What do you think?
Rate this book
Wonderboy
A funny and frank superhero story set in the world of Othergirl .
Joseph ‘Wilco’ Wilkes is one of life’s losers – he’s picked on, pushed around, and bullied by the rugby boys at the posh private school he attends on a scholarship. But his life is about to Wilco learns he can move things with his mind. Will this be his chance to play the hero, get the girl and finally stand up for himself? Or are things just going to come crashing down around his head? Becoming a proper hero will be quite the leap of faith...
Joseph ‘Wilco’ Wilkes is one of life’s losers – he’s picked on, pushed around, and bullied by the rugby boys at the posh private school he attends on a scholarship. But his life is about to Wilco learns he can move things with his mind. Will this be his chance to play the hero, get the girl and finally stand up for himself? Or are things just going to come crashing down around his head? Becoming a proper hero will be quite the leap of faith...
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2016
140 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Burstein
3 books42 followersHi, I'm Nicole!
I'm a writer from North West London, and Othergirl is my first novel.
Well, I say first novel, but really there are a good few other novels hiding in the back of my drawer, never to see the light of day. Seriously, they're really rather rubbish. You don't want to see them.
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. Even when I was too young for 'proper' books, I used to make my own books out of folded up bits of paper that I bound with sellotape. I'd then fill the pages with doddles and random gobbledegook. Book have always been really important to me. When I'm not writing my own stories, I'm normally gushing or fangirling over someone elses!
Other interests include comic books (I'm a Marvel addict), nerding out over old maps of London, and Bichon Frises. Am most commonly found lurking on twitter.
Hugs and high fives,
Nicole
x
I'm a writer from North West London, and Othergirl is my first novel.
Well, I say first novel, but really there are a good few other novels hiding in the back of my drawer, never to see the light of day. Seriously, they're really rather rubbish. You don't want to see them.
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. Even when I was too young for 'proper' books, I used to make my own books out of folded up bits of paper that I bound with sellotape. I'd then fill the pages with doddles and random gobbledegook. Book have always been really important to me. When I'm not writing my own stories, I'm normally gushing or fangirling over someone elses!
Other interests include comic books (I'm a Marvel addict), nerding out over old maps of London, and Bichon Frises. Am most commonly found lurking on twitter.
Hugs and high fives,
Nicole
x
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 31, 2016
Really enjoyed this book. Nice origin story and interesting to hear from a male perspective.
Really hoping there are more books to come set in this universe.
Really hoping there are more books to come set in this universe.
July 20, 2016
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
This is the 3rd short book I read in a row. WUT IS HAPPENING. I don't like it. They're so hard to review! Sigh. Oh well.
I really enjoyed this one a lot. The writing style made it easy to read and I got through it in two hours. It was fun. But it lacked substance. This book could have been amazing if it were better developed and if we'd dug deeper into the characters and the world. I feel like we only scratched the surface here. Also, the ending was a bit too open for me. I wasn't satisfied when I turned the last page.
I did like our main character Joseph/Wilco, though.
I felt so bad for his situation and I'm happy that he grew throughout the story. I loved the learning curve with his new powers and that he wasn't this special prodigy that's immediately amazing with his powers. Nope, he messes up. He has to train his powers. Like anyone would. I didn't like Indira though. Or Godfrey. But I did like his friend Eddie. They were all pretty standard characters though and again, could have benefited from more development.
So Wonderboy was a light and quick read that I recommend if you're looking for a simple, fun superhero story.
This is the 3rd short book I read in a row. WUT IS HAPPENING. I don't like it. They're so hard to review! Sigh. Oh well.
I really enjoyed this one a lot. The writing style made it easy to read and I got through it in two hours. It was fun. But it lacked substance. This book could have been amazing if it were better developed and if we'd dug deeper into the characters and the world. I feel like we only scratched the surface here. Also, the ending was a bit too open for me. I wasn't satisfied when I turned the last page.
I did like our main character Joseph/Wilco, though.
I felt so bad for his situation and I'm happy that he grew throughout the story. I loved the learning curve with his new powers and that he wasn't this special prodigy that's immediately amazing with his powers. Nope, he messes up. He has to train his powers. Like anyone would. I didn't like Indira though. Or Godfrey. But I did like his friend Eddie. They were all pretty standard characters though and again, could have benefited from more development.
So Wonderboy was a light and quick read that I recommend if you're looking for a simple, fun superhero story.
August 7, 2016
This is the second novel from Nicole Burstein, and it’s another slice of relatable teenage drama with a superhero twist. Where Othergirl centred on the tribulations of the best friend of a girl with newly developing super powers, Wonderboy places us with the special abilities this time around. Both are bittersweet superhero origin stories, with a good dose of coming-of-age. ‘The Pre-Lycra Years’, if you will.
Wonderboy feels slightly darker than the first. There are bullies to deal with here, and an undercurrent of classism against a scholarship kid in a fee-paying school. What’s interesting is that Joseph’s new powers aren’t the cure-all for his woes that he expected, and his attempts to hone them often lead to him exasperating a difficulty.
There’s a curve in this book that is all about reassessing perspective. Skills are borne out of practice and perseverance, money doesn’t buy happiness, and that perfect girl, well, she just never is. Peppered with humour and heartache, this is another great book from a writer whose superpowers are empathy and imagination. I’m very much looking forward to whatever she writes next!
Wonderboy feels slightly darker than the first. There are bullies to deal with here, and an undercurrent of classism against a scholarship kid in a fee-paying school. What’s interesting is that Joseph’s new powers aren’t the cure-all for his woes that he expected, and his attempts to hone them often lead to him exasperating a difficulty.
There’s a curve in this book that is all about reassessing perspective. Skills are borne out of practice and perseverance, money doesn’t buy happiness, and that perfect girl, well, she just never is. Peppered with humour and heartache, this is another great book from a writer whose superpowers are empathy and imagination. I’m very much looking forward to whatever she writes next!
July 17, 2017
3.5
This book was so much fun! Didn't love it *as* much as the first book but still thoroughly enjoyed it! :D
This book was so much fun! Didn't love it *as* much as the first book but still thoroughly enjoyed it! :D
July 18, 2016
I've read average-teenager-turned-superhero stories aplenty. They're usually interesting because superpowers have a tendency to be fascinating and who, I ask, hasn't imagined having a superpower or two of their own? Nobody, that's who.
Joseph ‘Wilco’ Wilkes is no different from you and I. He too dreams of having superpowers. Except, unlike you and I, he actually gets them. Unfortunately, things don't go according to the plans of this unsuspecting hero, whose hopes of being popular and wooing the girl of his dreams are crushed by the cruel hand of Fate (also known as Bad Decisions) in a string of excruciating yet comical events.
What stood out to me in 'Wonderboy' was the characterisation of the "hero", Joseph. I thought he was nicely fleshed out with vices and virtues that make him both likeable and relatable, and enough character development to keep him interesting.
The pacing of the story was good, the plot simple yet satisfying, and very character-driven.
Call me childish, but I really couldn't help colouring the title page in. They used to be bold, colourless letters, and they were screaming to be felt-tipped in... so I did, didn't I? I felt-tipped them in.
I rather like how it turned out and I'm now in the process of colouring the chapter numbers in the same paint-splatters fashion.
So what's the overall verdict?
Wonderboy is comedic without overdoing it, believable without being boring and above all; a thoroughly enjoyable read. And, I shall be adding Othergirl (published before Wonderboy) to my to-read list!
Thank-you to Lovereading4kids for sending me a copy of Wonderboy to read and review.
Publication Date: 4th August, 2016
Joseph ‘Wilco’ Wilkes is no different from you and I. He too dreams of having superpowers. Except, unlike you and I, he actually gets them. Unfortunately, things don't go according to the plans of this unsuspecting hero, whose hopes of being popular and wooing the girl of his dreams are crushed by the cruel hand of Fate (also known as Bad Decisions) in a string of excruciating yet comical events.
What stood out to me in 'Wonderboy' was the characterisation of the "hero", Joseph. I thought he was nicely fleshed out with vices and virtues that make him both likeable and relatable, and enough character development to keep him interesting.
The pacing of the story was good, the plot simple yet satisfying, and very character-driven.
Call me childish, but I really couldn't help colouring the title page in. They used to be bold, colourless letters, and they were screaming to be felt-tipped in... so I did, didn't I? I felt-tipped them in.
I rather like how it turned out and I'm now in the process of colouring the chapter numbers in the same paint-splatters fashion.
So what's the overall verdict?
Wonderboy is comedic without overdoing it, believable without being boring and above all; a thoroughly enjoyable read. And, I shall be adding Othergirl (published before Wonderboy) to my to-read list!
Thank-you to Lovereading4kids for sending me a copy of Wonderboy to read and review.
Publication Date: 4th August, 2016
August 9, 2016
4.5 stars
Othergirl was refreshing - a superhero story about the sidekick left behind by her friend with new powers, and how the world copes with superheroes formed into 'companies' that go around helping.
Continuing in Othergirl's world is Wonderboy, and it makes much more sense if a reader has read Othergirl first, though you would probably get the gist.
Joseph Wilkes Is not what you'd call 'super'. Prone to asthma and headaches, he's also hard-pushed to deny anyone any request- which is why he ends up doing the school bully's homework for him. He gradually suspects he is developing super powers, he can move things with his mind (marbles, light switches), and of course begins to dream of bigger things (as well as impressing the girl of his dreams).
This isn't the story of Peter Parker, this is more realistic - what might REALLY happen if you started to become a superhero. Would anyone believe you? Would they really be impressed? And of course - would you tell your mum?
Joseph makes a loveable little character, he cares for his mum, has a huge crush on a girl that we can all see will never think of him the same way, and get starstruck by the Vigils (superheroes). His own backstory is subtly pushed into the plot and less is more, it gives enough background to make you feel you understand his feelings and need for both acceptance and a modicum of power and respect.
There are some great scenes. Notably, when he 'reveals' himself, but I really enjoyed his introduction to the Vigils. The paperwork and tests made me smile.
It brought home that there are morals to being a superhero, rules to be followed and consequences. It's not all capes and costumes.
I hope to read more from Burstein set in this world, both seeing how Joseph gets on and from other Vigil perspectives.
One for ages 10 and above, for any superhero fan or any reader who likes something a little different.
With thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
Othergirl was refreshing - a superhero story about the sidekick left behind by her friend with new powers, and how the world copes with superheroes formed into 'companies' that go around helping.
Continuing in Othergirl's world is Wonderboy, and it makes much more sense if a reader has read Othergirl first, though you would probably get the gist.
Joseph Wilkes Is not what you'd call 'super'. Prone to asthma and headaches, he's also hard-pushed to deny anyone any request- which is why he ends up doing the school bully's homework for him. He gradually suspects he is developing super powers, he can move things with his mind (marbles, light switches), and of course begins to dream of bigger things (as well as impressing the girl of his dreams).
This isn't the story of Peter Parker, this is more realistic - what might REALLY happen if you started to become a superhero. Would anyone believe you? Would they really be impressed? And of course - would you tell your mum?
Joseph makes a loveable little character, he cares for his mum, has a huge crush on a girl that we can all see will never think of him the same way, and get starstruck by the Vigils (superheroes). His own backstory is subtly pushed into the plot and less is more, it gives enough background to make you feel you understand his feelings and need for both acceptance and a modicum of power and respect.
There are some great scenes. Notably, when he 'reveals' himself, but I really enjoyed his introduction to the Vigils. The paperwork and tests made me smile.
It brought home that there are morals to being a superhero, rules to be followed and consequences. It's not all capes and costumes.
I hope to read more from Burstein set in this world, both seeing how Joseph gets on and from other Vigil perspectives.
One for ages 10 and above, for any superhero fan or any reader who likes something a little different.
With thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy.
February 10, 2017
The second book from Nicole Burstein was also quite fun! Here we get to know a boy who is, and I'm very sorry for that, a total looser. He discovers, that he has superpowers and really believes, that his life is going to change from that moment! Well, in this story you'll learn that someday the looser will still be a looser.
Like in the first book, Othergirl, I loved the storytelling. I loved the story. I loved Wilco and, like in the first book, I was really sad, that there was an ending, I just wanted to read more and more and more...
Like in the first book, Othergirl, I loved the storytelling. I loved the story. I loved Wilco and, like in the first book, I was really sad, that there was an ending, I just wanted to read more and more and more...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews