baby, crawling around from neighborhood to neighborhood, city to city. (150) show less

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 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 show more 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. show less

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' 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 show more 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. show less

This author never ceases to amaze me. Now, digging into the world of middle grade graphic books, he takes an every day kid, Portico, with every day problems and forms him into the most amazing superhero of all...and that with a ton of fun, humor, and reading surprises along the way.

Portico lives in the biggest house on the block, making it almost a castle. Kind of. He has lots of neighbors with quirks, enjoys his life, but suffers from the 'frets'...not only because his parents on the verge of a divorce. When one of his friends has him turn into a pretzel, he discovers his alter-ego, Stuntboy. Stuntboy's purpose is to be super and take on things, which might make those around him less super. But being a superhero isn't always easy.

Yes, show more this book tackles tough themes kids can relate to—divorce, bullies, etc. But the author manages to turn everything on its head and make it a super-fun way to hit reality. And that in a kid-fashion pure. Portico and his friend have a wonderful imagination, and he allows himself to sink into this 'super' him, not only to deal with his anxiety but to help those around him...in odd ways, maybe. But it's super sweet and kind. Stuntboy is a hero to root for and cheer on the entire way through because he has determination and a true heart of gold even when problems sometimes make things hard.

The set-up of this book is a blast. It's not the usual graphic novel form, but rather, more of a picture book in the form of a middle grade read with some comic areas mixed in. The narration bounces around a bit scatter-brained at times, and then, switches gears into tale fashion. It's an entertaining mix which keeps things from getting to serious and lets the imagination of Portico shine through. The illustrations keep humor high and let Stuntboy's adventure gain goofy, heroic highlights.

Middle graders, especially the reluctant readers in this group, will enjoy this adventure and maybe discover a superhero in themselves. I received an ARC and enjoyed the tale quite a bit. show less

In this illustrated novel, Portico Reeves, the main character, lives in an apartment building that he treats like a castle. His best friend lives one door and a half a way and he engages with many of the other inhabitants in unique ways throughout the story. He lives with his parents and his grandma and struggles with anxiety (or "the frets," as his grandma refers to it). "The frets" are becoming a bigger part of his life as his parents argue and negotiate around their impending separation. To deal with "the frets," Portico develops an alter ego, Stuntboy, who often saves others from uncomfortable situations by stepping in and doing one of his "stunts." For example, he might throw himself on the ground to distract his parents from show more fighting over something. The entire book is organized in episodes rather than chapters, as Portico's alter ego is inspired by a television series. Each episode includes the adventures of Portico's daily life with his best friend (Zola), his villain (Herbert), his family, and the many other characters that live in their apartment building. Jason Reynolds wrote a heartwarming and thoughtful tale that shows a young person navigating tough family and life situations and learning to cope with his emotions, as well. show less

Is there anything Jason Reynolds can't do?!? Young readers are going to love Stuntboy, aka Portico Reeves. Portico lives with his parents and Gran Gran in apartment 4D. He loves his apartment building, his friends, superheroes on T.V., and the real superheroes in his life – his mom and dad. Unfortunately, his mom and dad are fighting—all the time. Fighting about who is going to take what to their new apartments since Portico's parents are separating. Portico deals with his worries about this, the building's bully, and his "frets", by developing his superhero powers and becoming his alter ego Stuntboy. With the help of his best friend, Zola tries to save his superheroes and cope as best he can. This is a much-needed book to address show more mental health in boys.

Reynold's text is enhanced by Raul the Thirds fantastic illustrations. This is a wonderful team and I hope to see more of Stuntboy in the future! show less

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 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, show more 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. show less