The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 3: The Great Powers Outage [Hardcover]

William Boniface (Author), Stephen Gilpin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy

Crunch!

There's something strange going on in Superopolis! The entire population has turned its back on its favorite potato chips of all time. Everyone has switched to the Amazing Indestructo's Amazing Pseudo-Chips. And all because someone named Comrade Crunch told them to.

Look out!

The weird thing is, no one has ever heard of Comrade Crunch. Who is he, and how is he getting the supercitizens to follow his every command?

There's more!

That's not the only mystery in town. The superheroes of Superopolis are losing their superpowers! Without their special gifts, they're just . . . ordinary! Luckily, there's one person in town who understands ordinary.

In a city where everyone is—well, was— extraordinary, this might just be a job for ordinary boy!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Ordinary Boy (OB), the only resident of Superopolis who does not possess a superpower, stars again by solving the mystery of why the citizens are losing theirs. The ongoing conflict between good and evil thickens as Professor Brain-Drain, Comrade Crunch (aka the Red Menace), and the Amazing Indestructo plot to take over Superopolis. Ordinary Boy and his fellow Junior Leaguers discover the source of all the individual powers—potatoes that grow in the fertile soil created by the crash of a meteor years earlier. The local favorite food has long been Dr. Telomere's potato chips, but they are now being rejected in favor of The Amazing Indestructo's "Pseudo-Chips." Through public rallies and television, Comrade Crunch uses his power of brainwashing to compel the people to buy the Pseudo-Chips, claiming they will strengthen their power. Boniface has cleverly interlaced bits and pieces of story lines from past novels with this one to expand his wacky world with enough history and political overtones to appeal to those readers savvy enough to understand the satire behind the silliness. Reluctant readers can enjoy the comic graphic-novel essence of the text as well as Gilpin's humorous sketches. Whether viewed as an innovative political statement or a kid-appealing superhero manifesto, this novel shows that independent thought, appreciation of individual abilities, and good old brain power are all that are needed to be a hero.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

William Boniface may or may not exist. Ordinary Boy, after all, tells his own story. Mr. Boniface could simply be a creation of the publisher in order to fulfill the requirement that an author be listed on the cover of this book. Given that possibility, there is no harm in revealing that Mr. Boniface has lent his name to over two dozen far less wordy children's books that were also in need of an author. Unless, of course, he didn't, which would make this entire biography irrelevant.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060774703
• ISBN-13: 978-0060774707
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,124 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book!, August 16, 2009

By 

Nicole Z. (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 3: The Great Powers Outage (Hardcover)

We love this series. It's funny, creative, suspenseful, and fun. My son actually didn't want to play on the beach last week because he was too drawn into this book, and my husband and I compete to get to read it to him each day, because we both want to read these books. The characters are funny without the potty humor of many books aimed at this age group. The plots are complex and suspenseful without being too dark for younger children. The writing is easy enough for kids to follow but not simplistic. This series is excellent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever!!, February 26, 2010

By 

E. Barton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 3: The Great Powers Outage (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 10 year old son after he had read books 1 & 2 in the Ordinary Boy series. "Best book ever!" is how he described it. He could not put the book down and read at every available opportunity - and that is NOT normal!! This book should keep your child reading. There is never ending action in the entire series of Ordinary Boy!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary books, April 1, 2011

By 

readerfan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy, Book 3: The Great Powers Outage (Paperback)

Fun book to read with kids--it has everything (also check out books 1 and 2)--superheroes, mystery, potato chips!! My son (9 years old) loves them!