In a world with real superheroes – called Extraordinaries – Nick just wants to date the Extraordinary of his dreams: Shadow Star. Living in a fantasy land – his own fan fiction – he is blind to the real-world love of his life that is standing right in front him. When Nick’s not writing about Shadow Star, he’s thinking and dreaming about him. Constantly. But now Nick is trying to navigate the new school year with his ADHD diagnosis, battle hormones and homework, all while juggling relationships with his increasingly-secretive best friend Seth, his sorta-ex boyfriend Owen, and an overprotective but well-meaning cop father. When fights breaking out between Shadow Star and super villain Pyro Storm become a serious threat to Nova City, Nick’s new mission becomes clear: become Extraordinary!
I loved seeing how Nick’s character matured throughout this story, particularly in his motivations for wanting to become a super hero, which evolved from superficial to more selfless reasons. While Nick might strike some readers as only an obsessed fanboy who is often frustratingly oblivious to situations outside himself, we witness his growth throughout the novel in small and big ways. Since the story is told entirely through his perspective, the narrative is filtered though his experiences with ADHD, which often leads him to feel, think, and act differently than others in his social group. However, this also allows the reader to see Nick’s deepest thoughts, witness his internal struggle, and recognize that his intentions are often good even when his actions are misguided. Because it is following Nick’s unique perspective as he learns how to view himself as well as others, occasionally I thought I grasped the situation before our hero. But I was still surprised by several reveals, and by the story’s end, I realized how easily even the reader could fall victim to misinterpretation and judgment. Like Nick, I had to learn that not everything was as black and white as I initially thought.
Nick also has a very close-knit and supportive friend group that loves him (and one friend who loves him a little bit more than the others). I appreciated how these other characters were developed outside their relationship with Nick, with their own unique lives and voices. And I admired how their friendship dynamic was fully explored, showing the positives and negatives of introducing someone new into one’s circle, acknowledging that dating can either complicate or complement the familiar camaraderie, as well as tackling the idea of growing up and possibly growing apart, from people who might be your current everything. Then there is the adorable bow tie-wearing Seth, and like Nick, I also wanted to put him inside my pocket and keep him forever.
As someone newer to reading the YA genre, I found this such an engaging, entertaining, and worthwhile read! It struck the perfect chord between comical, comic book-style escapades and then very real, heartwarming and heartbreaking scenarios. It had clever writing, endearing characters, a delightful queer love story, and explored important issues such as grief, self-acceptance, neurodiversity, first loves, friendship, and family. Nick’s story is a great example of learning to treat yourself and others with love, compassion, and kindness, and discovering that even our weaknesses can often be our greatest strengths. Sometimes is just takes looking at life through a different lens. After all, “Love is such a weapon in the face of darkness if you know how to wield it.”
This is also my first time reading anything by TJ Klune, but now I want to pick up every book on his backlist!
Thank you to TorTeen and BookishFirst for the advance copy!
I loved seeing how Nick’s character matured throughout this story, particularly in his motivations for wanting to become a super hero, which evolved from superficial to more selfless reasons. While Nick might strike some readers as only an obsessed fanboy who is often frustratingly oblivious to situations outside himself, we witness his growth throughout the novel in small and big ways. Since the story is told entirely through his perspective, the narrative is filtered though his experiences with ADHD, which often leads him to feel, think, and act differently than others in his social group. However, this also allows the reader to see Nick’s deepest thoughts, witness his internal struggle, and recognize that his intentions are often good even when his actions are misguided. Because it is following Nick’s unique perspective as he learns how to view himself as well as others, occasionally I thought I grasped the situation before our hero. But I was still surprised by several reveals, and by the story’s end, I realized how easily even the reader could fall victim to misinterpretation and judgment. Like Nick, I had to learn that not everything was as black and white as I initially thought.
Nick also has a very close-knit and supportive friend group that loves him (and one friend who loves him a little bit more than the others). I appreciated how these other characters were developed outside their relationship with Nick, with their own unique lives and voices. And I admired how their friendship dynamic was fully explored, showing the positives and negatives of introducing someone new into one’s circle, acknowledging that dating can either complicate or complement the familiar camaraderie, as well as tackling the idea of growing up and possibly growing apart, from people who might be your current everything. Then there is the adorable bow tie-wearing Seth, and like Nick, I also wanted to put him inside my pocket and keep him forever.
As someone newer to reading the YA genre, I found this such an engaging, entertaining, and worthwhile read! It struck the perfect chord between comical, comic book-style escapades and then very real, heartwarming and heartbreaking scenarios. It had clever writing, endearing characters, a delightful queer love story, and explored important issues such as grief, self-acceptance, neurodiversity, first loves, friendship, and family. Nick’s story is a great example of learning to treat yourself and others with love, compassion, and kindness, and discovering that even our weaknesses can often be our greatest strengths. Sometimes is just takes looking at life through a different lens. After all, “Love is such a weapon in the face of darkness if you know how to wield it.”
This is also my first time reading anything by TJ Klune, but now I want to pick up every book on his backlist!
Thank you to TorTeen and BookishFirst for the advance copy!