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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome, Hilarious, and Geektastic!, May 17, 2009
This review is from: Dull Boy (Hardcover)
Dull Boy was awesome, hilarious and pretty geektastic! I really liked the main character Avery, I usually prefer books in a female voice just because it's easier for me to relate to, but Avery was just a cool guy with a good heart. I really liked him, and he was pretty funny! I really liked the abbreviated swear words he used or thought, stuff like "What the F". That kind of stuff is just perfect to me! And of course Avery isn't the only character. I loved all his new friends from Darla the super brain that has all sorts of crazy gadgets and a giant robot(!) to Nicholas the tortured boy with a power he can't control to Sophie who always seemed to be in a good mood and Catherine who is also hiding a secret... they all had something to offer to the story! I never decided in my mind if Cherchette (crazy awesome name) the mysterious lady with powers of her own would end up to be good or bad and just let the story unfold in front of me. I really liked what I learned about her and from her, she informs us of about some background of where the kids got their powers that some authors might leave out but I'm so glad that Cross included, I'm all about the details! Another thing I really liked was that throughout the book there are case files about each of the kids and their powers. I liked having that to refer to instead of just knowing what the story told us. All in all a fun and action packed book that seems to definitely set itself up for a sequel, can't wait to see what happens next!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic romp, August 23, 2009
This review is from: Dull Boy (Hardcover)
This is a wonderful, modern superhero tale where the hero searches for how he and his cherished superpowers will fit into the world. I really enjoyed reading such an honest approach rather than the typical bemoaning of "woe is me, I have awesome powers, whatever will I do" that so often occurs in coming of age fantasy and magical realism protagonists. Sarah very naturally works in a lot of pop culture, internet, and comic book references so that whether or not you're aware of the original, you'll enjoy the story. The supporting cast, especially the girl genius, are excellent in their own right. As for the ending, I think it was not so much to setup a sequel as one reviewer suggested (you can do a sequel/prequel with anything these days) but instead was an invitation for the reader to make their own decision about what will happen. That she dared to break from neatly wrapping the story up with her authorial voice is one of the bold moves that make this novel compelling on many levels, ranging from thoughtful introspection about one's place in the world to LOL heroic romp.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy This Book!, May 14, 2009
This review is from: Dull Boy (Hardcover)
It's About: Forced into a school for delinquents after an incident involving a jewelry store and the frosty, mysterious Cherchette, Avery finds it hard to settle into a dull boy routine- and soon he discovers he's not the only teen in town who's hiding special abilities. The only problem is, the mysterious Cherchette keeps turning up with promises to make these superpowered teens' lives better- and yet, every time she appears, she manages to leave the place in shambles. This charming origins story captures the dynamic motion of graphic novels with a witty, conversational prose that often left me laughing or nodding along in rueful recognition. Cross has a gift for combining the right amounts of absurdity and realism, creating a world where detention and mecha battles are equally at home. With great power comes great responsibility, and with a deft and talented hand, Sarah Cross pulls her cast of young super heroes out of the realm of comics and into the world of YA novels. As a long time comic geek, I also enjoyed the little sparkles of fan service in a book that is still utterly accessible superhero first-timers. I really enjoyed this, and I hope it becomes the first of many. Would I Give This Book to a Kid: Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely great for teens who already love comics, and it's probably also the finest introduction to the superhero genre since Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen's superb Secret Identity. Would I Give This Book to an Adult: Definitely to adult comic readers. I'm going to try slipping this into my mom's to-read pile, just to see what happens, though. I did manage to get her hooked on World of Warcraft, after all!
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