Solving Crimes Is NOT My Superpower

Solving Crimes Is NOT My Superpower by Nathanael Lessore is a great book for children in Year 2 to Year 4 to read independently and for teachers or parents to read aloud. Children of this age will enjoy the humour of the book – from the funny setting of the story in the village of Walsham, where everyone who lives there has a unique superpower, to the humour of the language, names and jokes.

The plot itself raises a smile with the story’s hero, Sara, who is yet to find her superpower, solving the mystery of the disappearance of a trophy, which turns out to be the special treasure that has bestowed the unique superpowers on the town’s inhabitants. The superpowers themselves are the sorts of things that make children laugh.

Lessore crafts the story’s characters with kindness and humour at their heart. Thought has also been given to ensuring the characters represent the diversity of our society. The story invites children to consider what it means to have a superpower and how, in fact, it is the everyday acts of kindness, inner-strength, friendship and determination that are the real superpowers. Initial ‘prejudices’ against certain characters – for example the studious and clever child in the class – are quickly debunked, showing children the importance of not judging people on simple appearance and behaviours.

This is a fast-paced story that would keep young readers engaged and this is helped by the illustrations of Simran Diamond Singh, which enhance the story. These complement Lessore’s writing and bring the unique characters and their superpowers to life with a comic-like appeal. This is a book that young children are sure to enjoy.