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Secret Supers
Jeremy Gentle fell flat on his face at therapy. That was normal since he had cerebral palsy. But his new superpower wasn't normal.
Then things got weirder when his best friend, Dan Elanga, got a different superpower. But Dan was still blind.
Kayla Verdera and Aubrey Wilcosky, two girls in their middle-school special ed class, discovered they too had new superpowers. Kayla was mute and needed a walker. Aubrey lost two legs and used crutches. But they were as powerful as the boys.
What should the four friends do? Jeremy knew if the word got out, it'd be a media circus. Then they started fighting crime, as the Secret Supers. Who knew a disability could be a perfect disguise? No one would ever think of disabled kids as superheroes.
Then they ran into problems that superpowers couldn't solve.
Then things got weirder when his best friend, Dan Elanga, got a different superpower. But Dan was still blind.
Kayla Verdera and Aubrey Wilcosky, two girls in their middle-school special ed class, discovered they too had new superpowers. Kayla was mute and needed a walker. Aubrey lost two legs and used crutches. But they were as powerful as the boys.
What should the four friends do? Jeremy knew if the word got out, it'd be a media circus. Then they started fighting crime, as the Secret Supers. Who knew a disability could be a perfect disguise? No one would ever think of disabled kids as superheroes.
Then they ran into problems that superpowers couldn't solve.
111 pages, ebook
Published March 29, 2019
65 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Andy Zach
10 books97 followersAndy Zach was born Anastasius Zacharias, in Greece. His parents were both zombies. Growing up, he loved animals of all kinds. After moving to the United States as a child, in high school, he won a science fair by bringing toads back from suspended animation. Before turning to fiction, Andy published his Ph.D. thesis "Methods of Revivification for Various Species of the Kingdom Animalia" in the prestigious JAPM, Journal of Paranormal Medicine. Andy, in addition to being the foremost expert on paranormal animals, enjoys breeding phoenixes. He lives in Illinois with his five phoenixes.
Having conquered paranormal animal humor in his first series, Andy Zach launches into middle school superhero genre with Secret Supers. Four disabled seventh graders all get superpowers. Who knew a disability could be so useful for hiding a superpower? But the four friends, Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey confront problems that can't be solved by superpowers.
Andy follows up the first book with an exciting sequel, Villain's Vacation, set in a coaster park where the Secret Supers fight their archnemesis who's out for revenge.
With his first book, "Zombie Turkeys" Andy blazed new ground in paranormal humor. The second book in his Life After Life Chronicles,
In the sequel, 'Zombie Detective', zombie reporter, Sam Melvin gets fired by his wife Lisa because their paper is barely making money. He tries working as a private detective--specializing in zombies, animal and human.
His third book, "My Undead Mother-in-law" expands the zombie plague from turkeys to humans, with hilarious results. You can find both volumes on Amazon Kindle, Createspace print, and Audible audiobook editions.
Not content to keep in zombies earthbound, Andy puts them afloat in his fourth book, "Paranormal Privateers". Just when you thought every funny zombie trope had been explored, new humorous horizons open up. You can get "Paranormal Privateers" in Kindle and print formats. The audiobook is available now on Audible.
Finally, last but not least is Andy Zach's short story collection, where he collaborates with other writers filling in details about his unique zombie alternate history.
Subscribe to his newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/22d3daf2a1b7/get-y...
Having conquered paranormal animal humor in his first series, Andy Zach launches into middle school superhero genre with Secret Supers. Four disabled seventh graders all get superpowers. Who knew a disability could be so useful for hiding a superpower? But the four friends, Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey confront problems that can't be solved by superpowers.
Andy follows up the first book with an exciting sequel, Villain's Vacation, set in a coaster park where the Secret Supers fight their archnemesis who's out for revenge.
With his first book, "Zombie Turkeys" Andy blazed new ground in paranormal humor. The second book in his Life After Life Chronicles,
In the sequel, 'Zombie Detective', zombie reporter, Sam Melvin gets fired by his wife Lisa because their paper is barely making money. He tries working as a private detective--specializing in zombies, animal and human.
His third book, "My Undead Mother-in-law" expands the zombie plague from turkeys to humans, with hilarious results. You can find both volumes on Amazon Kindle, Createspace print, and Audible audiobook editions.
Not content to keep in zombies earthbound, Andy puts them afloat in his fourth book, "Paranormal Privateers". Just when you thought every funny zombie trope had been explored, new humorous horizons open up. You can get "Paranormal Privateers" in Kindle and print formats. The audiobook is available now on Audible.
Finally, last but not least is Andy Zach's short story collection, where he collaborates with other writers filling in details about his unique zombie alternate history.
Subscribe to his newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/22d3daf2a1b7/get-y...
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 22, 2022
In a Nutshell: You would think that a book about disabled superheroes would easily go in my “recommended” list, but no. This book needs to do a rethink on quite a lot of the content.
Story:
In terms of intent? The book gets a few marks. In terms of execution, it fails miserably. If I had read this a couple of decades ago, I might have loved it for its innovative "magical" storyline, because those were the days when I was unaware of right terminology and inclusive treatment of everyone in society. But today, having such a book is a big no-no.
The idea of having disabled kids as superheroes is great. But why do these children need to get a superpower that rids them of their disability (albeit indirectly) if they are to make a change in the world? Are these children nothing beyond their physical limitations? I would have still let this point go if the approach of the book balanced itself fairly. But there are many disparaging comments about disability and being disabled. One character remarks about the disabled children being the “lowest of the lows.” Imagine a disabled child reading this book! How would they feel on reading such stupid remarks?
The problems with the story don’t stop at its treatment of disability. Aubrey is supposedly heavy so there are many remarks about her weight and the resulting inability to do things like climbing a rope. Then there is some content about white privilege, courtesy Dan’s Cameroonian background. One of the children also refers to their group as “crippled kids”, which I am pretty sure isn’t an acceptable term anymore.
There are also logical inconsistences in the plot. There’s a big hoohah made about keeping their superpower a secret but Jeremy seems to be flying his car everywhere. Then Aubrey reveals her actual name during an investigation with a gang member. How are they still a secret team???
The book has some fun moments. The magic show is especially interesting. I also enjoyed the unity and bond among the four friends. But mere good moments aren’t enough when the overall content is so faulty.
I wish with all my heart that a disabled person picks up this book and provides his/her/their feedback on it so that I can get a genuine first-hand perspective on what I perceive to be major problem areas. As a non-disabled person, I have only tried to guess at the situation but if I found it offensive, I am pretty sure my gut feeling can’t go so wrong.
I cannot recommend this book, especially not to families with disabled children.
I heard the audiobook, which clocks at just over 3 hours and is narrated by Luke Castle. The narrator gets full marks for intent but again, the execution falls short. He tries his best to provide a different accent for every character. Some of these accents work but many sound quite caricatural. His accent for Jeremy was especially irritating with its whiny, nasal quality. There are some disturbances in the background at times. There are also a couple of pronunciation errors.
2 stars from me.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through StoryOrigin and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
Twelve year old Jeremy Gentle has cerebral palsy and hence uses a wheelchair. He is also a tech whiz. While experimenting at home, he ends up getting a superpower. When he decides to repeat the experiment with his classmate and best friend Dan who has been blind since birth, Dan ends up getting a different superpower. The same process is repeated with two other disabled friends, Kayla and Aubrey. When the four friends realise how their new superpowers work wonderfully in tandem with each other, they decide to team up as superheroes and use their powers for the betterment of the world.
In terms of intent? The book gets a few marks. In terms of execution, it fails miserably. If I had read this a couple of decades ago, I might have loved it for its innovative "magical" storyline, because those were the days when I was unaware of right terminology and inclusive treatment of everyone in society. But today, having such a book is a big no-no.
The idea of having disabled kids as superheroes is great. But why do these children need to get a superpower that rids them of their disability (albeit indirectly) if they are to make a change in the world? Are these children nothing beyond their physical limitations? I would have still let this point go if the approach of the book balanced itself fairly. But there are many disparaging comments about disability and being disabled. One character remarks about the disabled children being the “lowest of the lows.” Imagine a disabled child reading this book! How would they feel on reading such stupid remarks?
The problems with the story don’t stop at its treatment of disability. Aubrey is supposedly heavy so there are many remarks about her weight and the resulting inability to do things like climbing a rope. Then there is some content about white privilege, courtesy Dan’s Cameroonian background. One of the children also refers to their group as “crippled kids”, which I am pretty sure isn’t an acceptable term anymore.
There are also logical inconsistences in the plot. There’s a big hoohah made about keeping their superpower a secret but Jeremy seems to be flying his car everywhere. Then Aubrey reveals her actual name during an investigation with a gang member. How are they still a secret team???
The book has some fun moments. The magic show is especially interesting. I also enjoyed the unity and bond among the four friends. But mere good moments aren’t enough when the overall content is so faulty.
I wish with all my heart that a disabled person picks up this book and provides his/her/their feedback on it so that I can get a genuine first-hand perspective on what I perceive to be major problem areas. As a non-disabled person, I have only tried to guess at the situation but if I found it offensive, I am pretty sure my gut feeling can’t go so wrong.
I cannot recommend this book, especially not to families with disabled children.
I heard the audiobook, which clocks at just over 3 hours and is narrated by Luke Castle. The narrator gets full marks for intent but again, the execution falls short. He tries his best to provide a different accent for every character. Some of these accents work but many sound quite caricatural. His accent for Jeremy was especially irritating with its whiny, nasal quality. There are some disturbances in the background at times. There are also a couple of pronunciation errors.
2 stars from me.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author through StoryOrigin and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
May 21, 2022
Jeremy has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. He is in a special education class with Dan, who is blind, Kayla, who was mute and used a walker, and Audrey, who lost her legs and uses crutches. One afternoon, when conducting experiments in his laboratory, Jeremy accidentally gives himself superpowers. Specifically, he gains the ability of telekinesis, which he can use to help himself walk, cause his wheelchair to travel at much higher speeds, and even fly. Not wanting to keep this discovery to himself, Jeremy tells his 3 friends about it and gives each of them superpowers as well. But now that they have superpowers, what should they do? Following the words of Uncle Ben of Spiderman, they decide they must use their powers for good, beginning by trying to solve a case of a stolen car, and keep their identities a secret, modeling their costumes on the Incredibles.
This book was a fun story that placed individuals with disabilities front and center in the story. While the superpowers allow them to do things they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, it is what they choose to do with their powers that makes all the difference. Also, even with their superpowers, their initial disabilities aren't erased, which I think is important. I liked to development of the characters and how they interacted and supported each other; I only wish the book had been longer so I could have spent more time with them. I am glad that there's a sequel already published, and I look forward to reading/listening to it.
As for the audiobook edition of this book, the narrator, Luke Castle, did a fair job. Some of the voices he chose for a few characters I did not care for, but that comes down to personal preference more than anything else. His pacing was good, and the energy he put into the narration was evident. Despite disliking a few of the voices, I would still listen to the sequel given the opportunity.
This book was a fun story that placed individuals with disabilities front and center in the story. While the superpowers allow them to do things they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise, it is what they choose to do with their powers that makes all the difference. Also, even with their superpowers, their initial disabilities aren't erased, which I think is important. I liked to development of the characters and how they interacted and supported each other; I only wish the book had been longer so I could have spent more time with them. I am glad that there's a sequel already published, and I look forward to reading/listening to it.
As for the audiobook edition of this book, the narrator, Luke Castle, did a fair job. Some of the voices he chose for a few characters I did not care for, but that comes down to personal preference more than anything else. His pacing was good, and the energy he put into the narration was evident. Despite disliking a few of the voices, I would still listen to the sequel given the opportunity.
May 24, 2020
Great children's' book that is also great a read-along book for family enjoyment. Four children with disabilities show that life is what you make the best of, and being disabled to outsiders actually means your other senses are super developed. Jeremy with cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair; Dan is blind; Kayla uses a walker; Aubrey has prosthetic legs. Jeremy has a science lab at home. After experimenting with his pet hamster he makes a startling discovery. He invites his best friend Dan to join him in his lab after school one day. He discloses a new secret from his experiments with magnets! Dan learns he can read minds, Jeremy has already discovered telekinesis. They invite two girls from their special needs class to come to the lab. Aubrey, a former athlete who now has artificial limbs which hinder her sports activities, learns she can lift heavy objects. Kayla, weakened from meningitis aftereffects, discovers she can project thoughts to the others rather than depending on her tablet to speak for her. Together as they practice and expand their talents, they decide to become the Secret Supers. Recovering a teacher's stolen car, funding a school magic show with their hidden talents, they keep their school from closing their special needs class. Along the way they find new strengths, courage, friendships they never anticipated, and a feeling of charity. Great moral lessons are hidden within the text along with well developed roles. This book was free and I have no connections to anyone involved. Opening the spotlight on disabilities is something not often done in books of fiction. This is a good learning experience for those who haven't had contact with the disabled. It should also be a morale booster for it describes those to take pride in their special abilities if only given a chance to participate.
September 2, 2021
I purchased this book at a book fair with the sole purpose of donating it to a children's library. But, being the curious soul that I am, I had to take a peek inside the cover. I enjoyed the tale immensely and I imagine the children I intend to give it to will also. The book is full of imaginative ways the disabled children use their abilities to make their lives fun and help others. I especially enjoyed 'The Magic Show.' It showed creative genius on the children's part and a kind willingness to help others. I am going to now read the next book. By the way, the author's bio is just as much fun as the book. Way to go Mr. Zach, just what my funny bone needed.
March 24, 2022
Never disabled
An uplifting tale of how four students find that within disability is ability. Looking past who others think they are was the way the four came together to make a difference not only in their own lives but the lives of those around them. The main theme of this tale is practice, practice, practice.
An uplifting tale of how four students find that within disability is ability. Looking past who others think they are was the way the four came together to make a difference not only in their own lives but the lives of those around them. The main theme of this tale is practice, practice, practice.
April 1, 2021
Can young teens with disabilities be super heros; In Andy Zach’s Secret Supers they can!! We
meet Jeremy, a middle school student with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair bound and
struggles in physical therapy but does not struggle with anything STEM related. While running
an experiment in his basement lab he gives himself a super power. When he tries the
experiment again he gives his best friend Dan, who is blind, a different power. Soon Jeremy,
Dan, and their friends and classmates Kayla and Aubry are all super powered and fighting
crime! They also end up fighting against their special ed. classroom being shut down and
separated into several different schools.
This story gives kids with disabilities a chance to see themselves as superheroes and a way for
teens without disabilities to see disabilabled classmates in a different light.
meet Jeremy, a middle school student with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair bound and
struggles in physical therapy but does not struggle with anything STEM related. While running
an experiment in his basement lab he gives himself a super power. When he tries the
experiment again he gives his best friend Dan, who is blind, a different power. Soon Jeremy,
Dan, and their friends and classmates Kayla and Aubry are all super powered and fighting
crime! They also end up fighting against their special ed. classroom being shut down and
separated into several different schools.
This story gives kids with disabilities a chance to see themselves as superheroes and a way for
teens without disabilities to see disabilabled classmates in a different light.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2020
Secret Supers is a very special book!
I loved this book, not only the storyline but the very special kids in it. It was wonderful to read how the kids worked together to support each other, but also solve social problems in the neighborhood. Their fundraising for the school district to keep the disabled kids in their own schools was a huge task, but important enough to try. It was wonderful to read about their successes!!
I loved this book, not only the storyline but the very special kids in it. It was wonderful to read how the kids worked together to support each other, but also solve social problems in the neighborhood. Their fundraising for the school district to keep the disabled kids in their own schools was a huge task, but important enough to try. It was wonderful to read about their successes!!
August 18, 2020
In a straightforward plot/storyline that won't be confused with SciFi, 4 disabled kids become "enabled," even Super! They are good kids with good intentions and they do the right thing. The parents are all involved, and the community is a middle-class ideal. A sweet read/listen for the suggested reader age range of 10-15.
May 5, 2021
My only complaint about this book is it is way too short! Yes it is for kids but I can finish the audiobook usually in one sitting. It is one of those books that had me screaming "I need a sequel! Stat"
August 1, 2020
This was a good book.In it anyone can be a super hero! Luke Castle was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
November 6, 2021
Such a fun book! Right after finishing it I started on the second one because I couldn't wait for more of the story. Andy Zach does a great job with his books! Fun, funny, entertaining and creative.
June 8, 2023
I want to say I enjoyed this book but I don't know if it was just the wrong narrator or if it was me, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I thought. I liked the idea of disabled children becoming super hero's and I didn't mind that it was aimed at a younger audience (sometimes they can be more fun) but it didn't work for me. No bullying from classmates or even villains to do battle with, both of which I was expecting. I liked that despite having there powers they still had the same daily problems and weren't cured. I know it is the start of a new series and needs to set the characters up as they learn to use there powers but it didn't ring true for me, why didn't at least one parent question a flying car? Or spending out money on a prosthetic leg for somebody they didn't even know? Why they needed costumes? If there powers were kept secret why were they needed? Okay with that out of the way there was some fun moments that will have me listening to the next book (especially as it is read by a different narrator) I liked how the group learnt to work together with there different skills and abilities , they did put those skills to use fading money to keep them together, finding a stolen car and rescuing a family from a fire.. The children were interesting and there disabilities made for an unusual twist to a super hero book.
When Jeremy's basement experiment goes wrong and he wakes up with the power to move things with his mind he immediately thinks about his fellow disabled classmates. Dan is blind but gains the power to read minds and see through other people's eyes, Kayla is mute and used a computer to take but gains the power of telepathy and Aubrey who has lost the use of her legs gains super strength. Can the four of them work together to help others? There first challenge is to raise enough money to keep themselves together at the same school when the school board threatens to send them to different schools. Will there new found abilities help ?
As I said I just didn't like the narrator for this book. He did give each character different sounding voices but the voices weren't right for the characters and were more annoying than anything. His normal speaking voice was fine it was just the character voices.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
When Jeremy's basement experiment goes wrong and he wakes up with the power to move things with his mind he immediately thinks about his fellow disabled classmates. Dan is blind but gains the power to read minds and see through other people's eyes, Kayla is mute and used a computer to take but gains the power of telepathy and Aubrey who has lost the use of her legs gains super strength. Can the four of them work together to help others? There first challenge is to raise enough money to keep themselves together at the same school when the school board threatens to send them to different schools. Will there new found abilities help ?
As I said I just didn't like the narrator for this book. He did give each character different sounding voices but the voices weren't right for the characters and were more annoying than anything. His normal speaking voice was fine it was just the character voices.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.
February 23, 2022
Hard to get Past the Narrator
My 12 year old son listened to this one too and I really had to force him to finish it because the narrator (2⭐) was so nasal and just irritating. It really was hard to get past this narrator to enjoy the story... the story felt a little unfinished and abrupt in parts and it's just hsrd to the say if it was tge atory or the narrator. Overall the story has great potential and is great for the elementary and middle grade readers. I think I'm going to go back and read it myself to get a better scope and I'll update my review when I do. For now I say it's a really cute story but go for the ebook or hard copy. I'm on to book two because there's enough to really like about the story to give it a shot and it has a different narrator so... 🤞
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My 12 year old son listened to this one too and I really had to force him to finish it because the narrator (2⭐) was so nasal and just irritating. It really was hard to get past this narrator to enjoy the story... the story felt a little unfinished and abrupt in parts and it's just hsrd to the say if it was tge atory or the narrator. Overall the story has great potential and is great for the elementary and middle grade readers. I think I'm going to go back and read it myself to get a better scope and I'll update my review when I do. For now I say it's a really cute story but go for the ebook or hard copy. I'm on to book two because there's enough to really like about the story to give it a shot and it has a different narrator so... 🤞
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 24, 2024
Comic in words.
This is the first time for me with this genre.
If I have known I wouldn’t have requested reviewing this audiobook.
And my real surprise is that this genre got a big following and grownups which are so addictive to it that a five or 4 star rating is almost always guaranteed.
Andy Zach is truly a gifted author when it comes to this genre.
As a first timer it really took me by surprise so it took me a while to understand that even so that it sounds like a children’s book, it’s the moral which counts in the story.
Narration by Luke Castle is beautifully done for each of the characters in this creation.
If you are into comics then I do recommend !
Oded Ostfeld.
This is the first time for me with this genre.
If I have known I wouldn’t have requested reviewing this audiobook.
And my real surprise is that this genre got a big following and grownups which are so addictive to it that a five or 4 star rating is almost always guaranteed.
Andy Zach is truly a gifted author when it comes to this genre.
As a first timer it really took me by surprise so it took me a while to understand that even so that it sounds like a children’s book, it’s the moral which counts in the story.
Narration by Luke Castle is beautifully done for each of the characters in this creation.
If you are into comics then I do recommend !
Oded Ostfeld.
December 6, 2023
Very entertaining and humorous book! This author has such an incredible sense of outrageous humor! Give his books a read. You'll laugh your *** off.
July 12, 2025
You will never see it coming...
I had to get it off my chest. The end, the end of the book, You will never see it coming. This is a wonderful book. I am going to make sure my granddaughter has it in her go-to library.
The best part? There's more!
I had to get it off my chest. The end, the end of the book, You will never see it coming. This is a wonderful book. I am going to make sure my granddaughter has it in her go-to library.
The best part? There's more!
June 20, 2020
There’s so much awesome stuff happening in this book! I really enjoyed the story, especially the backbone of it. Each of these kids (Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey) has their own disability and when Jeremy stumbles upon a way to give each of them a super power, they still have to deal with real life. The super power doesn’t take away or negate their disability but it does give them an edge. Plus, they learn to work together as team, using their individual powers to boost each other. Just a fantastic premise for a story.
The story is definitely geared towards kids, as the plot is pretty straight forward and there’s little conflict among the characters. Our heroes already have a fight on their hands – just being accepted in regular society. In fact, the big hurdle in the book deals with that at their public school. I really liked how they pulled together to tackle the problem and how their efforts pulled in their friends, family, and community.
The end leaves us on a triumphant note as well as hinting as more to come. I hope this is just the start of a series. I think Jeremy needs to keep a close eye on his pet hamster. I kinda hope that hamster becomes the master mind. Ha! 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Luke Castle gets an A for effort but a C for product. Castle had a perfect voice for Jeremy, capturing the character’s young earnest voice. Castle’s female character voices need more femininity. Many of them sounded very cartoony. I appreciate Castle’s attempts at regional and foreign accents, but they were hit and miss or way over done (like the Georgia peach and the California valley girl). The pacing was a bit off too, often with long pauses in between chapters (at first, I thought my player had stalled). Castle does a good job capturing the various emotions of the characters. Other than the long pauses in between the chapters, there were no technical issues with the recording. 2.5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Andy Zach. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
The story is definitely geared towards kids, as the plot is pretty straight forward and there’s little conflict among the characters. Our heroes already have a fight on their hands – just being accepted in regular society. In fact, the big hurdle in the book deals with that at their public school. I really liked how they pulled together to tackle the problem and how their efforts pulled in their friends, family, and community.
The end leaves us on a triumphant note as well as hinting as more to come. I hope this is just the start of a series. I think Jeremy needs to keep a close eye on his pet hamster. I kinda hope that hamster becomes the master mind. Ha! 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Luke Castle gets an A for effort but a C for product. Castle had a perfect voice for Jeremy, capturing the character’s young earnest voice. Castle’s female character voices need more femininity. Many of them sounded very cartoony. I appreciate Castle’s attempts at regional and foreign accents, but they were hit and miss or way over done (like the Georgia peach and the California valley girl). The pacing was a bit off too, often with long pauses in between chapters (at first, I thought my player had stalled). Castle does a good job capturing the various emotions of the characters. Other than the long pauses in between the chapters, there were no technical issues with the recording. 2.5/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Andy Zach. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 7, 2020
Secret Supers is such a fun story, and it has a great message. I listened with my mid-grade kiddos, one boy and one girl, and they both enjoyed the story. The target audience may be mid-grade kids, but this is the type of story that is entertaining for both kids and adults.
This book is fast-paced and just loads of fun from start to finish, and it has such a positive vibe. The kids each have a different disability, and those disabilities are handled honestly while still keeping an upbeat vibe. I love how their individual super powers gave them what they needed, and the four together complimented each other so well. The kids are all lovable and quirky, and you can’t help but root for their successes and smile when they do succeed.
It’s interesting that the story is narrated by a teenager. In fact, my kiddos noticed it right away and commented about it. It gave them a whole new appreciation for audiobooks, and they’ll both be looking for more stories narrated by Luke Castle. This young man really seems to enjoy himself as he narrates this book, and that certainly comes through. For me, some of the voices were maybe a little over the top, but my tweens had no complaints, and since this is a mid-grade story, I would say that’s the most important thing. They were thoroughly entertained by both Andy Zach’s story and Luke Castle’s performance, and I have to say that the two do go well together.
All in all, Andy Zach has done a terrific job with this book. The story and its characters are a positive force in a world that is all too often focused on the negative, and it all comes together for one entertaining and uplifting listen for kids of all ages.
This book is fast-paced and just loads of fun from start to finish, and it has such a positive vibe. The kids each have a different disability, and those disabilities are handled honestly while still keeping an upbeat vibe. I love how their individual super powers gave them what they needed, and the four together complimented each other so well. The kids are all lovable and quirky, and you can’t help but root for their successes and smile when they do succeed.
It’s interesting that the story is narrated by a teenager. In fact, my kiddos noticed it right away and commented about it. It gave them a whole new appreciation for audiobooks, and they’ll both be looking for more stories narrated by Luke Castle. This young man really seems to enjoy himself as he narrates this book, and that certainly comes through. For me, some of the voices were maybe a little over the top, but my tweens had no complaints, and since this is a mid-grade story, I would say that’s the most important thing. They were thoroughly entertained by both Andy Zach’s story and Luke Castle’s performance, and I have to say that the two do go well together.
All in all, Andy Zach has done a terrific job with this book. The story and its characters are a positive force in a world that is all too often focused on the negative, and it all comes together for one entertaining and uplifting listen for kids of all ages.
May 29, 2020
Secret Supers is a really cool middle grade story about a bunch of handicapped kids that gain superpowers. The story is written for a younger audience, so it might not appeal to older readers, but I bet kids will really enjoy it, and it is wonderful to see the kids in the story empowered.
The narrator takes a bit of getting used to. He uses a rather nasally voice for one of the main characters that can be hard to listen to. But he is pretty good at character voices, and he grew on me as the book progressed. Unfortunately there is a bit of background noise in the recording which can be distracting.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
The narrator takes a bit of getting used to. He uses a rather nasally voice for one of the main characters that can be hard to listen to. But he is pretty good at character voices, and he grew on me as the book progressed. Unfortunately there is a bit of background noise in the recording which can be distracting.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
March 9, 2020
It was a book with many facets while being easy enough for kids to read and complex enough for adults to enjoy it as well. The following are some aspects of the book. A realistic but not depressing view of various difficulties of being handicapped also shows many different ways people can be handicapped. A scientific analysis of each hero's powers although the method of obtaining them is mysterious. A story of friends facing difficulties together and in the end overcoming it with both hard work, courage, and joy.
March 22, 2025
Secret Supers
Andy Zach
This was a fascinating read!
I loved this story! It was full of laugh-out-loud moments and enough drama and action to keep me flipping the pages.
Disabled children are not stupid, they have different abilities. That is something to remember!
Andy Zach
This was a fascinating read!
I loved this story! It was full of laugh-out-loud moments and enough drama and action to keep me flipping the pages.
Disabled children are not stupid, they have different abilities. That is something to remember!
February 26, 2024
This was a fun concept in the super-hero genre, it had everything that I was looking for in this type of book. The characters were interesting and had a great overall feel to this world. I enjoyed what I read and can't wait for the sequel. Andy Zach has a great writing style and I'm glad I got to read this.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2025
A fresh and inspiring twist on the superhero story! I loved how Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey turn what the world sees as weakness into incredible strength. Their friendship, humor, and determination make them unforgettable, and the way the story balances action with real-life challenges is both exciting and heartwarming. A must read for anyone who believes heroes come in all forms
September 18, 2024
A very fun children's book. What if some disabled kids were able to get super powers? Let the fun begin.
June 19, 2025
I just read it again, for the first time after I published this book.
What struck me this time was how fast the book moved. The reader is moved from the beginning of 7th grade to the Christmas break in just 111 pages. There were no slow parts.
Despite the short length, the characters change and grow in its pages.
This is a good book for any middle grade reader, or even earlier, down to 10 years old or so.
What struck me this time was how fast the book moved. The reader is moved from the beginning of 7th grade to the Christmas break in just 111 pages. There were no slow parts.
Despite the short length, the characters change and grow in its pages.
This is a good book for any middle grade reader, or even earlier, down to 10 years old or so.
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