Dangerous by Shannon Hale (the author of the marvelous Princess Academy) is a junior high superhero fantasy. Five nerdy smart kids get called to space camp, are infected with some sort of alien technology, and gain superpowers. The main character, Maisie Danger Brown, was born without a right hand, so there is the added bonus that the experience is super-empowering for her (and she gets the chance to live up to her middle name). The adventure ends, of course, with a chance to save the world and a bit of a soppy romance. The product details say the age range is 12-17 or grades 7 and up, but it seems better suited to fifth and sixth graders to me.
There is a lot of superhero-type action. The humor is not particularly original. The romance triangle is not original. The plot is easy to follow if predictable; the character development is also predictable. Still, it’s a coming-of-age story that may resonate with some kids, and the main character does have a physical limitation that she overcomes.
I read an advance reader copy of Dangerous; it was published in March 2014.
P.J. O'Rourke advises "Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."
Let Galesburg Public Library staff and friends guide you in finding those books.
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