Captain Superlative

by J.S. Puller

"Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"
Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?
Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.
But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.
Debut author J.S. Puller delivers an inspirational story full of heart, humor, and breathtaking revelations.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Young Adult, Contemporary

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2018

About the author

J. S. Puller is a playwright and author from the Windy City, Chicago. She has a master's degree in elementary education and a bachelor's degree in theatre from Northwestern University. She is an award-winning member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and has written about the social-emotional benefits of arts education with the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. When not writing, she can usually be found in the theatre. She is the author of two novels, CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE and THE LOST THINGS CLUB, both published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She also has several published plays, including: WOMEN WHO WEAVE (Playscripts, Inc.), PERSEUS AND MEDUSA - IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME! (Lazybee Scripts), THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD (Stage Rights), and four titles with Plays for New Audiences.

Website: www.pullerwrites.wordpress.com
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/pullerwrites

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put "Captain Superlative" into that category of Books That Can Change You If You Let Them, that place where Draper's Out of My Mind, Applegate's One and Only Ivan, Schmidt's Okay For Now, and Lord's Rules reside with so many other books that hopefully make the reader want to make a difference, to be a better person, to do MORE! Janey tries her hardest to, as she states, "be air" at school-- invisible, intangible, insignificant, and inconsequential. But an unknown classmate flies into the lives of all at Deerwood Park Middle School wearing a blue wig, a shiny bathing suit and tights and no one will ever be the same. The story is set in a school that could be anywhere and has students that mirror kids everywhere. Readers in grades 4-8 will absolutely see themselves and others in its cast of characters. Puller fully develops many key players: Dagmar the bully with her sycophant followers, Tyler the handsome and popular heartthrob, Paige the victim, Janey the unnoticed, and Captain Superlative who is here to make troubles disappear. Most readers will see the clues and realize how events are going to play out, but even with that knowledge, the ending will leave them with a sense of sadness, satisfaction, and a hope that we all CAN be superlative. Highly, highly recommended without any content reservations for students in grades 4-8 and I strongly suggest that ELA teachers buy up multiple copies for use in literature circles or as a class novel. I would hope to see this one show up on the One School One Book list and while the longer chapter books do not generally win the Texas Bluebonnet Award, I hope that this 2019-2020 nominee does.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Supreme. Sensational. Special. Superlative. This book is reminder to all of us to be the superheroes in our stories. Our narrator is Jane. At the beginning of the book she describes herself as air. She wants to be invisible. Then she sees Captain Superlative in action. Jane begins to wake up; presses Captain Superlative for answers. "Why are you doing these things?" Jane asks her. Why open doors?
Why pick up papers? Aren't these just small things? Are they really things a superhero would do? Captain Superlative says, "Why would you think there's a difference between the big things and the small things?" Bingo! Small acts of kindness build one upon another; one person's acts add to another's. What would it look like if a whole class of 7th graders decided to be their own superhero?
This book is on the Mark Twain List for 2020-2021 as is "The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle." Both titles take residence in the heart of the reader and show us how to make the world better.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Plain) Jane becomes Janey! in this middle school story about finding your voice, standing up for others and showing kindness.

[Max Yeshnowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean... this book slapsssssssss!!! It was so good and loved all the different emotions that I experienced while reading!! I was happy sad mad angry and laughing!! I can’t even put into words how much I loved this!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Claire F · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little weird. Weird people teach us what it is we value most. When you go ‘that’s weird,’ what you’re really saying is such-and-such is what I like best.”

This touching story of one girl changing her entire school’s perception of weirdness and bringing about camaraderie is entertaining, thought provoking, and inspiring. It is capable of wide, positive influence, similar to the book Wonder, by R. J. Palacio. The author gives a great perspective of bullying, both for the victim and the bully. I think it should be required reading for middle schoolers everywhere.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audience: Middle School
Format: Kindle/Library

We released paper lanterns into the night.
- first sentence

This is an inspirational story about a middle school girl who decides to become a superhero by doing little things to make a difference in people's lives. She wears a red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers, and a cape. And she opens doors for people, helps people pick up books, and tries to be a friend to everyone. She calls herself Captain Superlative - and she is a puzzle that Janey can't help but try to figure out. Janey doesn't understand WHY Captain Superlative does the things she does; Janey has always tried to be invisible. Why would anyone want to draw so much attention to themselves and potentially put themselves in a bully's sights?

Every superhero has secrets and Captain Superlative is hiding more than just her identity. Janey is determined to figure out who Captain Superlative really is and in the process, she finds herself inspired to be more than another invisible student walking the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School.

Great book. Students in grades 4 & up who like realistic fiction will enjoy this one.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Supreme. Sensational. Special. Superlative. This book is reminder to all of us to be the superheroes in our stories. Our narrator is Jane. At the beginning of the book she describes herself as air. She wants to be invisible. Then she sees Captain Superlative in action. Jane begins to wake up; presses Captain Superlative for answers. "Why are you doing these things?" Jane asks her. Why open doors?
Why pick up papers? Aren't these just small things? Are they really things a superhero would do? Captain Superlative says, "Why would you think there's a difference between the big things and the small things?" Bingo! Small acts of kindness build one upon another; one person's acts add to another's. What would it look like if a whole class of 7th graders decided to be their own superhero?
This book is on the Mark Twain List for 2020-2021 as is "The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle." Both titles take residence in the heart of the reader and show us how to make the world better.
Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Junior High was what it used to be called. It is that period of time when you are forging your identity and you are no longer a kid but you aren't quite a high schooler. It is when friendships change and people changed.

So how, how do most people deal with this? How do most people get by? In Janey's case, it is by being invisible. In Captain Superlative's case, it is by not being invisible.

It is a charming, thoughtful story of a friendship and that idea if you do little things, that life changes for the better. I have heard this before. At the school I wanted to send my daughter, one of the things the teachers stressed was that the students became citizens of the world, of the community. That when they saw someone fall, they rushed to help them up. When they saw something that needed to be done, they did it. This too, is what Captain Superlative does. She opens doors, she picks up dropped books. She makes sure the wrongs are righted

It may sound hokey, but it works, and it is one of those stories where you cry, but you smile as well. It is a story about handling mean girls, and bullies. It is a gentle story with a strong message.

I think the introduction could be done away with, because it sort of gives away a little bit of what will happen in the story. But, it works.

Diversity, super heros, strong girls. This is a charming, fun read. Sad, of course, but happy in bits as well.

Strongly recommened.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Rachel Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 2020-2021 Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award preliminary nominee (grades 4-6).

Janey is a quiet outsider at her middle school, and that's how she has liked it since her mother died when she was in 3rd grade. Until one day a student comes to school dressed as a superhero and swoops to the rescue. Need a door opened? Captain Superlative is there! Dropped something? Captain Superlative is there! Being bullied? Captain Superlative is there! Janey finds it hard to continue to be a bystander.

This was sweet, a little heavy, and a little preachy. It touches on a lot of heavy subjects. Also it's not always super realistic. Can you imagine a school letting someone dress in a one-piece bathing suit, tights, cape, and mask every day? That's a dress code nightmare. There were other moments that seemed "made for TV" more than real life.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a 2020-2021 Golden Sower Nominee in the Chapter Books (grades 3-6) category.

Full disclosure: I only picked up this book because it was on the GS list for my building, and those are books that are usually WILDLY popular with my students. I had read the first chapter for this for my 6th grade students earlier this year and didn't get too many takers, which was slightly surprising. So, I didn't have high expectations for it, but figured it would turn out pretty good. I was right. The beginning felt a bit slow to me, and the plot was a bit stilted in the beginning (because I just DID NOT like Jane, the MC for awhile) but then it got better. And then I couldn't quit reading. This is a great story for those who are struggling with fitting in and who need to realize that we all have a story that goes along with us. Recommended for grades 4-7.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Superlative is not a member of the Grammar Police, but she is a live-your-life-to-its-fullest kind of superhero! Students and teachers will be touched by this novel and the truths this author shares.

[Davianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

See full review at: https://rhythmicbooknerd.wordpress.co...
I loved the story and the message. Towards the end there’s a revelation about why Dagmar bullies people and I loved that part the most. I’d have liked to see how she came around but the ending was wrapped up nicely and I was pretty satifsied with how it ended although it nearly had me in tears. I can’t gush enough about this book and I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a try!

Rating: 5 Stars!

Recommendation: All ages!

FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book in exchange for an honest review

[Jill CD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Yes, it was fairly predictable but it gave me hope and inspiration wrapped up in a fun quirky plot. The characters were real and demonstrated bravery at a Jr High level. I am possibly giving it such a high rating because I finished the book and throughly enjoyed it.

[DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness...what an incredible book! A powerful story about friendship, being yourself, bullying and being a bystander. It deals with some really difficult issues appropriately for young readers without dumbing anything down. This will be a book that I read to my students for years to come.

[Mrs. Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. This is an incredible story about self-discovery and being true to who you are no matter what. I can’t wait to share it with my students.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be an upstander
Don’t be silent
Standup for those who can’t
Be kind
Be helpful
Be superlative

[Shauna Yusko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missed this for last year’s seminar, but including it now. I can see this being popular with middle school classrooms where anti-bullying is discussed.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[gabby ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

i actually lost it at the end of the book so bad my grandmother asked me what was wrong

[Jessica Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 6th grader read this and insisted that I read it too. I’d highly recommend it for the tween crowd. The story is wonderful if a bit sad. The message is spot on.

[baharthebookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب حاوی پیام هایی است که نوجوانان در سکوت بیشتر با آن دست پنجه نرم می کنند مانند زور گویی ،بی اعتنایی به شرایطی که قادر به تغییر آن هستند ، مرگ و خشونت خانگی که در عین حال که مسائل مهمی هستند می توانند بسیار حساس باشند. ولی نویسنده این کتاب با دیدی روشن و باز به سمت هر کدام که پیش رفته سعی کرده تا انرژی که نیاز به مقابله با هر کدام از این درد ها را با کلید مهربانی و توجه به اطرافیان و کمک به آنها در دستان خواننده خود بگذارد. پس این کتاب قابلیت این را دارد که در مقابل توجه به سختی و درد های مشترکی که داریم راهی برای قهرمان بودن و تغییر زندگی خود و اطرافینمان برای ما باز کند ، قطعا زندگی هر نوجوانی با خواندن چنین کتابی بهتر و زیباتر خواهد شد. و همه این ها به این دلیل است که فاصله زیادی است بین دنیایی که اکنون در آن هستیم و دنیایی که همه این توانایی ابر قهرمان بودن را در خود احساس می کنند و مایل به بهتر کردن فضای اطراف خود هستند.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me want to be a better person.

Enough said? Yes, but I want to express how much I really did love this book. If you can read this and not have it affect you, then there is something wrong. I feel like dressing up in a cape and tights to book talk this book. So many qualities of the character of Captain Superlative that are desirable. She is brave, selfless, doesn't care what others think or how they look at her. And I LOVED the dad in this book. Back in third grade, I had to dress up as a book character. If Captain Superlative was around back then, she would have been my choice. I simply adore this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really unique - almost strange - book about bullying and standing up for oneself. It’s exaggerated and almost unbelievable in its characters and stories, but I think that’s the purpose. Janet is a “nobody” at her school who struggles to stand up to the vicious popular girl bully. Out of nowhere, a “superhero” comes to save the day. As she learns the identity and story of this person, Janey begins to realize her own strengths and purpose. A very unique story.

[Hazel (and Nutsy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Loved it! I think the message of kindness was a great. The bullying was very realistic, and I found myself practically yelling at the characters to do something about it. Everything wrapped up nicely at the end. The friendships were so relatable and lovable. I think this is an amazing book. Everyone can learn that even the littlest kind acts still make a difference, from this book.

[Brenda Kahn]

There's a fair amount to like here, though it breaks no new ground. Hand to readers who like to cry.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new middle grade favorite for me!!! This book is great! You might need to get your tissues handy, but it will be worth it. Captain Superlative is definitely a superlative read!

[Ekta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A seventh grade girl who wants nothing more than to remain unseen gets pulled into the spotlight by a classmate with a secret identity. As the girl begins to face her anxiety, she learns that bravery doesn’t mean an absence of fears: it means moving ahead despite them. Debut author J.S. Puller gives middle grade readers an endearing story in the funny, touching novel Captain Superlative.

Jane Silverman doesn’t want anyone to pay attention to her. She’s content to live in the shadows. Life at Deerwood Park Middle School isn’t awful, but bully Dagmar Hagen makes sure that people listen to her. Jane’s seen firsthand how mean Dagmar can be, and like all the other kids she keeps her head down and minds her own business.

Then, one day, someone comes to school who makes it impossible for everyone to keep to themselves.

She calls herself Captain Superlative, and she comes to school dressed in a bathing suit—in January, no less—and neon-blue tights. A blue wig and a red mask hide her true identity, but they can’t hold back her enthusiasm as she addresses all the students as “citizens” and reassures them she’s there “to make all trouble disappear!” Dagmar and her groupies have a field day making fun of the mystery girl, but Captain Superlative either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

At first, Jane wants to ignore the odd girl like everyone else does. When Captain Superlative steps in to stop Dagmar from attacking another student, Jane finds the guts to speak up on the student’s behalf too. With her trademark enthusiasm, Captain Superlative decides Jane will be her sidekick and they’ll dedicate their time to helping others: opening doors for teachers when their hands are full, handing out study guides before a big test, even collecting litter from the sidewalks.

Soon, Jane catches the spirit of caring and ignores the shrinking part of herself that demands she remain hidden. With Captain Superlative by her side, she knows she can do anything. Then Jane finds out a secret about the person she’s come to admire so much, and she’ll have to decide whether she can really be a hero—this time for herself.

Author J.S. Puller nails the middle school atmosphere on the head. Jane’s voice is crystal clear, and many readers in the target audience will identify with her deep desire to stay out of the spotlight and, by association, out of trouble. On the surface, the description of Captain Superlative’s outfits and behavior might seem silly. Puller, however, creates a character who can see life for what it is. Captain Superlative may have a sweet nature and seem like an explosion of optimism, but she doesn’t hesitate to let the bully, Dagmar, know that some behaviors won’t be tolerated. It’s refreshing to see a middle grade character with such inner strength as well as deep conviction.

A few of the book’s elements ring a little too serendipitous. Because of the way Puller sets up the story in the opening scenes, readers will already know the ending even before they meet Captain Superlative. It’s a shame, too, because part of Captain Superlative’s charm is in her seemingly endless zest for helping others. When she reveals a secret to Jane, some of the dramatic impact of that secret is lost due to the setup. By the same token, more sensitive readers may appreciate knowing what’s coming.

Even with that minor drawback, Captain Superlative is an excellent read, and I highly recommend readers Bookmark it!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is Janey, and my life changed forever the day Captain Superlative appeared in the school's hallway. I always tried to go unnoticed, but Captain Superlative ran around in her leotards, mask, and cape helping classmates by opening doors, picking up books, and creating study guides for tests. She said small deeds are just as important as big ones, and I listened. Her most dangerous deed was to protect Paige from Dagmar, the top student, best cheerleader, soccer star, and the seventh grade's biggest bully. Captain Superlative challenged Dagmar with truth and kindness, and none of us knew how to react. Then one day, I stood up to Dagmar too. What was I thinking?! My dad was proud of me, and Captain Superlative asked me to become her sidekick. Seriously?! I was shocked and terrified when I agreed to her request, and I just knew I'd become the bully's next target.

This book isn't like my usual adventurous tales of speculative fiction, but it tells a special story. The prologue begins the mystique, as the characters talk about Captain Superlative in the past tense. She's gone, and everyone is devastated. Then, the plot begins with Captain Superlative's first day of school and students calling her a weird freak. It creates an interesting contrast to start readers wondering. Janey's still dealing with her mother's death from three years ago, and she doesn't want to draw attention to herself. That's a common feeling among middle grade students, so they don't open themselves to teasing. Captain Superlative shows up in the plot spreading help and kindness to others and forces Janey to question why that's strange. What's wrong with being good and nice? Janey's character transforms in many positive ways, although she refuses to wear a superhero uniform or change her name. As the plot progresses, readers will learn there's more to Dagmar's anger than meets the eye, and it becomes clear that something is physically wrong with Captain Superlative. Janey seems to be the last one to know. Captain Superlative is a warm, heart-felt book that I can strongly recommend for your reading pleasure. With that being said, be prepared for an emotional ending.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 5/7/18.

Captain Superlative is the story of Janey, a perfectly ordinary junior high student who's content to live in the shadows. More than content, actually--it's what she strives for. She's been in the spotlight once, as the "poor girl who just lost her mother" and she never wants to be there again, so she floats through school each day, making as few ripples as she can, feeling bad when she witnesses the school bully tormenting her favorite target but not doing anything about it.

But then Captain Superlative shows up, seemingly unfazed by all of the things that scare Janey the most, and her presence both fascinates and terrifies her. Almost before she realizes what is happening, Janey has become the Captain's sidekick, and together they are making the world a better place for all of the citizens entrusted to their care. But Captain Superlative's cape and wig and suit hide a pretty big secret, and Janey has to decide for herself how she means to go forward in life. Can she go back to being invisible? Does she even want to ?

I loved watching Janey become a part of the world around her through the course of this book. Some things are left out of the narrative here--Captain Superlative's actual ending, the bully's reformation--but that was okay. As a former junior high teacher I still have a hard time believing that every single adult at the school could be totally blind to the other side of the bully--maybe their school was just that much bigger than mine? Still, this is a sweet story with a good message that it manages to tell with out hitting the reader too hard over the head with it. I definitely recommend for classrooms and libraries everywhere.

Just be sure to have tissues handy! Boxes and boxes of them...

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really torn on this book because it's got some good messages and was an engaging read, but it also hit some of my sensitive nerves a bit.

Likes:
-The plot was engaging, the book flew by, especially after the first 1/3.
-The main character behaved as a kid would. At one point, she reacted from anger and fear and made some big mistakes. It was heartbreaking, but I felt like it could really happen and appreciated that authenticity.
-The message of kindness was a good one.

Dislikes:
-I personally have an issue where we excuse bullying behavior in literature because of the bully's sad home life. The way the author dealt with this was so-so, but I didn't like how the bully and her victim were on speaking terms at the end. That simply shouldn't happen after the level of abuse the victim suffered. Forgiveness is one thing, but that doesn't mean you engage with the bully anymore; you go your separate ways. I am glad they didn't become friends, though. I hate that.
-Another personal issue I have is when we turn things like terminal cancer into an opportunity to change the world. It doesn't help that I just finished a book on grief and how we sensationalize hope and positivity in this culture to the detriment of those coping with devastating loss. I think this book just perpetuates that unhealthy outlook on death. Death sucks. It's not there to teach us a lesson or to make us better people (RARELY does it do that). It often tears us apart, and this book didn't really show any of that with honesty.

I can see why people love this book. I enjoyed it; but those two things rub me the wrong way, so I didn't love the book and was in fact somewhat repelled by its cloying positivity.