The Bionic Boy

by Lynn Plourde

The moving story of a superhero-loving boy born without hands who finds the hero inside himself

Benji feels like he's had more than his fair share of good luck—so it's frustrating that his disability tends to make people think the opposite. Adopted from an overseas orphanage when he was four, he’s grown up surrounded by the love of his dads and little sister. But it seems like the only thing people notice about him is that he was born without hands. He wishes that it didn't bother him so much when people stare at him and that he could be as confident as the superheroes he’s obsessed with. Then Benji meets a real-life hero and begins to dream about new possibilities. Staff Sergeant Snyder is a quadruple war amputee whose comfort in his own skin inspires Benji. Plus, Staff Sergeant has fun with his prosthetic limbs, making Benji wonder if it’s time he becomes bionic. It takes a near disaster in the neighborhood with their pet cat to show Benji that bionic or not, he already has all the courage it takes to be a hero. After all, heroes walk among us every day, and if he just remembers to believe in himself, he can easily be one of them.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

I write kids' books--talk about a FUN job! I worked for 21 years as a speech-language therapist in Maine schools. When I got married, I got 3 & 4-year-old stepsons as part of my ready-made family. I read the boys picture books at bedtime. They fell asleep after 2 or 3 books, but I kept reading stacks and stacks of picture books and started to dream . . . maybe I could write picture books. I was already writing educational books (listening & speaking ideas for the classroom), but PICTURE BOOKS--that was different!

Different, and sloooooow! I had 13 years of rejections before getting my first book published, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, and I still get more rejections than acceptances--even after having more than 40 books published. So I'm still an author-in-training--learning to be a better author all the time.

I LOVE writing, the whole creative process. I also LOVE sharing my books with kids at schools: doing interactive readings, turning one of my books into a play, and teaching students how to plan and write different kinds of stories (i.e. problem stories, character stories, graphic novel scenes, fables) modeled after my books.

I love to try new kinds of writing such as poetic stories, a biography, a graphic novel, and more. Writing new kinds of stories is a challenge, but it makes writing fun and keeps me interested in the process.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a BEAUTIFUL, big-hearted, chosen family middle grade story about a boy born without hands who was adopted by two dads and brought to grow up in America with his sister who has Down Syndrome.

The author does such an AMAZING job representing limb difference and prosthetics. I loved the characters in this book SOOOO much!! The short chapters made it a quick read and I really, really hope we get more stories featuring Benji, his friend Sam, neighbor Izzy and sister, Becka!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This was my first book by the author and I can’t wait to read more. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Jamie Sumners.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. There were several times while reading this that my eyes got misty, but I was smiling at the same time! Such a beautifully written story about an adopted child, born with no hands, who has to screw his courage to the sticking point when the time comes for him to get prosthetic ones. His parents, sister, and friends were all wonderful characters; I felt like we were friends after I finished!
This book was written for a middle-grade audience, but it would be inspirational for readers of any age.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Julie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure first - I received an ARC from the author so I could review the book and I will also be having students review the book and will add their comments as I hear them.

This... I have been in education a long time and I have always been a reader. I grew up reading, I read to all of my classes, and I am now a librarian. I have been on local committees and national committees. I have seen trends - both good and bad.

Here's what I really loved about this book...
1. It has heart - I laughed and cried. The characters were real.
2. It was age appropriate. So many books I read now can be so heavy - tackling so many "important" issues. There is nothing wrong with that - I am all about windows, mirrors, etc and this book has "issues" but it is also upbeat. Too many books lately are 300+ pages and for the intended middle school student they are too long. When I compare to the books I used to read myself or read to my students (4th and 5th grade mostly) they fell more in line with this gem.
3. The voice and tone was hopeful - yes there was conflict and struggle but it was balanced with hope and triumph.

I can't wait to share this with my students.

[Caragan Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn did a wonderful job writing this YA novel I can’t wait for it to come out in October. This is such a beautiful story, highlighting adoption, Special Olympics, and prosthetics and the journey of getting them. Very wholesome and Highly recommend! Great job Lynn!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel-good story from beginning to end featuring 11 year old Benji, adopted from a country on the the other side of the world, who was born with no hands but with support of his parents, sister, best friend and an Army veteran who lost all four limbs to an IED, finds a bravery inside he never knew existed.

Lynn Plourde’s heart-warming and inspirational story begins in an orphanage with then 3 year old Benji watching from behind the furniture as the other kids vie for a prospective dad’s attention, but this man seeks out the shy child and is immediately smitten. There is a quick overview of Benji’s adoption by two dads who are clearly helping their son learn to live life to the fullest even without hands to help him. He has a best friend who shares his fascination with superheroes and a little sister, Becka, who adores him. But it’s quadruple amputee Staff Sergeant Dirk Snyder who helps Benji see that he can be brave, even if he is scared, and that using prosthetic hands won’t mean he isn’t enough if he doesn’t have hands, but will open a new world of possibilities.

The main characters in The Bionic Boy are varied and well-developed, likely because Plourde sticks to one prominent story line and theme, Benji finding the superhero inside him, and can focus on those around him who are there to help him see it. The two dads are loving, supportive men whose desire to have a family extends to adopting a son with limb differences and a daughter with Down Syndrome and the different parenting styles are clear and child-centered. Best friend Sam is hilarious with his never-ending chatter and appetite, especially for Papa’s cookies, and is fiercely loyal to Benji, is fine whether his friend chooses prosthetics or not and is able to stop talking when listening is the obvious need. 1st grader Becka is delightful with her ever present smile and ability to make others smile, too, and seems completely oblivious to her brother’s lack of hands, comfortable holding his forearm as they walk home from school everyday. And crusty, determined to be alone and friendless new neighbor Izzy is just the right touch to keep all the love around Benji from being overly sweet.

The Bionic Boy comes in at just under 200 but seems to be shorter than that. Again, likely due to the author not getting all hung up in a bunch of subplots as well as the publisher’s choice to use a slightly larger than usual font and spacing the sentences a little further apart. Those choices will likely be instrumental in making this book more accessible to those with dyslexia, shorter attention spans, etc. There are a few places where Kleenex may be necessary, such as during Becka’s Special Olympics debut when events may be somewhat predictable, but no less moving simply because it will be easy to see coming.

Target age: strong 3rd grade readers through 5th or 6th grade
Violence: none
Profanity: none
Sexual content: none
Representation: Benji & Becka are likely Caucasian; Benji has two dads and their race is indeterminate; Sam is of Middle Eastern descent; Down’s Syndrome and loss of limbs is present in not only Benji and the Staff Sergeant, but clients in the prosthetics office; Sam’s family is well off financially and has two heterosexual parents, both doctors; Izzy’s parents are divorced, her dad remarried and expecting Izzy’s step-sister soon.

Read alikes: Palacio’s Wonder, Harrell’s Wink, Bowling’s Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus & Aven Green series, Draper’s Out of My Mind duology, Bell’s El Deafo

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting concept. The main character is in fifth grade so it does skew a bit young, and it is still enjoyable despite a couple flaws.

I really didn't like that Benji tries to force Izzy to talk to Becka. Becka was allowed to get away with too much and it's a good lesson that not everybody will like you and that's okay.

The synopsis mentions a near disaster with a cat changing Benji's perspective and that doesn't happen until nearly 80% of the way through the book, so it's weird that it was mentioned.

A lady hit a child with a car, saw that he was injured, asked to take him to his parents, and then left when the child said "nah, I'm fine", which is pretty messed up.

The superheroes were laid on a little thick, especially at the beginning.

The diversity was wonderful. Benji was adopted by two fathers and born without hands. His sister is adopted and has Downs Syndrome. Benji's best friend is an Indian Hindu. There was no discrimination about anybody for any reason.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benji is obsessed with super heroes. But he is also VERY aware of his own limitations. He was born without hands. He always feels the eyes of others on him and he hates it!
Benji sees the "superhero" in everyone else. Even his little sister Bekka has the ability to make everyone smile.
When Benji meets a real-life superhero, he begins to think maybe he could try being brave too!
What I loved about Benji is, even tho he is surrounded by an accepting, loving family he has to find his own way. His dads allow him the space to try and fail. Watching Benji grow and find his own place and voice in the world was such fun. Benji finally sees his own "superhero" abilities. I wished there was more of his family to read about.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Benji and his sister Becka are being raised by their Dad and Papa near Bangor, Maine. Benji was born without hands in a country far away, and Becka lives with Down Syndrome. Benji is in fifth grade, and spends a lot of time thinking about superheroes with his best friend, Sam Patel. There's a new neighbor, Izzy, but she is angry about having moved, and won't talk to anyone, which really hurts Becka's feelings. When his fathers take him to see Staff Sergeant Dirk Snider speak about having lost all of his limbs in a bombing attack, Benji is amazed at what Sgt. Snider can do with prosthetic limbs. He agrees to meet with a prosthetist to see if artificial hands might be right for him; when he was younger, it seemed like something that was too stressful, and he's relied on using his feet, lower arms, or strap on utensils since. He's intrigued to meet Wyatt, who lost a limb in a tractor accident, and has been to Camp No Limits, a summer program for children with limb differences. Benji is fitted with a rudimentary 3-D printed hand while he's waiting for his myoelectric ones, so he can get a feel for what it is like. He has some initial success with it, but when the family pet, Kitty, escapes, he feels that perhaps he doesn't deserve the hands. His family and Sam assure him that he is already a super hero, and he learns why Izzy has been so difficult.
Strengths: Families can include a wider variety of people than normally are portrayed in middle grade literature, so it was good to see the dynamics in Benji and Becka's family. Both fathers are still alive! Benji has a variety of issues because of his start in life, but gets a lot of support. Including Sgt. Snider was a good choice, and Benji's interest in super heroes will speak to younger readers. This is a short, fast paced book, and offers a good view of a character whose life is most likely very different from most readers' lives.
Weaknesses: Benji came across as rather young for being in fifth grade, so might not be a good fit for my 6-8 library. There's something about the cover that did not appeal to me.
What I really think: This would be a great fiction companion to David and Ferren Aquilar's Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life (No Instructions Required), and is one of the few books like Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Youngblood's Forever This Summer that include a character with limb differences. Plourde has also written Maxi's Secret.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Benji and his sister Becka are being raised by their Dad and Papa near Bangor, Maine. Benji was born without hands in a country far away, and Becka lives with Down Syndrome. Benji is in fifth grade, and spends a lot of time thinking about superheroes with his best friend, Sam Patel. There's a new neighbor, Izzy, but she is angry about having moved, and won't talk to anyone, which really hurts Becka's feelings. When his fathers take him to see Staff Sergeant Dirk Snider speak about having lost all of his limbs in a bombing attack, Benji is amazed at what Sgt. Snider can do with prosthetic limbs. He agrees to meet with a prosthetist to see if artificial hands might be right for him; when he was younger, it seemed like something that was too stressful, and he's relied on using his feet, lower arms, or strap on utensils since. He's intrigued to meet Wyatt, who lost a limb in a tractor accident, and has been to Camp No Limits, a summer program for children with limb differences. Benji is fitted with a rudimentary 3-D printed hand while he's waiting for his myoelectric ones, so he can get a feel for what it is like. He has some initial success with it, but when the family pet, Kitty, escapes, he feels that perhaps he doesn't deserve the hands. His family and Sam assure him that he is already a super hero, and he learns why Izzy has been so difficult.
Strengths: Families can include a wider variety of people than normally are portrayed in middle grade literature, so it was good to see the dynamics in Benji and Becka's family. Both fathers are still alive! Benji has a variety of issues because of his start in life, but gets a lot of support. Including Sgt. Snider was a good choice, and Benji's interest in super heroes will speak to younger readers. This is a short, fast paced book, and offers a good view of a character whose life is most likely very different from most readers' lives.
Weaknesses: Benji came across as rather young for being in fifth grade, so might not be a good fit for my 6-8 library. There's something about the cover that did not appeal to me.
What I really think: This would be a great fiction companion to David and Ferren Aquilar's Piece by Piece: How I Built My Life (No Instructions Required), and is one of the few books like Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and Youngblood's Forever This Summer that include a character with limb differences. Plourde has also written Maxi's Secret.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Although Benji is the main character, his younger sister may be the most entertaining part of the book. Becka is in the first grade and has Down syndrome. Becka’s positivity and friendliness make it almost impossible for readers not to feel good. She says hello to everyone, and her smiling face spreads happiness to everyone she encounters. Becka gets very psyched to participate in the Special Olympics, and her performance there earns her a special honor. She loves Benji unconditionally, and they get along as well as any brother and sister.
Benji was born without hands, and his fathers adopted him into their home. They’re supportive and patient with him, especially as he battles his fears and lack of confidence. Benji is used to his lack of hands, but he’s uncomfortable when others stare at him when they first meet. Meeting a quadruple amputee inspires and excites Benji, but he’s too frightened to ask the man a single question. Benji fears anything he assumes he can’t do, but the staff sergeant’s speech at the Special Olympics gets Benji wondering. Is he brave enough to tackle difficult challenges, knowing that he might fail?
A subplot involves a new neighbor who seems to be angry all the time. Izzy makes it clear that she doesn’t want to be here, and she has no intention of ever speaking to Benji or Becka. Benji can handle being ignored by Izzy, but he’s very protective of Becka and her feelings. No one is allowed to hurt Becka! Readers will find Izzy is almost an unsolvable mystery, as she doesn’t offer any clues to explain her attitude.
What didn’t work as well:
The book’s first half focuses on Becka’s story rather than Benji’s. His handicap is put on the back burner until Benji is offered an opportunity to get bionic arms. However, Becka is delightful, so readers won’t mind the wait. Also, the reason for Becka’s grumpiness is predictable, especially as the author provides small clues.
The final verdict:
This emotional, feel-good story will appeal to readers who enjoy simple plots in a family setting. The topics of Down syndrome, physical disabilities, and adoption are large parts of the book. I recommend you try this book for yourself, but don’t be surprised if you shed a tear or two.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year-old Benji was born without hands, which has required some adaptation throughout his life. After being adopted by a couple on the other side of the world, Benji learned how to use his limbs as best he could to compensate for his lack of hands. When Benji meets a real life superhero who lost all his limbs, he recognizes and admires the bravery inside the Staff Sargent. And when Benji is offered prosthetic hands for himself, he must decide whether or not he is prepared to become the Bionic boy. This heartfelt, fast-paced middle grade novel is told in the first person from Benji’s perspective. Each short chapter is a vignette representing pivotal moments in Benji’s life, and the hesitation Benji feels about whether or not to accept prosthetic hands is palpable. The family into which Benji has been adopted is filled with love and acceptance, patiently allowing Benji to determine his own path in his own time. This reflection of a positive and encouraging family dynamic is both endearing and encouraging for readers of all backgrounds. The fact that Benji has two dads, a sister with Down Syndrome, and was himself adopted from the other side of the world gives his family a kaleidoscopic appearance that is approachable in its diverse nature. Though the plot takes several chapters to arrive at its ultimate goal, the narrative is engaging enough for readers to persist to the end. Filled with special moments and incidents of authentic bravery, this book is inspirational to all readers. This is a good addition to library collections for early middle grade readers.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benji has such a positive attitude and is pretty responsible. He watches out for his younger sister with Down's Syndrome. He and his dad accompany her to Special Olympics snow show race where he meets a former service member who is quadriplegic. Benji is encouraged to try prothesis for both of his hands that had never grown. He has a supportive best friend, two great parents, and manages to befriend a very angry new neighbor.
It's rare to encounter such a positive outlook.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benji was born without arms and is obsessed with superheroes. When he meets a real-life war amputee, Benji is inspired and wonders if it’s time he becomes bionic. Themes: friendship, disabilities, bullying, overcoming adversity.