Author & Illustrators
If you’re looking for a choice of book for fans of illustrated chapter books, such as Wimpy Kid or Tom Gates, then this could be the series you’re after. I can see it being a very popular choice in class and school libraries – it’s funny, warm, written like a TV show (there are even commercial breaks included!) and cleverly uses the author’s voice alongside the characters to speak to the reader so they feel part of the story.
Portico is a protagonist you’re rooting for from the start. He’s struggling with his parent’s break-up, exacerbated by the fact that they’re now living on separate floors of the apartment block, as well as bullies in the building. He also feels like the world’s most ‘normal’ superhero – his stunts (that include staring and jumps) save the day almost by accident!
In this adventure, Portico and his friends Zola and Herbert must trick bullies, save iguanas and create a room full of graffiti. Packed with pace, action, a cast of unique characters and more than a hint of humour, this book sensitively tackles tricky themes such as parental separation, bullying and anxiety, but it is done with warmth, humour and kindness.
Portico Reeves lives in a huge apartment block, ‘the castle’, with his parents, who row constantly. To escape the tension and trauma of their Mean Time, Portico leaps into his own super-secret, superhero world. With a kind of rap, rhythm and rhyme, Stuntboy Portico and his friends navigate a world away from the stresses of home life, to keep each other, and their castle mates, safe.
But superhero responsibilities come with added anxieties of their own, or ‘frets’ as Portico knows them and like all superheroes, Portico has to deal with put-downs from his nemesis – in this case Herbert Singletary the Worst.
Words alone don’t do this book justice – grab a copy and explore inside! The style and presentation are perfect for engaging readers and holding attention. There’s a lot to look at and take in via Raul the Third’s brilliant illustrations, comic strips and speech bubbles – each page is different. The effect is a fast-paced, upbeat story that is fun to read while tackling heavier themes.
review
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?
Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?
yes
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Curriculum links (if relevant)
Any other comments
Any other comments