CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE is a well-written middle grade story of friendship, courage, and looking beyond one’s own challenges to touch the lives of others. The diverse cast of strong middle school girls face some big and scary problems in a variety of ways. One girl withdraws, one reaches out, one lashes out. This book would make a good class read as it demonstrates the power of small kindnesses. The cover made me think the intended audience was a tad younger than the content is geared for. The problems the characters face are substantial and realistic for upper elementary readers.

I received a pre-release copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest feedback.

As I started this book, I was hoping to find a new summer reading book or novel study book to use in the classroom. Unfortunately, I do not anticipate using the book in either capacity, but will likely add it to my classroom library for students to choose or possibly use it as a read-aloud

I loved the messages in this story. In seeing more and more self-involvement and bullying with students today, I think the acts of showing simple kindnesses and the differences they can make was wonderful. I also liked that the background stories of Dagmar and Caitlyn were withheld for much of the book, showing that we don't always know the reasons for people's actions.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Janey and her father. In reading their scenes, I could truly imagine the love and affection they had for each other. And, the humor made it even more entertaining.

The reasons I will not be adopting this title as required reading include its slow progression and the difficult themes. My reluctant readers would not get past the first couple of chapters due to the slow start to the story. As it progresses, it improves somewhat and does include a lot of dialogue to help it along, but the ebbs and flows would not have enough action to engage those who do not enjoy reading. Also, the themes, although important and well-presented, would be difficult for some students. Requiring a book involving bullying, abuse, loss of parent, death of youth, etc. would be rejected by many of the parents in the area in which I teach. It was an emotional read for me as an adult, so would likely have a similar effect on students.

Overall, I did enjoy the book once it got moving. I think it appropriately discussed many issues we see in schools today. I would recommend the book to some parents and students, and I would make it available in my classroom, but I would have difficulty incorporating it for classroom activities.

Janey just wants to drift through life without attracting any attention. Not from teachers. Not from dreamy thespian Tyler. And especially not from Dagmar, who rules Deerwood Park Middle School with an iron fist. Then Captain Superlative swoops in and changes everything. In her neon blue tights and red pillowcase cape, she appears whenever someone needs a kind word or directions to the cafeteria. Somehow, Janey gets recruited as her sidekick, holding open doors and standing up for the bullied. But real people are more complicated than comic books, and Janey will need every ounce of bravery and kindness to save the day. A beautiful story about everyday heroism.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one when I started reading it. I know bullying is a major issue - but I've just read SO many books about bullies lately. However, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Even thought some of the characters were stereotypical; I did enjoy reading this book through Janey's eyes and seeing her transformation throughout the story. It was sad, uplifting and came together well in the end.

As a teacher, I like that this book deals with bullying and has a strong female character. The kids are the ones who make the difference here. I think that my students would enjoy this book.

A powerful story about the effects on bullying and how children deal with it in school. Right from the beginning, children don't look and don't help, so they won't be put in the line of fire. The difference with this book is that the teachers and adults are in the background - somewhat aware - and the children are figuring things out.
It's a powerful book that is working to have the good out shine the bad, but there is a lot of struggling along the way. It's real life.

Captain Superlative is not a member of the Grammar Police, but she is a live-your-life-to-its-fullest kind of superhero! Students and teachers will be touched by this novel and the truths this author shares.

Janey is drifting through school, careful not to be seen or noticed. She drifts along like air, invisible to everyone around. She sees terrible things happening in her school, but there's nothing she can do to change them. Or is there? Everything changes for Janey with the appearance of Captain Superlative, a superhero who appears in the halls of their school wearing a silver swimsuit, tights, rubber gloves, a blue wig, a mask, and of course, a cape. Captain Superlative makes it her personal mission to help everyone at Deerwood Park Middle School, and soon Janey finds herself sucked in.

Before long, Janey has not only uncovered Captain Superlative's secret identity, she has found herself enlisted as the Captain's sidekick. Together, they start to make a difference at the school. All of that is threatened, though, when Janey is forced to face the queen bully of the school, Dagmar Hagen. When Captain Superlative is not there, will Janey have learned enough to stand up on her own and fight for good? Can she truly become a hero?

Captain Superlative was, simply put, superlative. The story was emotional enough to move this reader to tears on multiple occasions, drawing me into the characters' world and making me feel for them in a way not all authors can achieve. There were many great lessons to be learned that could make a difference in young adults. The story was truly engaging. Enticing. Enchanting. Enlightening. Emotional. Excellent.

Captain Superlative made my troubles disappear and saved the day I spent reading it.

This book was amazing (or superlative). It was fun and touching and original. I will admit that I cried during a few parts, which isn't a bad thing. The characters and their surroundings felt authentic and their actions made sense. I loved the moral code that Captain Superlative lived out in simple but powerful ways that kids could emulate. As a lover of words, I also really enjoyed the vocabulary games that Janey plays. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Book out May 8th.

A student is running through the halls with a bright orange cape and cool blue wig. Who is it? Why, it's Captain Superlative, that's who! Just when you thought middle school couldn't get any weirder, Captain Superlative is there. The story follows Janey, a simple seventh grader who prefers to observe from the sidelines and pretend to be invisible. But can she continue to be a quiet bystander while the school bully has her way each and everyday? Can even Captain Superlative save the day?

This is a middle school novel about Jamey and her journey figuring out who she is and what she stands for. Frankly, Jane's character was quite uninteresting throughout much of the story, and really grew into her own in the final section of the book. Other characters felt like simple caricatures without any real depth, but then again when you're a seventh grader, that's kinda how one might see the world. Adults in the story are underutilized; as a teacher, I had a hard time believing that the teachers in this book we're not very cognizant of their own students and what was going on.

The story reads quickly and the pacing is really quick. Through it all, there is a really great theme to be learned at the end of the story and it does get emotional towards the end. It's a great story for kids of all ages to read, and definitely conversations around the themes should be had.

I really liked this book. It kept me captivated from the start. It makes you stop and think how one thing no matter how small can make a difference. And also we should try to make a difference everyone day.

If students are given the tools to make a difference in this world- to their classmates, strangers, and most importantly, themselves- they will succeed.
Captain Superlative is a story that succeeds in dealing with bullying, depressions, abuse, cancer, and even death. However, the road to get to that success is often harsh and lonely. When people come together for a common cause, that harshness and aloneness gives way to bursts of happiness and togetherness that can be felt in every willing heart that chooses to “make good a habit” - as Captain Superlative often tried to demonstrate by her actions.
This was a well written story that should be read and discussed in junior high classrooms.

Captain Superlative, by J.S. Puller, is a great and timely novel set in a middle school where a super popular and talented girl who harbors her own private demons terrorizes a particular classmate. The story is told from the point of view of Janey, who has worked hard to remain as invisible as possible ever since her mother's death, And it is Janey who is transformed, oh so reluctantly, by Captain Superlative, an unforgettable, superhero-costume-wearing, semi-anonymous seventh grader who flies in the face of the status quo and inspires her schoolmates to be the best they can be.

Junior High was what it used to be called. It is that period of time when you are forging your identity and you are no longer a kid but you aren't quite a high schooler. It is when friendships change and people changed.

So how, how do most people deal with this? How do most people get by? In Janey's case, it is by being invisible. In Captain Superlative's case, it is by not being invisible.

It is a charming, thoughtful story of a friendship and that idea if you do little things, that life changes for the better. I have heard this before. At the school I wanted to send my daughter, one of the things the teachers stressed was that the students became citizens of the world, of the community. That when they saw someone fall, they rushed to help them up. When they saw something that needed to be done, they did it. This too, is what Captain Superlative does. She opens doors, she picks up dropped books. She makes sure the wrongs are righted

It may sound hokey, but it works, and it is one of those stories where you cry, but you smile as well. It is a story about handling mean girls, and bullies. It is a gentle story with a strong message.

I think the introduction could be done away with, because it sort of gives away a little bit of what will happen in the story. But, it works.

Diversity, super heros, strong girls. This is a charming, fun read. Sad, of course, but happy in bits as well.

Strongly recommened.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.