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Powell's Q&A | February 2, 2012

Emily Winfield Martin: IMG Powell’s Q&A: Emily Winfield Martin

2 comments By Emily Winfield Martin

Describe your new book. Oddfellow's Orphanage is a series of stories/vignettes that tell the tale of the newest arrival to a curious orphanage, a... Continue »
  1. $10.49 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    Oddfellow's Orphanage

    Emily Winfield Martin 9780375869952
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eBook editions

Dull Boy

by Sarah Cross

Dull Boy Cover

ISBN13: 9780525421337
ISBN10: 0525421335
All Product Details

Only 3 left in stock at $17.99!

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you?re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you?re a former jock turned freak, you can?t afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they?re more than just freaks?together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

Review:

"In her engrossing first novel, Cross introduces Avery Pirzwick, a misunderstood teenager with mysterious superpowers he keeps secret. Avery tries to use his super-strength and flying ability to help others, but mostly they just cause him grief ('the only 'super' I've been to my friends lately is super lame'). He quit the wrestling team after accidentally breaking another wrestler's arm, and after additional mishaps his parents send him to an alternative school. There, he meets other misfit kids with secret abilities, like Sophie, who can stick to walls, and Catherine, who has razor-sharp claws (and a temper). Unfortunately, Avery is also being dogged by Cherchette, a superpowered adult who aims to recruit Avery and his friends for her own purposes. Like the best superhero stories, Cross's novel has crisp action sequences and a good sense of humor, but also gets deep into the fears and struggles of teenagers who simply don't fit in. 'Every single one of us has secrets,' Avery reflects as the group grows more close-knit. 'Only now we have them together.' Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
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About the Author

Sarah Cross used to spend all her babysitting money on comics, but because she couldn't draw very well, she decided as an adult that she'd write a superhero story in novel form. This is her first book. Sarah lives in New York, and you can visit her website and blog at www.sarahcross.com.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Shaun Hutchinson, June 8, 2009 (view all comments by Shaun Hutchinson)
You should ignore the rest of this review and just BUY THIS BOOK. Seriously. Are you still reading? Why haven't you bought it yet?

Okay. Review. While not covering any new ground in the superhero genre (The good guys/girls are good and the bad guys/girls are bad), what makes Dull Boy stand out is Avery. His voice, his challenges, and the snark with which he overcomes evil. It's pretty fantastic. I read Dull Boy in one sitting because Avery's voice was just that compelling. He shows us that having superpowers isn't always awesome (especially when you accidentally hurt your friends...or your friend's parent's car).

The sidekicks were well fleshed out (though I could easily stand to read a book from each of their points of view) and the baddie's motivations were clear and understandable. If you're looking for something fun and light and awesome, this is the book.

I only have two issues with Dull Boy (and they're so minor you can really just skip this part). One: it's recommended for 12 and up. But there's some profanity. I'm not a prude, I swear frequently, but some words are blocked out a-- but then other times are spelled out directly. It's a minor thing that didn't bother me, but I felt like sometimes this was a middle grade book and sometimes YA. I just wish they'd either gone for the curse words or cut them out completely. The second minor thing is that some of the extras are painted too broadly. Kids at Avery's school are either Thugs or Burnouts or Mary Janes. I wish that the book had played less into those stereotypes. But like I said, these are very, very minor issues in a spectacular first novel.

I can't wait for the sequel.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780525421337
Author:
Cross, Sarah
Publisher:
Dutton Juvenile
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Supernatural
Subject:
Comics & Graphic Novels - Superheroes
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Social Issues - Friendship
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Action & Adventure - General
Subject:
General-General
Edition Description:
B-Hardcover
Publication Date:
20090514
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from 6 up to AND UP
Language:
English
Pages:
308
Dimensions:
8.30x5.60x1.30 in. .95 lbs.
Age Level:
11-11
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Related Aisles

Dull Boy New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$17.99 In Stock
Product details 308 pages Dutton Books - English 9780525421337 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "In her engrossing first novel, Cross introduces Avery Pirzwick, a misunderstood teenager with mysterious superpowers he keeps secret. Avery tries to use his super-strength and flying ability to help others, but mostly they just cause him grief ('the only 'super' I've been to my friends lately is super lame'). He quit the wrestling team after accidentally breaking another wrestler's arm, and after additional mishaps his parents send him to an alternative school. There, he meets other misfit kids with secret abilities, like Sophie, who can stick to walls, and Catherine, who has razor-sharp claws (and a temper). Unfortunately, Avery is also being dogged by Cherchette, a superpowered adult who aims to recruit Avery and his friends for her own purposes. Like the best superhero stories, Cross's novel has crisp action sequences and a good sense of humor, but also gets deep into the fears and struggles of teenagers who simply don't fit in. 'Every single one of us has secrets,' Avery reflects as the group grows more close-knit. 'Only now we have them together.' Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
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