Captain Nobody

Newt, aka Captain Nobody, is used to being Chris Newton's little brother. Chris is the star of the football team, a great kid, and the favorite of the town. When Chris is knocked into a coma after a football game, Newt's entire frame of reference for life is gone and he is lost...until Halloween when he becomes Captain Nobody. Pretty soon the only way Newt can handle school and life is as Captain Nobody - who does extraordinary ordinary things, but can't seem to save his brother.

This was a cute story about accepting who you are and the importance of family. Although you felt a little uncomfortable for Newt as his superhero phase lingered, you were still rooting for him and his family the whole book.

10-year-old Newt Newman is used to fading into the background. His parents are workaholics; his brother Chris is the star football player at the local high school; and he and his best friends JJ and Cecil are ignored by the other kids at school. The three of them are determined to get noticed this Halloween, and they are putting a lot of thought into original costumes. But the night of the Big Game, Chris takes a hit during the final play and is knocked into a coma. Suddenly, Mr. and Mrs. Newman, never overly attentive toward Newt, are camped out at the hospital. Worried about his brother, the last thing Newt wants to do is create a costume or go trick-or-treating. JJ and Cecil, seeing him in some of Chris’s outgrown clothes, realize show more the outfit has potential, and quickly transform him into a new superhero: Captain Nobody! Strangely, the longer Newt wears the costume, the less he feels like the old Newt. Enjoying the newfound confidence he experiences behind his mask, he continues to wear the costume beyond Halloween. Opportunities start cropping up for Newt to save the day: whether helping a confused old man find his way home or stopping a jewelry store robbery, Captain Nobody gets the job done. But when it comes to his brother’s coma, even Captain Nobody is powerless… or is he? Newt is a likeable character, albeit quite mature for ten. Secondary characters are somewhat stereotypical, but they don’t get in the way of the story’s fast pace and charm. Pitchford’s screenwriting background is apparent: the book reads like the summer’s feel-good movie. Kids who have longed for their own superhero powers will eat this up. show less

4th grader Newt Newman is practically invisible until his friends help him come up with a Halloween costume that gives him a lasting alter ego: Captain Nobody. A far-fetched premise, but it's a cute story about a boy who comes into his own by puting on a mask and demanding a little respect. Best for kids who like sueprheroes or little people standing up for themselves.

Newt Newman is a nobody. No one seems to know he exists other than his friends JJ and Cecil, and his family. But even his family knows that his big brother Chris, the local football hero, is the real somebody in the family. But then Chris is knocked into a coma at the end of the big football game, and Newt adopts his Halloween costume as a new persona... Captain Nobody, defender of the helpless. He quickly becomes an accidental hero several times over while wearing his homemade costume, and is eventually called on to do something heroic, and terrifying, intentionally.
In spite of having a brother in a coma, Captain Nobody is a light-hearted and humorous book. Nothing very deep; just a fun read.

Personal Response:
I enjoyed reading this story, which is filled with humorous narration and daring exploits. I appreciated that Newt is mostly unseen by others, even when he is Captain Nobody, until he confronts the facts in his brother's accident by rescuing his supposed adversary. Newt ends up being the key to snapping his brother out of a coma, bringing a happy ending to a scary situation for a boy to deal with.

Curricular Connection:
This story can be used to spark a child's imagination on creating their own superhero and to help a child see outside of themselves to understand what they can (realistically) do to make the world a better place.

This book is also great for a discussion on blaming others and the reactions we have to show more people we assume have wronged us. Tolerance and understanding are also themes to be discussed. show less

A great story about a boy who is trying to figure out who he is in the world. Newt has always felt like he's been in his big brothers shadow until one Friday night when his brother gets hurt at his football game. After innocently dressing up in his brothers clothing for Halloween, Newt discovers that his new character Captain Nobody might just be the thing he needs to finally be noticed. Mrs. B.

Fun realistic fiction story about the overlooked Newt. He idolizes his brother even though it seems like sometimes he is invincible, even in his own family. Newt has also been overlooked until he decides to become "Captain Nobody" for Halloween. Through this costume, Newt feels confident and worthy. His journey to find himself, as well as helping others, especially his brother, Chris, who ended up in a coma is a fun read.