Stuntboy, in the Meantime is part picture book, graphic novel, and prose combined into one that is designed to hold the attention of young reads. He speaks to their varied experiences and is able to craft a story that makes discussions of those experiences easier to have. Jason Reynolds is one of those authors that truly understands what it means to write for kids. One of the most rewarding aspects of this book is the format and the way in which is told. It's clear that being superhero helps Portico work through a lot of the problems he faces. This superhero persona also helps him deal with his anxiety which he calls the 'frets' and the impending divorce of his parents as well as the neighborhood bully. Portico creates this superhero persona to help him assist his family members and friends so that they can continue to be super. It's even more beautiful love letter to children who have to navigate through anxiety. Stuntboy, in the Meantime is a beautiful ode to any child that has had to go through parental separation and/or constant arguing. I had a copy of this title for review, but all thoughts are my own. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy so I can look at all the illustrations. This book was no different and I absolutely loved the full cast audio with all of the varied sound effects. Anything that he writes is something that I'm willing to check out. Honestly, at this point I'm not sure that there isn't a book that Jason Reynolds can't write. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis who is determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all. Only, all these secrets give Portico the worry wiggles, the frets, which his mom calls anxiety. They’re trying to hide it by repeatedly telling Portico to go check on a neighbor “in the meantime.” But Portico knows “meantime” means his parents are heading into the Mean Time which means they’re about to get into it, and well, Portico’s superhero responsibility is to save them, too-as soon as he figures out how. In fact, he’s the only reason the cat, New Name Every Day, has nine lives.Īll this is swell except for Portico’s other secret, his not-so-super secret.

And behind those fifty doors live a bunch of different people who Stuntboy saves all the time. But a building with fifty doors just in the hallways is definitely a castle.

His mom calls where they live an apartment building. He lives in the biggest house on the block, maybe in the whole city, which basically makes it a castle. No one in his civilian life knows he’s actually…Stuntboy!īut his regular Portico identity is pretty cool, too. Portico Reeves’s superpower is making sure all the other superheroes-like his parents and two best friends-stay super.

A middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you’ve never heard of, filled with illustrations by Raúl the Third!

Stuntboy books