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Academy of Metahuman Operatives #1
School for Sidekicks: The Academy of Metahuman Operatives
Being a hero isn't always what it's cracked up to be in this funny and genuine novel from adult fantasy author Kelly McCullough.
Evan Quick is a GIANT superhero geek who dreams of one day becoming a superhero himself. Every morning he checks to see if he's developed his powers overnight, and every day there's nothing. No flying, no super strength, no invulnerability—that always hurts to check—no telepathy, no magic. Not even the ability to turn off the alarm clock without smacking the switch.
But then Evan somehow manages to survive a supervillian's death ray, and is sent to the Academy for Metahuman Operatives. Unfortunately, his new school is not what he expected, and instead of fighting bad guys, Evan finds himself blacklisted, and on the wrong side of the school's director. If Evan ever wants to realize his dream, he must convince his "mentor" Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to become a real hero once again.
Evan Quick is a GIANT superhero geek who dreams of one day becoming a superhero himself. Every morning he checks to see if he's developed his powers overnight, and every day there's nothing. No flying, no super strength, no invulnerability—that always hurts to check—no telepathy, no magic. Not even the ability to turn off the alarm clock without smacking the switch.
But then Evan somehow manages to survive a supervillian's death ray, and is sent to the Academy for Metahuman Operatives. Unfortunately, his new school is not what he expected, and instead of fighting bad guys, Evan finds himself blacklisted, and on the wrong side of the school's director. If Evan ever wants to realize his dream, he must convince his "mentor" Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to become a real hero once again.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2015
29 people are currently reading
1377 people want to read
About the author
Kelly McCullough
39 books370 followersKelly McCullough was raised and educated by free-range hippies. Later he received a degree in theater and worked in improv. That combination was the perfect preparation for his current career as author and cat herder. He lives and writes in the Midwest with his physics-professor wife, Laura. He enjoys hiking and biking and his role as self-heating cat furniture. He is the author of the WebMage and Fallen Blade series.
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December 16, 2015I don't care how old you are, this is the perfect and fun love-letter to all things superheroes, whether they are in comics, movies, or TV. Funny, witty, snarky and action-packed!
August 8, 2015
a tad bit too corny for me
Comic books are not my thing, and so neither is this book. It's just too simplistic, too arch, too dated, though I like Evan Quick a lot and the worldbuilding is interesting. There are certain things about the book that I can't take - Cuddlinator and his army of fluffy collectibles? Minute Man? 'Masks' and 'Hoods'? I bought the book by mistake, thinking it was part of Kelly Meding's metahuman series which is much more realistic. In her books, having powers means having even more issues to deal with, along with a lot of discrimination and resentment from non-metas. Her world is much more complicated than McCullough's and that gives her stories depth and impact that this book just doesn't manage. Then, too, Meding's characters manage to be actually human as well as metahuman. McCullough does human characters too - Foxman, Meerkat, Nighthowl and Burnish all come across as real people when they're not being Masks - it's just that all the rest of the time they're stuck with stilted banter and corny dialogue that makes them sound like they've gotten trapped in the old Batman and Robin TV show. It doesn't even feel tongue in cheek, and much of what was supposed to be funny didn't strikes me that way... That's probably just my biases showing, but if you too don't like comics, I don't recommend this one.
Comic books are not my thing, and so neither is this book. It's just too simplistic, too arch, too dated, though I like Evan Quick a lot and the worldbuilding is interesting. There are certain things about the book that I can't take - Cuddlinator and his army of fluffy collectibles? Minute Man? 'Masks' and 'Hoods'? I bought the book by mistake, thinking it was part of Kelly Meding's metahuman series which is much more realistic. In her books, having powers means having even more issues to deal with, along with a lot of discrimination and resentment from non-metas. Her world is much more complicated than McCullough's and that gives her stories depth and impact that this book just doesn't manage. Then, too, Meding's characters manage to be actually human as well as metahuman. McCullough does human characters too - Foxman, Meerkat, Nighthowl and Burnish all come across as real people when they're not being Masks - it's just that all the rest of the time they're stuck with stilted banter and corny dialogue that makes them sound like they've gotten trapped in the old Batman and Robin TV show. It doesn't even feel tongue in cheek, and much of what was supposed to be funny didn't strikes me that way... That's probably just my biases showing, but if you too don't like comics, I don't recommend this one.
September 5, 2015
What a fun book! Anyone who loves super heroes or comic books will find themselves quickly drawn into this new world where super heroes are more than just figures on a page or in a game.
Our hero is Evan Quick. So nice to find YA book with male lead, and the core of the story does not revolve around a love triangle! The narrative moves smoothly, explaining the "science" of super heroes, and creating a rich detailed world.
Many authors have tried to write YA from a males point of view and for some odd reason finding it challenging to create a complex character that is believable. Mr McCullough does this in ways I have seen few authors succeed.
You can tell that Mr McCullough has read many comic books, played games, and loves the fantasy of super heroes. It comes through not only in his ability to write from Evan's point of view, but also in the details in creating the world and the Masks/Hoods.
This book ended on a satisfying conclusion, while setting up more story to tell.
Our hero is Evan Quick. So nice to find YA book with male lead, and the core of the story does not revolve around a love triangle! The narrative moves smoothly, explaining the "science" of super heroes, and creating a rich detailed world.
Many authors have tried to write YA from a males point of view and for some odd reason finding it challenging to create a complex character that is believable. Mr McCullough does this in ways I have seen few authors succeed.
You can tell that Mr McCullough has read many comic books, played games, and loves the fantasy of super heroes. It comes through not only in his ability to write from Evan's point of view, but also in the details in creating the world and the Masks/Hoods.
This book ended on a satisfying conclusion, while setting up more story to tell.
August 1, 2017
What a fun book with a fresh-yet-familiar approach to superheroes! McCullough's book straddles the line between middle grade and young adult, and is one to be thoroughly enjoyed by adults (like me) as well. Evan is a kid totally obsessed with superhero fandom, but when his own powers emerge, he quickly finds out that 1) his favorite hero is an all-out jerk, 2) his supportive, awesome parents suddenly aren't so supportive, and 3) kids like him are sent to a special school... on a moon of Mars. Some of the elements are outright goofy (there is brief mention of a villain who has powers over cheese, which delighted me), but the novel also addresses some heady topics with great care and compassion, such as relationships with parents, and alcoholism and recovery.
June 1, 2016
Istyria book blog ~ A Wold of Enchanted Books
I went into this book hoping for a fun, exciting book and that's exactly what I got. School for Sidekicks was all kinds of cheesy but it was so. much. fun.
School for Sidekicks is about Evan Quick, who's always dreamed of becoming a Mask. Someone with powers that fights the bad guys, the Hoods. And one day during a field trip with his class, he survives a supervillain's death ray and is brought to the AMO, the Academy of Metahuman Operatives, also called the School for Sidekicks. But it's not all that Evan thought it would be. He finds himself blacklisted by his hero because of what happened during his field trip and if he ever wants to be a real Mask, he'll have to convince his mentor Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to ecome a real hero again.
When you read the blurb, you know that this'll be all kinds of cheesy. And it is, absolutely. But it's the right kind of cheesy and corny. There's a great story underneath it with lots of action, great characters and a lot of humor too. That's what made it so much fun to read! If you just embrace the cheese and the sometimes silly codenames, you'll have so much fun reading this book! I know I did. The only negative thing in this book, sort of, is the ending? It felt a tiny bit rushed and it's an open ending so there's room for a sequel, which I would totally love because I want more with these characters. Their story isn't finished yet.
Speaking of the characters, I loved all of them. Evan's friends at the AMO are so much fun! I loved Jeda aka Speedslick and Howl, who doesn't want to be called by her real name because she hates it, and Burnish, who doesn't start out as his friend. I also loved Mike aka Minute Man, Evan's teacher. I liked Evan's parents, who go through a lot in this book too. It's a lot to adapt too and I'm happy they didn't just stick with either being completely fine with it or the oppposite. They went through different stages. But my favorite characters are of course Evan himself and his mentor Foxman, who provides most of the book's humor. Evan is such a fun character to follow and I loved how he reacted to his dream coming true and then finding out it's not all he hoped it would be. He grows a lot in this book and, like I said, I want more! But Foxman was the best. He's hilarious and I loved him and he's on my list of favorite characters now.
School for Sidekicks is a book full of action, humor and cheesy fun. I'd recommend it to fans of movies like The Avengers and especially Sky High. Or TV-shows like The Flash. Or even fans of the old traditional, kind of cheesy, Marvel and DC comics. Read it! It's a lot of fun.
This review was posted on Reading with ABC.
I went into this book hoping for a fun, exciting book and that's exactly what I got. School for Sidekicks was all kinds of cheesy but it was so. much. fun.
School for Sidekicks is about Evan Quick, who's always dreamed of becoming a Mask. Someone with powers that fights the bad guys, the Hoods. And one day during a field trip with his class, he survives a supervillain's death ray and is brought to the AMO, the Academy of Metahuman Operatives, also called the School for Sidekicks. But it's not all that Evan thought it would be. He finds himself blacklisted by his hero because of what happened during his field trip and if he ever wants to be a real Mask, he'll have to convince his mentor Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to ecome a real hero again.
When you read the blurb, you know that this'll be all kinds of cheesy. And it is, absolutely. But it's the right kind of cheesy and corny. There's a great story underneath it with lots of action, great characters and a lot of humor too. That's what made it so much fun to read! If you just embrace the cheese and the sometimes silly codenames, you'll have so much fun reading this book! I know I did. The only negative thing in this book, sort of, is the ending? It felt a tiny bit rushed and it's an open ending so there's room for a sequel, which I would totally love because I want more with these characters. Their story isn't finished yet.
Speaking of the characters, I loved all of them. Evan's friends at the AMO are so much fun! I loved Jeda aka Speedslick and Howl, who doesn't want to be called by her real name because she hates it, and Burnish, who doesn't start out as his friend. I also loved Mike aka Minute Man, Evan's teacher. I liked Evan's parents, who go through a lot in this book too. It's a lot to adapt too and I'm happy they didn't just stick with either being completely fine with it or the oppposite. They went through different stages. But my favorite characters are of course Evan himself and his mentor Foxman, who provides most of the book's humor. Evan is such a fun character to follow and I loved how he reacted to his dream coming true and then finding out it's not all he hoped it would be. He grows a lot in this book and, like I said, I want more! But Foxman was the best. He's hilarious and I loved him and he's on my list of favorite characters now.
School for Sidekicks is a book full of action, humor and cheesy fun. I'd recommend it to fans of movies like The Avengers and especially Sky High. Or TV-shows like The Flash. Or even fans of the old traditional, kind of cheesy, Marvel and DC comics. Read it! It's a lot of fun.
This review was posted on Reading with ABC.
December 18, 2014
Check out my blog at UtopiaNeverComes.blogspot.com for more great upcoming books that may just be your new must-have read.
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This is an insanely witty & entertaining book geared for Young Readers, but smart & funny enough for Readers of ANY age. It takes me back to being a child with the comic books I grew up on & I think this could be the book that brings an avid reader to a new world of Graphics or an avid Graphic Novel reader to a new world of books.
In the mind of the great Golden Age in comics when there were not more Heroic characters than human ones... and when it was more about the character development than the story arc... School for Sidekicks transports you to a world where Heroes & Villains fight in a modern day Minneapolis, now called Heropolis, which was renamed after the events of Metamorphosis Day in 1988 that created most of the Metahumans alive today.
The Heroes are like celebrities that every kid wants to be. And like every celebrity, there are some that are just a cut above the rest. For Evan Quick, and most of the kids he knows, that hero is Captain Commanding. He has action figures, cereal, a line of t-shirts... even a Theme Park.
When Evan unwittingly saves the day during a school fieldtrip at the Hero Museum, saving his idol in the process and defeating the villainous Spartanicus, he is whisked away to begin training as a Hero... or so he thinks at first. What he soon learns is that nothing at his school, or in the Hero World, is as he once thought.
This book will have something for every reader. It reminds me in part of many different series I have loved. It has the school life that reminds me in part to Harry Potter, the Hero teamwork you would find in any X-men-esque book, the subplot... well I can't exactly tell you that, because it would ruin the whole book for you... and what's the fun it that!
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This is an insanely witty & entertaining book geared for Young Readers, but smart & funny enough for Readers of ANY age. It takes me back to being a child with the comic books I grew up on & I think this could be the book that brings an avid reader to a new world of Graphics or an avid Graphic Novel reader to a new world of books.
In the mind of the great Golden Age in comics when there were not more Heroic characters than human ones... and when it was more about the character development than the story arc... School for Sidekicks transports you to a world where Heroes & Villains fight in a modern day Minneapolis, now called Heropolis, which was renamed after the events of Metamorphosis Day in 1988 that created most of the Metahumans alive today.
The Heroes are like celebrities that every kid wants to be. And like every celebrity, there are some that are just a cut above the rest. For Evan Quick, and most of the kids he knows, that hero is Captain Commanding. He has action figures, cereal, a line of t-shirts... even a Theme Park.
When Evan unwittingly saves the day during a school fieldtrip at the Hero Museum, saving his idol in the process and defeating the villainous Spartanicus, he is whisked away to begin training as a Hero... or so he thinks at first. What he soon learns is that nothing at his school, or in the Hero World, is as he once thought.
This book will have something for every reader. It reminds me in part of many different series I have loved. It has the school life that reminds me in part to Harry Potter, the Hero teamwork you would find in any X-men-esque book, the subplot... well I can't exactly tell you that, because it would ruin the whole book for you... and what's the fun it that!
August 11, 2015
This is the book that should teach middle grade readers the word parody. That is, if they can stop turning pages long enough to think about what they’re reading. It might also enlighten them as to the meaning of the old cautionary expression, "Be careful what you wish for…" Our narrator and wanna-be superhero, Evan Quick, learns that lesson the day he gets his superhero powers. After that, everything he ever wanted to be seems a far cry from what he has become. And when the plot thickens (and seldom has a plot thickened to such a degree), the consequences of Evan’s new identity deepen as our budding hero is thrust into the middle of a complicated and deadly secret.
But back to the parody: In its early chapters especially, School for Sidekicks apes to humorous effect superhero movies and comic books. The heroic (?) names alone usually bring a chuckle: Captain Commanding (and his Commanding Car), the Fluffinator, Mr. Implausible, HeartBurn, Hotflash, and so it goes, right up until we meet Evan’s mentor, Foxman, and take a ride in his Foxmobile. Actually, the parody never really stops — one can almost see KAPOW! BANG! and OOOF! splashing across the page during the fight scenes. Indeed, near the end we’re treated to an explosive "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
All this is fun, and often funny, but the problem with any parody is letting the reader know when something should be taken seriously. For instance, we are still smiling from "scabwebs" and "Dorkman" as Evan tells us about the half million people who were killed when the "Hero Bomb", which created the Masks and Hoods, detonated. There are other moments where lives are lost or hang in the balance, but McCullough, for the most part, manages to switch between goofy and serious without jarring the reader. To be sure, I initially felt the wackiness had taken too strong a hold on the science in the book, and for many chapters was grinding my jaw about the impossibility of certain things: instant communication with a distant planet, the location and design of the Academy, the method of transport between the Academy and Evan’s home, and so forth. But when the big reveal is made, much of what bothered me no longer did. Allow your suspension of disbelief a more than usual elasticity and you should be fine.
Kelly McCullough has a long resumé as a writer, notably in the adult science fiction and fantasy fields. It’s not surprising then that he can spin a yarn and keep the reader engaged. Generally, his prose in Sidekicks is efficient, and we aren’t taken on poetic larks that, while they have a home in other types of fiction, would be uncomfortable as part of this novel. My lone complaint is the numerous unnecessary commas placed after sentence-leading ‘ands’, ‘buts’, ‘thens’, etc. But I read an uncorrected galley, and in other, similar instances, the punctuation was correct, so one hopes those errors were fixed.
It’s clear that the author is either a fan of the superhero genre or did extensive research in the field. Anyone familiar with the DC Comics/Marvel Comics movies and comic books will recognize bits and pieces of characters in McCullough’s cast (Iron Man and Batman in particular), as well as superhero tools of the trade. There are also moments that have the feel of old-time pulp sci-fi, and there’s even a nod to Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon in the giant cannon used to send personnel across vast distances of space.
For those who want more, a free short story is available: The Totally Secret Origin of Foxman. (Interestingly, according to the author’s website the original subtitle for School for Sidekicks was The Totally Secret Origin of Foxman Jr. — Evan’s rejected superhero name.)
Verdict: 4 of 5 Hearts. A Fast-Paced, Rewarding Superhero Parody.
School for Sidekicks is a lively ride and should be entertaining fare for any kid who dreams of being a superhero, or for those adults who grew up watching the "real" Batman, Adam West, and Burt Ward, his Boy Wonder sidekick — who, like Evan Quick, had to learn his trade on the job.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this title. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
NOTE: This review was originally posted on Dawn Teresa's ReadLove blog: https://dawnreadlove.wordpress.com. Feel free to visit the blog for more reviews of YA and Kids fiction, comics, and even the occasional CD or DVD!
July 31, 2015
This review is also available on my blog, Read Till Dawn.
All right, I'm starting on the deep end with this one: School for Sidekicks was just a little too, well, politically correct for my tastes. Evan's father had two mothers, one of the students at the school is a gender-neutral shapeshifter, a girl tries to kiss another girl - each of these were completely unnecessary to the plot, and really only served to send the not-so-subtle message of "Look at me, I'm a liberal author!" I can understand having things like that in a book when they're central to the plot or are in a book directed at the gay community, but in this case McCullough went out of his way to add them to a kid's book that totally didn't need them at all. And I'm really sad that he did that, because it totally hurt my enjoyment of the book.
Political correctness (which, I am perfectly aware, won't even bother a lot of readers) aside, School for Sidekicks is still just a little too . . . much. This is apparently McCullough's first children's book, and it's pretty obvious that he's not used to toning his material down the way you have to for MG. Besides Foxman (who, as I said, is a recovering drunkard), there are a few points where the violence becomes a bit too graphic for me. At one point, somebody literally dies a few times but is basically rebooted each time. The deaths aren't described extremely vividly, but they're still deaths and they're not exactly peaceful deaths. At another point, a professor teaches his students a class on killing bad guys with common objects they might have at hand. He goes in-depth into describing what organs you can hit when you stab which spots at which angles, and I honestly had to skip over a paragraph or two because it was getting a little too much for me. Sure, I'm a wimp, but that's not exactly the sort of thing middle-school kids should be reading about, either. There's also some pretty bad language scattered throughout, including the "D" word and the "B" word (the one for "illegitimate child").
Now let's talk about the good aspects to the book. McCullough did a good job inserting as many twists as he possibly could into the dry formula, and I really enjoyed a lot of the aspects of his take on the superhero universe. Foxman, Evan's superhero mentor and a recovering alcoholic, was my personal favorite character because he was so different from all of the other usual superhero tropes. Plus, he was hilarious! I wish I could have someone like him to talk to when I'm down. The big reveal at the end was pretty mind-blowing, too, and really makes you rethink everything. It also sets up for some very interesting sequels. I really loved Evan as well, because I could see myself in him. As a massive Harry Potter/Doctor Who fangirl, I can totally relate with his obsession with superheroes - I just wish I was lucky enough to attend Hogwarts and meet all the characters in Harry Potter, the way he attended the "School for Sidekicks" and met all his favorite heroes. Even if some of them did turn out to be total losers!
Honestly, though, I feel like the bad-to-good ratio on this one is just too high. I won't be recommending it to anyone, and I doubt I'll be reading the sequel. If the bad points I've mentioned don't turn you off, though, then you could still give it a try. I know that without them, I would definitely have really enjoyed School for Sidekicks.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
All right, I'm starting on the deep end with this one: School for Sidekicks was just a little too, well, politically correct for my tastes. Evan's father had two mothers, one of the students at the school is a gender-neutral shapeshifter, a girl tries to kiss another girl - each of these were completely unnecessary to the plot, and really only served to send the not-so-subtle message of "Look at me, I'm a liberal author!" I can understand having things like that in a book when they're central to the plot or are in a book directed at the gay community, but in this case McCullough went out of his way to add them to a kid's book that totally didn't need them at all. And I'm really sad that he did that, because it totally hurt my enjoyment of the book.
Political correctness (which, I am perfectly aware, won't even bother a lot of readers) aside, School for Sidekicks is still just a little too . . . much. This is apparently McCullough's first children's book, and it's pretty obvious that he's not used to toning his material down the way you have to for MG. Besides Foxman (who, as I said, is a recovering drunkard), there are a few points where the violence becomes a bit too graphic for me. At one point, somebody literally dies a few times but is basically rebooted each time. The deaths aren't described extremely vividly, but they're still deaths and they're not exactly peaceful deaths. At another point, a professor teaches his students a class on killing bad guys with common objects they might have at hand. He goes in-depth into describing what organs you can hit when you stab which spots at which angles, and I honestly had to skip over a paragraph or two because it was getting a little too much for me. Sure, I'm a wimp, but that's not exactly the sort of thing middle-school kids should be reading about, either. There's also some pretty bad language scattered throughout, including the "D" word and the "B" word (the one for "illegitimate child").
Now let's talk about the good aspects to the book. McCullough did a good job inserting as many twists as he possibly could into the dry formula, and I really enjoyed a lot of the aspects of his take on the superhero universe. Foxman, Evan's superhero mentor and a recovering alcoholic, was my personal favorite character because he was so different from all of the other usual superhero tropes. Plus, he was hilarious! I wish I could have someone like him to talk to when I'm down. The big reveal at the end was pretty mind-blowing, too, and really makes you rethink everything. It also sets up for some very interesting sequels. I really loved Evan as well, because I could see myself in him. As a massive Harry Potter/Doctor Who fangirl, I can totally relate with his obsession with superheroes - I just wish I was lucky enough to attend Hogwarts and meet all the characters in Harry Potter, the way he attended the "School for Sidekicks" and met all his favorite heroes. Even if some of them did turn out to be total losers!
Honestly, though, I feel like the bad-to-good ratio on this one is just too high. I won't be recommending it to anyone, and I doubt I'll be reading the sequel. If the bad points I've mentioned don't turn you off, though, then you could still give it a try. I know that without them, I would definitely have really enjoyed School for Sidekicks.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2016
Upon Finishing: This was a whole lot of weird but also really cool and interesting. I don't know how to feel honestly.
Read this review on my blog: http://tamaraniac.com/2015/07/review-...
If I’ve learned anything from being obsessed with superhero novels and reading every single one I’ve been able to get my hands on since sixth grade, it is that they are ridiculously hit or miss. As in, they are usually really great or really weird. And, well, occasionally they are just really mediocre.
School for Sidekicks is unique in that it managed to be both really weird and pretty great too.
This book starts out with a pretty cookie-cutter superhero world: heroes and villains that were given superpowers by a radioactive event, people in awe of these powers, and a government organization to try to manage all of these new walking safety hazards. But it is really all so much more. One of the best parts of this book was watching the main character figure out all of the mysteries surrounding him.
However, unfortunately the book wasn’t only strange because it was supposed to be. The main critique I have of this book is that the pacing was a little weird. There would be chapters that would pass rather uneventfully and the next chapter would be constant action and reveals.
That said, this was still a really funny and interestingly strange read. As a middle grade superhero novel, it did not disappoint.
Mini-Review: Evan Quick has always dreamed of being a superhero, and through a strange twist of fate, his dreams come true shortly after his thirteenth birthday. However, donning a mask doesn’t mean quite what he thought it would… School for Sidekicks was a very, very interesting book. It contained a very unique semi-futuristic world, and was filled with a great mixture of comedy and mystery. If you like superpowers and superheroes, this book will not disappoint!
Read this review on my blog: http://tamaraniac.com/2015/07/review-...
If I’ve learned anything from being obsessed with superhero novels and reading every single one I’ve been able to get my hands on since sixth grade, it is that they are ridiculously hit or miss. As in, they are usually really great or really weird. And, well, occasionally they are just really mediocre.
School for Sidekicks is unique in that it managed to be both really weird and pretty great too.
This book starts out with a pretty cookie-cutter superhero world: heroes and villains that were given superpowers by a radioactive event, people in awe of these powers, and a government organization to try to manage all of these new walking safety hazards. But it is really all so much more. One of the best parts of this book was watching the main character figure out all of the mysteries surrounding him.
However, unfortunately the book wasn’t only strange because it was supposed to be. The main critique I have of this book is that the pacing was a little weird. There would be chapters that would pass rather uneventfully and the next chapter would be constant action and reveals.
That said, this was still a really funny and interestingly strange read. As a middle grade superhero novel, it did not disappoint.
Mini-Review: Evan Quick has always dreamed of being a superhero, and through a strange twist of fate, his dreams come true shortly after his thirteenth birthday. However, donning a mask doesn’t mean quite what he thought it would… School for Sidekicks was a very, very interesting book. It contained a very unique semi-futuristic world, and was filled with a great mixture of comedy and mystery. If you like superpowers and superheroes, this book will not disappoint!
September 26, 2015
Being a huge of Kelly McCullough's earlier works, as soon as i saw he was releasing another book it immediately went on my read pile - without looking at what is was about. I managed to win a copy (YEAH! first time winning anything!) and was surprised to see that it was a book for YA readers.
I have an 11 year old son - so I let him read it first. While he isn't a huge super heroes fan like I am - he absolutely loved the book! He said the characters were awesome and funny. There was lots of action but didn't feel cartoony - they felt real. And he hopes there will be more books in the world of Evan Quick.
So I decided to pick up the book. I have to say I am quite impressed. The plot was great, the characters were very believable, which is difficult in YA novels since I feel most authors make their young characters feel too one dimensional. The humor was funny and smart without going into gross quick gags. And the thoughts of Evan Quick as he bounds through his life and his reasons for his actions, especially the moral implications of his actions, is well thought out and something I feel both children and adults can relate to.
Thanks for the great book and my son and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
I have an 11 year old son - so I let him read it first. While he isn't a huge super heroes fan like I am - he absolutely loved the book! He said the characters were awesome and funny. There was lots of action but didn't feel cartoony - they felt real. And he hopes there will be more books in the world of Evan Quick.
So I decided to pick up the book. I have to say I am quite impressed. The plot was great, the characters were very believable, which is difficult in YA novels since I feel most authors make their young characters feel too one dimensional. The humor was funny and smart without going into gross quick gags. And the thoughts of Evan Quick as he bounds through his life and his reasons for his actions, especially the moral implications of his actions, is well thought out and something I feel both children and adults can relate to.
Thanks for the great book and my son and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
July 9, 2016
Oh, I had fun with this one. It's smart, witty, and entertaining, with a surprising amount of character focus and complexity.
Evan lives in a world with "metahumans," Masks and Hoods (heroes and villains) who were initially created by a bomb that killed hundreds of thousands. He has always dreamed of being just like his idol, Captain Commanding, to a geek-obsessed level that makes him a social outcast. He just so happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time to become a hostage in an evil plot, which leads to his discovery of minor metahuman powers of his own. Yet he quickly learns that, despite his obsessive knowledge of the history of Masks and Hoods, nothing is at all what he expected. The metahuman world holds many secrets, and he is now caught up in them in ways that turn his dreams and aspirations on their heads.
I'm ready for the sequel.
Evan lives in a world with "metahumans," Masks and Hoods (heroes and villains) who were initially created by a bomb that killed hundreds of thousands. He has always dreamed of being just like his idol, Captain Commanding, to a geek-obsessed level that makes him a social outcast. He just so happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time to become a hostage in an evil plot, which leads to his discovery of minor metahuman powers of his own. Yet he quickly learns that, despite his obsessive knowledge of the history of Masks and Hoods, nothing is at all what he expected. The metahuman world holds many secrets, and he is now caught up in them in ways that turn his dreams and aspirations on their heads.
I'm ready for the sequel.
October 5, 2015
I thought this book was pretty good because it was an interesting thing to think about. It is about a boy named Evan Quick Who gets superpowers and goes to a special school on Mars. (They call themselves metahumans but they are just like The X-men with different names.) Then, he realizes the metahumans are being created on purpose so that they can stop an alien invasion. His parents are an obstacle to him because they don't want him to go to school on Mars.
This book will feel similar to Harry Potter when you read it. I would recommend it to people who like the Harry Potter series. I would not recommend it to people who like Marvel superheroes because it completely copied the whole mutant idea from The X-men. The theme is accepting others' differences. This is the theme because Evan's parents want him go to normal school.
This book will feel similar to Harry Potter when you read it. I would recommend it to people who like the Harry Potter series. I would not recommend it to people who like Marvel superheroes because it completely copied the whole mutant idea from The X-men. The theme is accepting others' differences. This is the theme because Evan's parents want him go to normal school.
May 31, 2016
I can see someone who loves the comic book/ super hero world liking this book. I personally am not this kind of person. I introduced the book to my teenager, however, and she was off to her room to read it. :)
December 16, 2015
GREAT BOOK. Please make it a series it was a great book.
October 23, 2018
"It was, after all, my dream come true." We all have dreams we wish would come true and in this book, Evan Quicks did.All Evan Quick wanted in the whole world was to be a real superhero. The book seemed realistic in the sense of the struggles Evan had of being the unpopular kid at his school, only this school is for superheroes.This book didn't really change my perspective of anything it was just a fun book I read. Evan was a very easy to relate to with his awkward and confusing experiences through high school. I loved the interactions the characters have together, I sometimes find my friends and I having some somewhat similar conversations. This book didn't really give me any big feelings previous books have given me.But the ending of the book gave me some content. Don't get me wrong it was a good book, it just didn't give me the connections to the characters that I really wanted. Some of my favorite things about the book were the fight scenes, All of them were very vivid and exciting. One of my least favorite things in the book were the rare texts where the characters interactions seemed to mumble on forever. If I had to really change anything about the book it would be the sometimes long conversations and work on the character developments. But overall I enjoyed this book and the story it told.
May 6, 2023
Greatest sci-fi book I’ve read in a while. Not the greatest of all time or anything—don’t misinterpret my initial statement—but it was somewhat refreshing compared to the other reads I’ve picked up lately. I mean that as a high complement, because despite its flaws (just personal nags), it was SUPER entertaining. The foul language and certain elements made it feel more like YA than children's (which is where it was in my library), but perhaps that flaw is less with the book and more where I found it, thus giving me certain expectations.
Long story short: it was a good time and a would-recommend if you like superheroes
I do wonder why Kelly opted to make this a one-shot though. This has so many obvious elements of becoming a trilogy, but clearly a lot of the content in this book was chopped out in order to simplify it. While I was reading this, I felt like I was reading the remains of something. Don’t get me wrong, the remains are great, but I wonder why the other books were cut from production. I think they’d have turned out entertaining, like this one. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit the timeline where the trilogy installments survived. There’s just too much and yet not enough content in this book for it to be a standalone. It’s not written like one; it’s written like it was reworked into one. Oh well.
Long story short: it was a good time and a would-recommend if you like superheroes
I do wonder why Kelly opted to make this a one-shot though. This has so many obvious elements of becoming a trilogy, but clearly a lot of the content in this book was chopped out in order to simplify it. While I was reading this, I felt like I was reading the remains of something. Don’t get me wrong, the remains are great, but I wonder why the other books were cut from production. I think they’d have turned out entertaining, like this one. Maybe one day I’ll get to visit the timeline where the trilogy installments survived. There’s just too much and yet not enough content in this book for it to be a standalone. It’s not written like one; it’s written like it was reworked into one. Oh well.
June 15, 2021
This novel gives us an adolescent boy eagerly becoming a superhero—or Masks, as they’re referred to here. This is what Evan Quick has desired for most of his life. Then Ms. McCullough pulls the rug from underneath him and us.
Conspiracies, alien threats, charismatic villains and nasty heroes render this story layered and lively. There’s plenty of the expected action and snappy banter but along with that are a lot of discussions about the pros and cons of becoming superpowered at such a young age (Evan’s talks with his parents are heartbreaking to read and may be painfully familiar in tone).
This novel makes you cogitate on the typical and atypical aspects of getting great power. You sympathize with young Mr. Quick as he struggles to reconcile or alter his preconceived notions of good and evil.
The plot manages to mix the credible and incredible. It’s engaging, pert, funny (Foxman’s lair is a riotous send-up of every cinematic depiction of Batman’s hideout you’ve ever seen), absorbing and with enough adult conversation to appeal to grown-ups as well as teenagers.
Foxman is on the prowl. Beware, villains.
Conspiracies, alien threats, charismatic villains and nasty heroes render this story layered and lively. There’s plenty of the expected action and snappy banter but along with that are a lot of discussions about the pros and cons of becoming superpowered at such a young age (Evan’s talks with his parents are heartbreaking to read and may be painfully familiar in tone).
This novel makes you cogitate on the typical and atypical aspects of getting great power. You sympathize with young Mr. Quick as he struggles to reconcile or alter his preconceived notions of good and evil.
The plot manages to mix the credible and incredible. It’s engaging, pert, funny (Foxman’s lair is a riotous send-up of every cinematic depiction of Batman’s hideout you’ve ever seen), absorbing and with enough adult conversation to appeal to grown-ups as well as teenagers.
Foxman is on the prowl. Beware, villains.
January 24, 2022
I love stories about relationships and slightly broken characters, and there is plenty of both in this unexpected gem of a novel.
Full kudos to the author for the sensitive and heartwarming way he introduces and deals with the impact of the devastating consequences of alcoholism in someone close to a just-teen who has spent his entire life hero-worshipping someone with superpowers and wishing he had superpowers as well.
Evan Quick discovers that what he wished for isn't exactly what he thought it would be and that all that looks bright and shiny from afar looks wholly different when seen up close. The narrative is filled with humour, regrets, disappointments and some high octane action sequences.
I'm really hoping that the author continues this charming series for teens of all ages.
Full kudos to the author for the sensitive and heartwarming way he introduces and deals with the impact of the devastating consequences of alcoholism in someone close to a just-teen who has spent his entire life hero-worshipping someone with superpowers and wishing he had superpowers as well.
Evan Quick discovers that what he wished for isn't exactly what he thought it would be and that all that looks bright and shiny from afar looks wholly different when seen up close. The narrative is filled with humour, regrets, disappointments and some high octane action sequences.
I'm really hoping that the author continues this charming series for teens of all ages.
March 26, 2023
Kelly McCullough has written a superhero book, aimed it at the middle school readers and hit the bullseye. I know some reviewers have criticized the level of violence but they cannot remember when they were that age, I used to hate this fighting where no-one was hurt and the heartiest words were "you creep!" it always felt so damn condescending. We used to love getting the old comics before the CCA where blood spurted and people died in detail. Although we always skipped the romance.
On the down side, the book is a bit formulaic but this is a superhero book which is the modern equivalent of the ancient heroes of mythology which were also pretty formulaic - give the readers/listeners what they want.
I don't know if there will be a #2 - it has been a while, but I would like to see where this is going
On the down side, the book is a bit formulaic but this is a superhero book which is the modern equivalent of the ancient heroes of mythology which were also pretty formulaic - give the readers/listeners what they want.
I don't know if there will be a #2 - it has been a while, but I would like to see where this is going
November 9, 2018
A fun, middle grade superhero adventure. While it could have been improved in some places, it was still an enjoyable and hard to put down read.
Our main character is Even, who always dreamed of being a Mask, and then he gets powers and becomes one. He was fun and I liked his imminent danger banter mouth. That would probably be me faced with a super villain. I also liked the worldbuilding, plot, twists, and Foxman. I didn't like him at first, but by the end I did. The other super powered kids I got mixed up a lot and weren't as rounded.
A few things that could have been better were it felt like it could have been a bit longer. Sometimes it felt rushed. It was also sometimes a bit confusing. And I could have done without Blurshift. Other than that, great. Four stars.
Our main character is Even, who always dreamed of being a Mask, and then he gets powers and becomes one. He was fun and I liked his imminent danger banter mouth. That would probably be me faced with a super villain. I also liked the worldbuilding, plot, twists, and Foxman. I didn't like him at first, but by the end I did. The other super powered kids I got mixed up a lot and weren't as rounded.
A few things that could have been better were it felt like it could have been a bit longer. Sometimes it felt rushed. It was also sometimes a bit confusing. And I could have done without Blurshift. Other than that, great. Four stars.
May 10, 2019
This book is incredibly well written with careful attention to detail and well developed characters. Evan changes so much as a character, you can barely tell the difference between the superhero geek at the beginning of the book to the crime-fighting adventurer at the end. The author focuses a lot on how Evan speaks, and keeps it relatively consistent throughout the book. The details in the book are great and allowed me to create a vivid picture of what was happening. The author made good decisions on where to elaborate and where to summarize in the book. There was never a boring moment and I am really glad that I picked up this book at the library. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi novel.
February 4, 2021
This was a romp of a story. Both an ode and a parody of superhero stories everywhere, complete with corny handles, cheesy one-liners, wild powers, futuristic tech, and imminent alien invasions. It was fun and witty with great characters (love Foxman and his sugar-high chinwagging), and above all, it made me laugh. A good deal. Which means it automatically gets brownie points. Of course, it's not all light and fluffy. The MC's biggest hero turns out to be an egotistical jerkface, Foxman is a recovering alcoholic, and—of course— the agency controlling the supers (or metas, in this case) is morally questionable. But the grit gives the story credence, and it's a good balance to have hardships with your humor.
And people, who doesn't want to see a class called Combat with Dinnerware?
And people, who doesn't want to see a class called Combat with Dinnerware?
November 5, 2021
When I discovered my school library had a new superhero book, I was thrilled. Thus far, all the superhero books in my library have been awesome. I was also excited to realize that this looks like the first book in a series although I hate waiting between books.
I liked the kid. I tend to root for the loner who is true to his/her passion. This kid's passion is superheroes and he, fortunately, lives on a planet where superheroes are real--although it's not so great that supervillains also exist.
I like his sense of justice. I even like his parents' reactions to all his passions. I just wish the other "normal" kids had his sense of fairness.
I liked the kid. I tend to root for the loner who is true to his/her passion. This kid's passion is superheroes and he, fortunately, lives on a planet where superheroes are real--although it's not so great that supervillains also exist.
I like his sense of justice. I even like his parents' reactions to all his passions. I just wish the other "normal" kids had his sense of fairness.
June 25, 2017
Okay, but I'm not sure I would recommend it. The idea is interesting, but the story failed to engage. There's a shadowy plot, but no resolution of any of it. Unless the point of the story was the ambiguity of superhero work.
Maybe if School for Sidekicks were the first in a series, I'd cut it a little more slack on the notion that some of the character work would be done in other books. As a standalone, it ends too abruptly to satisfy.
Maybe if School for Sidekicks were the first in a series, I'd cut it a little more slack on the notion that some of the character work would be done in other books. As a standalone, it ends too abruptly to satisfy.
September 6, 2018
So funny. This book is great for anyone and even if it looks like it this book isn't cliche at all. It features a boy that gets an odd collection of super powers including the ability to expertly sass people when he is in danger. (I'm not entirely sure that's a super power though) It definitely checks the boxes for a great novel: action, humor, and an odd plot twist. The only fault is the romance. The author could have written that part a lot better. I hope the author writes a sequel.
May 13, 2018
Really good book!
I really enjoyed this book and it's humour, the reason why I gave it four stars instead of five is because there were quite a lot of things near the end which were things that the author had made up to fit the book (e.g. AMO) but has not explained what they were. Besides from this I think that this is an excellent book for many ages and I would definitely read it again!
I really enjoyed this book and it's humour, the reason why I gave it four stars instead of five is because there were quite a lot of things near the end which were things that the author had made up to fit the book (e.g. AMO) but has not explained what they were. Besides from this I think that this is an excellent book for many ages and I would definitely read it again!
February 6, 2019
3.5 stars
Good middle grade book about superheros. Character development, especially early on, was a little shallow. I loved Foxman, but then, as an adult, I felt like I could really relate to him. (I kind of want to read the Foxman short now!) I hope the author decides to do another book, because I could see this turning into a short series, or at least a duology.
Good middle grade book about superheros. Character development, especially early on, was a little shallow. I loved Foxman, but then, as an adult, I felt like I could really relate to him. (I kind of want to read the Foxman short now!) I hope the author decides to do another book, because I could see this turning into a short series, or at least a duology.
April 2, 2025
The MC's dad has two moms, there was a superhero who couldn't decide if they wanted to be male or female, and two girls kissed. Plus, totally unnecessary language. The only reason this got two stars was because of the MC and Foxman. This is the second middle-grade book in a row that I've read that had LGBTQ in it, why? There is no way I can let my siblings just grab a book off the shelves at a library because of all the junk that keeps getting put in kid's books.
January 30, 2018
This book is fun and a fairly easy read. It definitely could be classified as "Young Adult" lit. I liked it just fine, although there's nothing particularly outstanding to write home about. McCullough does
If you have a day to spare and like superheroes, give it a try.
If you have a day to spare and like superheroes, give it a try.
October 6, 2018
Despite being heavy on the exposition side, this is a fun middle-grade superhero title. It can be cheesy, but in a good way. None of the kids besides Evan get much character development, but I appreciate that McCullough handles everything with a touch of realism. If a sequel is published, I'd definitely pick it up.
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