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Super



Last updated Friday, June 7, 2013

Author: Matthew Cody
Date of Publication: 2012
ISBN: 0375868941
Grade Level: 5th    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2013

Synopsis: Daniel Corrigan, introduced in Powerless (Knopf, 2009), continues in his struggle to be an ordinary 13-year-old kid surrounded by superpowered friends. Months after defeating their evil adversary Herman Plunkett, aka the Shroud, Daniel and company are surprised to learn that the elderly Plunkett had relatives who have decided to move to town. Most notable is teenaged Theo, who suspects that there is a mystery to be solved in the town of Noble's Green, and his determined questions threaten to expose the supertweens. Meanwhile, a new group of sinister beings dubbed Shades is attacking the Supers, and it is up to Daniel to once again save the day. But as he has begun exhibiting the ability to temporarily steal his friends' powers, does he really need to protect them from himself? Familiarity with the first title is a must to follow the events in Super and to understand why the group of friends is willing to put their faith in Daniel. Readers will likely forgive any hiccups in the story's logic as the fast-paced action and engaging characters drive the narration to a conclusion that certainly seems to indicate that there will be more to come.-Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Note to readers:
•  You can choose to skip the prologue, as the character's connection to the others won't be made clear until much later.
•  Super is a sequel, so you might want to read the inside front cover to the kids first to get a quick synopsis.

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  If you were a superhero, what super power would you have? Why?
•  Who is your favorite superhero? Why?
•  Do you read comic books? Which ones?

Vocabulary:
•  swelter - to suffer, sweat, or be faint from heat; to become exceedingly hot
•  rustle - to move with soft fluttering or crackling sounds; to move or act energetically or with speed
•  trellis - a frame of latticework used as a screen or as a support for climbing plants
•  idyllic - charmingly simple or rustic
•  jabbering - to talk rapidly, unintelligibly, or idly; to mutter rapidly or unintelligibly; rapid or babbling talk
•  surreal - marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream
•  bewildered - to perplex or confuse especially by a complexity, variety, or multitude of objects or considerations

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  Why do you think Michael's attitude toward the world outside his window has changed? Why doesn't he fantasize about climbing the tree anymore? (Prologue)
•  How does Daniel feel about flying with Eric?
•  Why didn't Daniel trust Eric in the past?
•  Why doesn't Daniel take credit for saving Eric?

Craft ideas:
•  Onomatopoeia - a word that phonetically imitates or suggests the source of the sound it makes; the word means nothing more than the sound it makes. Common occurrences include animal noises such as oink, roar, chirp etc.
•  Draw a picture such as a car screeching to a halt with an onomatopoeia (sound effect) in large, bright letters with an exclamation, lightning bolts and colorful outline (ex. SCREECH!). Sample crafts provided on Saturday morning. www.toddlerapproved.com/2012/06/toddle-firework-poetry.html www.artisandesarts.blogspot.com/2011/11/onomatopoeia-art.html

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!