Captain Awesome, Soccer Star

Captain Awesome #5

by Stan Kirby, George O'Connor (Illustrator)

It’s soccer season in Sunnyview and Captain Awesome and Nacho Cheese Man are ready to play! All superheroes are spectacular at sports...right?

Eugene McGillicudy and Charlie Thomas Jones can’t wait to join Sunnyview’s eight-year-old soccer team. These superhero pals have no doubt that they will lead the team to victory. MI-TEE!
But when Captain Awesome’s (aka Eugene’s) soccer skills prove to be less than super and his dad decides to coach the team, Captain Awesome starts to wonder if the Sunnyview Megabytes have what it takes to defeat the Westville Kickers.
With easy-to-read text and illustrations on almost every page, the Captain Awesome chapter books are perfect for beginning readers!

Genres: Chapter Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Superheroes, Sports, 1st Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2012

About the author

When Stan Kirby was 6-years-old, he tied a beach towel around his neck and became Super Commander Beach Boy. He tried his best to protect sand castles from the waves, keep seagulls away from his French fries, and keep the beach clean.

When Stan's not creating the awesome adventures of Captain Awesome, he loves reading comic books, eating okra, and hang-gliding (but not at the same time).

Reviews

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where I failed in some other new chapter books intended for my kiddos, I certainly succeeded here! My class loved this book - the fifth in a series. It has an attractive cover for young kids, and they were hooked with the idea of reading about Captain Awesome. When opening it up, it's not at all intimidating - large print, but feels like a chapter book to most, with illustrations and humor. It combines a lot of positives for appealing to young readers, and I received great feedback from those who also picked it up to read it. I think I'll be finding Stan Kirby's work this summer and having this series for all throughout next year.

[Heather J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read that Harry loved. He wants more books in this series. Two friends with active superhero powers and imagination Battle evil in the soccer field.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book because of the superhero and soccer themes, the energetic art, and the boy-centric flavor of the series. The writing may appeal to a certain audience, and must judging by the many volumes in this series, but I found the details of the most stereotypical kind: the boys like boy stuff and the girls have cooties. The main character hates his baby sister and all things that have to do with her. The MC hates school. He thinks life is boring. He thinks his dad is annoying. Two of the "villains" on the opposing team are twins—ugly twins. I am all for comic book stereotypes, but when it comes to kids' books I think we have a responsibility to offer readers more than stereotypes. Readers deserve better. The premise for the series is a main character who loves his comic hero so much that he emulates him and lives in a fantasy world, seeing villainy at every turn. I'm okay with that in general, though the plotting in this book isn't too logical if one looks too closely. The book felt strangely unspecific. The MC (SPOILER ALERT) saves the day in this one, which seemed trite, especially when there was a great opportunity for his best friend or even the dreaded female frenemy to save the day / the game. Let just say, among the thousands of books available for this audience, there are far better choices, choices which will both entertain and possibly challenge them to think for themselves.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that Captain Awesome shows up in the middle of soccer.

-Son's Review


I had tried Captain Underpants before with him, but he wasn't into it. We found this Captain Awesome book in a Little Library and read a chapter a night. It's his first series and he's excited to read more.

[Noe dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who was your favourite character (and why)? caption asom
What surprised you? When he gets hit by acorns
Would you change the ending? Why/why not? no, it fit the story well

[Courtney Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good books for kids. Mine loved it before bed.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another is this fun series. My six year old loves these books.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following in the same vein as previous books in this series, Eugene and Charlie fill each chapter with non-stop action making for a speedy, exciting non-stop read that tugs at what appeals to boys. Fun story with a value learned. Eugene loves soccer and joins up only to find one catastrophe after another: his dad is coach, the team is co-ed meaning Meredith is there, he can't kick the ball without fulling over, the evil WHISTLEBLOWER is the referee and he receives a yellow card when he arrives on the field in his Captain Awesome uniform. After this final strategy it is his best friend that makes him realize that he, Eugene McGillicudy, is the super hero, not the cape. Even without the cape and the costume he can still stop the evil from eviling! Captain Awesome is always fast-paced and fun! Highly recommended for new chapterbook readers of all ages.

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eugene's dad was going to bring Eugene and Charlie to soccer. Eugene was running down the stairs and he tripped. He said, "You won't trip me today, stairs of evil."

He ran to the door and opened the door. He went outside and hurried in the car. Then they went off to pick up Charlie. Charlie was also known as Nacho Cheese Man. When they got in the car, Eugene's dad put on baby music. His dad loved the baby song. Eugene and Charlie were covering their ears and they couldn't take it, so they just screamed.

They started practicing for soccer and began to get practice goals. Eugene slipped on the soccer ball and smacked his face on the ground. They tried passing. A person passed the ball and hit his chest and he fell to the ground again.

I don't want to say how this book ends!


[read and reviewed by a 7 year old, typed by his mama]

[Leto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Awesome, Soccer Star is about Captain Awesome having a soccer break and trying to fight "villains" at the same time.

Charlie, his best friend and Turbo, his side kick help Captain Awesome. They were up against a child team that was never beaten by any person in history. Captain Awesome wasn't very talented at soccer. Five times he tripped on the soccer ball and once he was hit in the head with the ball. One time he meant to hit the soccer ball on his head and it bounced, finally, into the goal of the opposite team. The Megabytes (Captain Awesome's team name) won!

[read and reviewed by a 9 year old, typed by his Mama]

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 5-year-old son is enjoying the Captain Awesome books. But I'm a bit disappointed in this one. There's way more of the "ew, girls have cooties" than in the other ones. And what happened to his new friend, Sally Williams, who also loves Super Dude (girls like comics, too!)?

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I am not sure if I want to continue this series. Don't get me wrong, I love characters with imagination, but this is just getting ridiculous, and I am sure isn't healthy that all kinds of normal stuff are, in the eyes of Eugene, evil villains. :|

[Shazzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as enjoyable as the previous outings, but this is still a catchy series for young readers, and one I'm sure they will continue to eat up.

[Missi Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn't as MI-TEE as the others.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asher (7yo) read.

[Earline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series, but a solid Captain Awesome story with capes and nacho cheese galore. Always fun to read these aloud and my stepson loves them.

[Andrea Schreiber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good choice for transitional readers!