The Accidental Hero

Where do I start with this? Seriously, I wish that Jack Blank had been in my life when I was a young reader! The Accidental Hero (originally titled Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation) is such a brilliantly written book. Complete with an fabulous world, amazing characters, and tons of positive messages, this is the type of book that I would put into the hands of reluctant readers. I guarantee that they will fall in love!

I absolutely have to start with the original world that Matt Myklusch builds in the Imagine Nation. This is the type of place that dreams are made of. A world populated with superheroes and villains. With more futuristic technology than you can wrap your head around. The type of world where a young boy can thrive, show more especially one with a huge imagination! Super fights are common. Cars fly. I can't even explain to you how much I loved the Imagine Nation! I wonder if I believe hard enough, if I might be able to move there myself.

Then there is my love for Jack himself. I really enjoyed watching him grow from the quiet, scared boy in the orphanage into the brave and strong character that he ultimately becomes. Jack is the perfect role model for both boys and girls of any age. He knows his limits, he admits when he's scared, but he chooses to fight anyway. He's selfless, kind and so witty. Best of all though, Jack's character is written so vividly that it's easy to believe that he might just be your best friend. Following him through his adventure is made all the more amazing, simply because Jack is so amazing himself.

Finally, and I feel like this is a big part of why I loved this story so much, The Accidental Hero has so many fabulous messages to share with young readers. Jack's story isn't always happy. It isn't always easy. Still, along the way he meets some amazing people who teach him important life lessons. To be strong. To be brave. To be a friend. It is so inspiring! My all time favorite? "Never underestimate the power you have over what happens today. Never forget the power today has over tomorrow." (pg 467) All of these come into the story without feeling preachy. It's magical.

If you couldn't already tell from my raving review above, I give this book my highest seal of approval! The Accidental Hero is the whole package. If you have a reluctant reader at home, boy or girl, put this book in their hands. I see so much potential for this to become their new favorite series. Skeptical? I have one word for you to say as you hand it to them: Robo-Zombies. Get this book. You won't regret it! show less

The sign in front of St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost read CRUSHING THE SPIRIT OF CHILDHOOD SINCE 1898. Appropriately, the words were carved in stone because it wasn’t ever going to change (p. 1).

Thus begins the story of Jack Blank, an orphan at St. Barnaby’s who has no idea who he is or where he comes from. The poor kid doesn’t even know his last name. Constantly bullied by the children and adults at the Home, Jack retreats into the imaginary worlds of his favorite comic books and dreams of a better life. When two mysterious visitors appear at St. Barnaby’s one night, Jack is swept away to a fantastic place called the Imagine Nation, a world under siege, desperately in need of a hero.

Fans of show more Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel Comics will be right at home with this book, although Myklusch’s affection for his influences sometimes steers the narrative into derivative territory. The story of a young boy who must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to find courage, strength, and, in Jack’s case, an identity, is an overly familiar one. But Myklusch infuses his novel with such vigor and earnestness that this familiarity becomes welcome, and his novel holds genuine appeal for anyone who loves a good old fashioned futuristic tale of good versus evil. show less

After a lifetime of people telling him that they knew what was best for him and what his future was going to be, it was wonderful to hear someone say that it was really all up to him. - Chapter 7

When rumors are reported as fact for a long-enough period of time, people eventually lose the ability to tell the difference. - Chapter 10

All young boys get scared from time to time. Even the brave ones. - Chapter 15

Accidental Hero is about a young boy (Jack Blank) who has grown up in an orphanage not knowing anything about his past. One day, he finds out that his favorite comic book heroes are actually real. And that he comes from a place called the Imagine Nation. Thus starts a great adventure filled with superheroes and villains, a threat show more from outer space and some unexpected twists. Jack gradually discovers that he has powers he didn't even know about and that even he can be a hero. It's not about being unafraid, it's about acting to protect those you love, despite the fear.

I read this book with my 11-year old son. We really enjoyed it. Jack is an excellent main character, realistically flawed and clever, but lacking self confidence. The book is fast-paced and fun. Towards the end, neither of us wanted to stop reading; we just had to see what would happen next. The ending resolves the book itself, but there are two more books in the series, I think. I would like to see what happens with Jack next, since the future isn't written in stone... (But our next read starts the summer reading assignment, so Jack Blank will have to wait.)

Recommended to:
6th grade and up; kids that like adventure & superheroes; not just for boys. show less

Young boy grows up in miserable orphanage, picked on by grown-ups and kids alike. Things mysteriously go wrong when he's around, but he's saved and taken to a wonderful, magical place where everybody knows of him and he's offered a spot in an elite school. Also, things are awesome.

Sound familiar? And please - don't say Harry Potter. Try something novel, like any of the thousands of books with a premise just like this.

Sounds tired and predictable? Well... not so much. Sure, this is the premise that has launched a thousand authors' careers, but that's because it works. What kid doesn't sometimes wish somebody would whisk THEM away from the drudgery of daily life? What kid doesn't hope THEY have a magical heritage, just waiting to be show more found? (If there is such a kid, I hope we never meet. It'd be weird.)

Okay, so it's an old story, and the sub-premise (that there's a secret moving island that all our hopes and dreams and superheros are nurtured on) is a bit silly. So what? It's still an engrossing and engaging book, with a couple of surprising plot twists near the end. And certainly having the kid whisked away to where everybody knows his name in a BAD way, that's new.

This isn't a series likely to break any new ground, but the first book was pretty fun. show less

DNF at 17%

I refuse to subject myself to any further torture. NO MORE!

This is bland and cardboard-like. It's mind-numbing in simplicity. Clarification: there are 1) simple = easy to understand and 2) simple = bland, dull, oversimplified. This here is the later case.

This would probably be suitable for a 6.y.o but I don't think a kid that young would appreciate whatever story the author was trying to build here.

FINAL VERDICT: AVOID LIKE A PLAGUE
Believe you me, there are better books out there. Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Cloak Society, Narnia, His Dark Materials to name a few.

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation is the debut novel for Matt Myklusch. It’s a Young Adult novel with Jack Blank as the 12 year old main character. He has spent his whole life in St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, an orphanage for those so described, and has wished everyday to be someone else.

Jack Blank was left on the doorstep of St. Barnaby’s as a babe with a note pinned to his blanket calling him Jack. He grew up at the orphanage, much against his preferences. Jack had daydreams like all boys, about getting super powers and becoming a superhero.

One day while bailing out the basement as punishment for reading comic books, he’s attacked by a large cyborg that resembles the robots in his comics show more and he barely escapes. While trying to explain the damage caused by the robot (which blew up leaving no trace and Jack as the culprit), a stranger, Jazon Knight, arrives and whisks Jack away. Jazon tells him about the Imagine Nation where the impossible is possible and was Jack's homeland. This is the beginning of Jacks adventures and the old adage ‘be careful what you wish for, you just might get it’ holds true.

The book is similar to the Harry Potter and Alcatraz Smedry (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians) books and in many ways really reminded my of Alcatraz. Both Alcatraz and Blank are raised as orphans, knowing/wishing they had a different life, then finding out they were sent from their secret country to live among the unenlightened. While Alcatraz is very tongue-in-cheek, Blank is a bit more serious, though still a lot of fun. A great YA novel. show less

This is an excellent and exciting fantasy / science fiction book. For me, it moved fast, yet not too fast; it had detail but didn't bog down in it; the ending surprised me as I thought it was going in a different direction. It was a perfect balance.