A geeky highschooler develops superpowers and is recruited to an international peackeeping unit at the same time as struggling with mental health problems.
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Gonzalo Lopez, nicknamed 'Weakling' by his bullies, is just a normal teenager except that he has superpowers.
Ever since that fight with Bill Jackson where his powers first manifested and he broke his attacker’s hand by accident, everything has been spiralling out of control.
Now all of a sudden he’s getting invited to parties, his psychiatrist’s started dating his Mom, and at least two different international organisations are trying to hunt him down.
Then there’s Ali--the new girl at school, the only other person who believes any of this is happening to him, who seems to be hiding a secret of her own. Is she really his friend like she says she is, or does she have some sort of ulterior motive for being so nice to him all the time? Should he tell her about Miracle Force, the superpowered United Nations peacekeeping unit he’s just been recruited to?
And how is he going to keep his head together when all of this is happening so fast?
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Gonzalo Lopez, or "weakling" as the bullies call him, is a Hispanic-Jewish high school student who inexplicably develops superpowers as he's about to be beaten (again) by the school bully. What follows is a clever, funny, action-packed tale with a twist that changes everything.
Prose: Tarassenko's prose is quick and clever, with excellent wordplay and descriptions. Though the bully might come off as a cliché to some readers, the characters feel, speak, and behave like realistic teenagers.
Originality: There are many books about nerdy, bully-bait teenagers suddenly getting superpowers, but few like this one, with diverse characters, real-world problems, and a twist readers won't see coming.
Character/Execution: Tarassenko's characters are relatable and entertaining, particularly Gonzalo, who is a self-effacing delight. He's harder on himself than anyone else, even the bully, but isn't afraid to wryly poke fun at his situation.
Date Submitted: June 08, 2024
