The Great Powers Outage - Softcover

William Boniface

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006077472X ISBN 13: 9780060774721

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2010

Synopsis

Something strange is happening in superopolis!

The entire population has turned its back on its favorite potato chips of all time—just because someone named Comrade Crunch told them to. How is he getting the supercitizensto follow his every command?

To make matters worse, the superheroes of Superopolis are losing their superpowers. Without their special gifts, they're just . . . ordinary! Something must be done, and in a city where everyone is—well, was—extraordinary, this might just be a job for . . . ordinary boy!

About this title

About the Author:

William Boniface may or may not exist. Ordinary Boy, after all, tells his own story. Mr. Boniface could simply be a creation of the publisher in order to fulfill the requirement that an author be listed on the cover of this book. Given that possibility, there is no harm in revealing that Mr. Boniface has lent his name to over two dozen far less wordy children's books that were also in need of an author. Unless, of course, he didn't, which would make this entire biography irrelevant.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4–7—Ordinary Boy (OB), the only resident of Superopolis who does not possess a superpower, stars again by solving the mystery of why the citizens are losing theirs. The ongoing conflict between good and evil thickens as Professor Brain-Drain, Comrade Crunch (aka the Red Menace), and the Amazing Indestructo plot to take over Superopolis. Ordinary Boy and his fellow Junior Leaguers discover the source of all the individual powers—potatoes that grow in the fertile soil created by the crash of a meteor years earlier. The local favorite food has long been Dr. Telomere's potato chips, but they are now being rejected in favor of The Amazing Indestructo's "Pseudo-Chips." Through public rallies and television, Comrade Crunch uses his power of brainwashing to compel the people to buy the Pseudo-Chips, claiming they will strengthen their power. Boniface has cleverly interlaced bits and pieces of story lines from past novels with this one to expand his wacky world with enough history and political overtones to appeal to those readers savvy enough to understand the satire behind the silliness. Reluctant readers can enjoy the comic graphic-novel essence of the text as well as Gilpin's humorous sketches. Whether viewed as an innovative political statement or a kid-appealing superhero manifesto, this novel shows that independent thought, appreciation of individual abilities, and good old brain power are all that are needed to be a hero.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
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About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 006077472X
• ISBN 13: 9780060774721
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 342
• Illustrator: Stephen Gilpin