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Smallville (Young Adults) #1

by Michael Teitelbaum

En 1989, lors d'une chute de météorites sur Smallville, un vaisseau spatial s'est écrasé, laissant seul un enfant de 3 ans. Une jeune couple de fermiers sans enfants, les Kent, l'ont recueilli et adopté. Clark Kent, le futur Superman, a maintenant 15 ans, mais ses parents ne lui ont encore jamais expliqué d'où il vient et il découvre peu à peu ses pouvoirs...

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Aliens, Dc Comics, Superman, Fiction, Superheroes

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Michael Teitelbaum has been a writer and editor of children’s books for more than thirty years. He worked on staff as an editor at Golden Books, Grossett & Dunlop, and Macmillan. In addition to The Scary States of America, Michael’s fiction work includes The Very Hungry Zombie: A Parody, and The Very Thirsty Vampire: A Parody both done with artist extraordinaire Jon Apple, published by Skyhorse. His non-fiction work includes writing Jackie Robinson: Champion for Equality, published by Sterling, and The Baseball Hall of Fame, a 2-volume encyclopedia, published by Grolier. He is also the series editor of Great Escapes, true-life acts of incredible courage, published by Harper Collins.
Michael has always had an interest in the paranormal, despite a rather normal childhood in Brooklyn, NY. These days, Michael lives with his wife, Sheleigah, and two talkative cats in an (as yet unhaunted) 180-year-old farmhouse in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

Reviews

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two smallville-related series that made it to Book form. One was young adult, around a Junior High school age group; the other was also young adult, but for an older teen audience. This is the first book in the earlier YA series, which dished out ten books total.

I'm a major Superman geek and was a Smallville fan - got my dad into the show when it was on it's fourth season run in TV, and ever since then it was also one of his favorite shows. He has the habit of watching the same re-reruns of a show to a ridiculous degree. Since we owned the DVDs, once he'd watch the seasons we owned, he'd turn around and repeat the process all over again. Agh, something I can't do, but let's just say I got to know the show - especially it's superior earlier seasons - pretty well.

Anyway, in reading this book I see it's just a recap of the first episode. I immediately recognize differences, alterations, and additions. There is one questionable thing I'm not sure on, about the necklace on the last page, but I'd have to double check.

Enjoyment wise, it's just okay. Clearly I already know this story, and it was told straight forward and simple. You can write for the young with a talented hand, but it was a bare bones effort in this case. Shame, that, for more could have been done, but I guess it served it's basic purpose here.

While not greatly written, I enjoyed it since I'm a Smallville geek. I read a book, City, in the older series, which I think I'll enjoy more overall - but want to read both series for completion's (dork) sake.

Weird things I noticed:

I know you can be 14 or 15 as a freshman, but I thought the show started with him at 14. The book says 15.

In the cemetary, when Lana goes to talk to her dead parents, and does a fake conversation with Clark (weird sounding, I know), in the TV show she tells him, "Mom wants to know if you're upset about a girl?" When he says no, she then says, "Dad wants to know if it's about a guy." Yes, hardy-har. In the book, however, they omitted the guy part and say instead, "Dad wants to know if it's about school." So, hm. Changed to avoid gay humor? I really don't know, doesn't make sense or seem offensive to leave it in there, but I guess they over-sanitized.

They shortened the scene with Lex at the mansion, but that was probably for length purposes and no hidden meaning, although who knows.

Overall 3 stars - only for fans of the show who want to continue to 'fan out.'

[Victor Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book to read and more or less a novelization of Smallville's amazing pilot episode. The story is the same, with decent details from the mindset of the characters and their feelings. But also, certain events, as it turns out, weren't in the original airing of the show. My guess is this was an adaptation of the penultimate script with some changes made that differ from what was intended.

The basic story is the same, but there are some differences. The originally aired pilot differs from the syndicated runs. As well as the DVD deleted scenes from Lex meeting Chloe's father, as well as Jeremy Creek being ambushed by the principal, are partially adapted in this novelization. The deleted scene was filmed inside Luthorcorp's fertilizer plant area, whereas the novel has it in Gabe Sullivan's office. Instead of it being Principal Kwan being assaulted, it was the Assistant Principal by the name of Swan. Some other minor details, like Whitney's last name being Ellsworth in the book instead of Fordman in the show, or how Lex gives Clark the lead box with the bracelet at the end of the book instead of in the next episode. Or how Jonathan Kent mentions having received the telescope at Clark's age, but then mentions how his dad died a week later after giving it to him, whereas in the series' third season, it is mentioned he lived much longer.

Still, it's a pretty faithful adaptation. And an enjoyable one at that.

[Rebeca · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a huge Smallville fan, I want to be able to say that I love this book and that this is the best book ever... But I can't. Having read book #2 first, I was hugely disapointed with this one. You see, book two at least has it's own story. This book, well, if you've watched the Smallville Pilot, you already know what the book has. I was at least hoping for more added scenes or a whole little new story that could have been thrown in there, but that's not what I got.

Honestly, I've read better fan fiction from fans...

[Cudahy Family Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man I haven’t read either Smallville book series in many years. In all honesty, I was a bit worried to go back, to possibly find out that they weren’t the same, that they were written for a younger audience that was no longer me. But I needn’t have worried!

Smallville: Arrival is a re-telling of the pilot episode in book form. You won’t really get anything new from this book except a bit more of inside the characters’ heads, particularly Clark as he realizes he’s more than just some ‘weird kid with powers’. This also must be a slightly earlier script than what was created on screen because there are a few moments near the end that were actually put into the next episode, which leads into the fact that technically Smallville’s first and second episodes are one long episode. Also, apparently at one point Whitney was going to have the last name of ‘Ellsworth’ rather than ‘Fordman’. Not sure why they changed it but interesting nonetheless.

It was great to read this book again and watch the whole episode play out in my head as though I was actually watching the episode. If you’re a fan of Smallville, this is worth picking up.

[Michael Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book was a bit nostalgic. While I had never read any of either Smallville series in my youth my middle school best friend got me into the show. I am not sure I ever saw the beginning seasons so they story sub-arc of the book was new for me while the main series arc was well known.

I found the book to be well written for the age group. While by no means the most captivating or driven book I have recently read it did the job and I never found myself considering abandoning the book.

[Lyndsay-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a long time since I read this book, or even had anything to do with Smallville. It does bring up good memories though.
This book is the novelization of the first episode of the show. It is pretty much word for word exactly the same as the show. The only negative is that it wasn't written very well. It's young adult but feels youger. Feels like the whole hook is missing descriptors.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty faithful retelling of the pilot, but I much prefer the original stories in this series.

I had a chance to interview Smallville author Jeff Gottesfeld for the All the Books Show. Find it here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/of...

[derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s basically a shot-for-shot version of the Pilot but written. Do I care too much? No. Also Whitney’s surname is Fordman, and Clark doesn’t get the lead box until the Metamorphosis episode, though I suppose the author didn’t know that at the time.

[Kirstyn-maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, easy to read novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and can't wait to read the other books in the series.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Smallville. This is basically just a novelization based on the first episode (maybe two? I can't remember). It's a good reintroduction to a series I really love.

[Cadence Boudreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so easy to please , there’s smallville books? IM SO SAT! I don’t care that they’re silly and just simple retellings . I’m a punk rocker (I love superman and nerding out!)

[DoomFist7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so magnificent.

[Fabián A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty much a novelization of the TV Pilot, nevertheless, it was nice to go back and remember it. You'll feel a little bit different about Clark here that in the motion series. Here, Clark is more human, more emotional, and definitively better.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novelization of the Smallville pilot episode. A sweet and simple re-telling of the original meteor shower and Clark's discovery of some of his powers. Since it's been so many years since I've seen the pilot, it was fun to revisit the story and see Clark and the gang as young teenagers.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was just a novelization of the pilot episode when I ordered it off Amazon. Despite that, I still really enjoyed it.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Wait wait wait... there was another Smallville book series?!

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F SMA bk.1
Science Fiction

[Alcira Tatis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bueno, es mejor que muchos "Fanfics " que he leído, de eso si estoy segura.

[Jelaina Jones]

This did not age well. Nor is it anything other than a written account of the pilot episode of Smallville. Even so, it's a quick read for those who loved the show.