Captain Nobody [Hardcover]

Dean Pitchford (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Growing up in the shadow of his football star brother, Chris, Newt Newman has never felt particularly special. When Chris is knocked into a coma, Newt's two best friends decide that taking him out for Halloween is the best way to cheer him up. Using some of Chris's old, oversized clothes, Newt creates his best costume ever - Captain Nobody!

Newt feels so strong and confident in his new getup that he keeps wearing it after Halloween is over. In no time, Newt assumes the role of a hero in a string of exploits that include foiling a robbery and saving a planeload of passengers. But will Captain Nobody be able to save the one person he cares about most?

With Captain Nobody, the acclaimed author of The Big One-Oh, Dean Pitchford, has skillfully crafted a heartfelt blend of action, humor, and family drama.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3–6—Ten-year-old Newt Newman is used to fading into the background: his parents are workaholics; his brother, Chris, is a high school football star; and he and his best buddies, JJ and Cecil, are ignored at school. Determined to get noticed this Halloween, the three friends vow to come up with original costumes. But then Chris takes a hit and is knocked into a coma during the Big Game. Worried about his brother, and with his parent camped out at the hospital, Newt has no interest in creating a costume. When JJ and Cecil arrive at his house for trick-or-treating, they help him transform an assortment of Chris's outgrown clothes into a get-up for a new superhero: Captain Nobody! Enjoying the newfound confidence he experiences behind his mask, Newt continues to wear the costume, and opportunities start cropping up for him to save the day—whether helping a confused old man find his way home or stopping a jewelry store robbery, Captain Nobody gets the job done. But when it comes to his brother's coma, even Captain Nobody is powerless…or is he? Newt is a likable individual, albeit quite mature for 10. Secondary characters are somewhat stereotypical, but they don't get in the way of the story's fast pace and charm. Pitchford's screenwriting background is apparent: the book reads like a summertime feel-good movie. Kids who have longed for their own superhero powers will eat this up.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA END

Review

"...the humor and compassion are sure to appeal to reluctant readers." --Kirkus

"[Captain Nobody] reads like a summertime feel-good movie. Kids who have longed for their own superhero powers will eat this up." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (July 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399250344
• ISBN-13: 978-0399250347
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captain Nobody Is a Hero Anyone Can Root For, November 30, 2009

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captain Nobody (Hardcover)

Life can be difficult at 10 years old. You're not old enough for anyone to take you seriously, and you're just beginning to combat the hormone jungle. It also doesn't help if your high school-aged brother is the star quarterback of the local football team, your family is so busy they tend to rely on you for everything, and you have the mysterious power of blending into the background at school so that no one notices you. Indeed, life can be hard when you're a nobody.

Newton Newman, or Newt, isn't prepared for what happens next. His football-star older brother, Chris, is critically injured during the last play of the biggest game of the year and is unexpectedly struck into a coma. While the prognosis is positive, it's also a bit mysterious: Chris's vital signs are excellent; he's just not waking up. Newt's parents start spending all their time at the hospital, leave Newt at home, and forget to help him prepare for one of the most important holidays of the year --- Halloween. Cecil and JJ, Newt's friends, try and take his mind off of Chris's situation by challenging Newt to come up with a new and original costume.

With all of the pressures from school, home and the hospital, Newt waits until the last second and scrapes together a less-than-impressive costume. He takes some of Chris's hand-me-downs, track pants and an old football jersey, throws them together along with a mask cut out from one of Chris's old shirts, and attempts to become a superhero. Not until the middle of trick-or-treating does Newt realize who he is --- Captain Nobody! Slowly, Newt begins to transform into a hero who stands up for all the quiet kids and all other children who people tend to forget about.

While Newt intended for Captain Nobody to exist only one night, circumstances beyond his control force him to dress like Captain Nobody on a daily basis. The effect is magic. Not only do kids in Newt's class pay him a little more attention and respect, Captain Nobody manages to save the day on more than one occasion. If Newt is able to defeat common-class criminals, assist old men and stop traffic with a single glance, then surely he must be able to do something to help Chris. Time is running out, though, and this might be too big of a job --- even for someone as powerful as Captain Nobody!

Captain Nobody is a hero anyone can root for. Dean Pitchford manages to take an everyday kid facing extraordinary circumstances and turn him into a likable, realistic hero who you could find running down the street to save a lost kitten. The situations that Newt finds himself in as Captain Nobody are downright hilarious yet believable. I can still recall some of my fourth-grade days with fondness, but I didn't have nearly as much fun as Newt. Like any good superhero, Captain Nobody inspires kids of all ages not to be afraid to stand up for what is right and to kick some butt at the same time!

--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche

5.0 out of 5 stars my 10 year old loves this book, January 30, 2012

By 

Neutralist (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Captain Nobody (Mass Market Paperback)

My 10 year old daughter usually doesn't like reading, but she read keeps re-reading this book and raves it as the best book ever. I haven't seen her this excited so I'm guessing that this is really a fun story that captures her imagination.

I bought the paperback and now wish I had bought the kindle version since the book is already wearing out.

Part of the Virginia young reader program and strongly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars my 6 & 8 year old boys LOVED it., October 5, 2011

By 

Candis Hunter (Thornton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Captain Nobody (Mass Market Paperback)

Dean Pitchford does a fantastic job thinking like a little kid- it's a compliment Dean ;)
My boys are just crazy about this book!
They laughed so hard at parts I had no idea were funny.
They were just hooked! We couldn't stop reading. They were pleading to go to bed early to read more!
Dean did a great job breaching a tough subject- a coma. I just loved that someone talks to kids assuming they can handle life situations. It was not scary and not tiptoeing around either.
MY boys cannot wait for more from Dean! Thank You!