Sidekicks [Hardcover]

Dan Danko (Author), Tom Mason (Author), Barry Gott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Sidekicks

You think you have problems? Try being me, Guy Martin, the fastest runner in the world. I can run 92.7 miles an hour. But before I can use my super speed to become a real superhero, I have to be a sidekick. As Speedy, the certified sidekick to Pumpkin Pete, I have to help the League of Big Justice save the world during the day but still get all my homework done and make curfew at night. And I can't tell anyone about this stuff, especially not Prudence Cane, the most beautiful girl in school, even if she's falling for another guy, Mandrake Steel (a.k.a. Charisma Kid).

And I have to try to look cool wearing spandex. Sheesh.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8-Guy Martin, 13, has all the usual middle school worries-homework hassles, popularity problems, and an unrequited passion for the most beautiful girl in school. However, he also has some very unusual complications. As "Speedy," the world's fastest boy, he is part of a secret crew of apprentice superheroes. With its super sponsors from the League of Big Justice, the Sidekick Club helps defend the world against evil. Guy, unfortunately, is assigned to less-than-super Pumpkin Pete ("I have all the powers of a pumpkin!") and his sidekick duties usually involve a lot of clean-up work. But when the super villains of the Brotherhood of Rottenness take out the Big Justice headquarters-and apparently the entire League as well-it is up to the sidekicks to save the day. Comic-book and superhero traditions come in for some broad but good-natured ribbing. Adult good guys speak in exaggerated, mock-heroic tones while villains cackle maniacally and threaten mayhem at every step. The Boy and Girl Wonders bicker among themselves in typical teenage fashion and often show scant respect for the senior factions-good and evil alike. Adults may be put off by some of the adolescent humor, such as the outlaw Le Poop and his bodily stench arsenal, but, like the off-the-wall chapter titles and cartoon illustrations, it's all part of the joke. It's worth considering for readers who have outgrown Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" series (Scholastic) but aren't ready for the adult absurdity of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Crown, 1989).
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dan Danko and Tom Mason are the brains behind MainBrain Productions, a multimedia development company located in Malibu, California. They have written series books for Scholastic, scripts for "Malcolm in the Middle" and several other network TV series, and various other kid-oriented media.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316168459
• ISBN-13: 978-0316168458
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,159,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funniest book I read all year!, September 16, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Sidekicks (Paperback)

Boy in the Plastic Bubble Boy. Spelling Beatrice. Exchange Change Kid. Earlobe Lad. Those are just a few of the funny characters in this book. The main character is 13 year old Speedy, and he's been stuck as sidekick to the superhero Pumpkin Pete, who has a pumpkin for a head and always yells that he's got all the powers of a pumpkin. If you want to laugh at almost every page, this is the perfect book for you. I don't read comic books or anything, but this book was still perfect and so funny. It's all about Speedy's first few weeks as a superhero sidekick and how he's basically a servant to Pumpkin Pete who's always making him do his laundry and stuff. But then when the villain attacks and Speedy's the only one who can save the day! This book makes fun of the superhero world. My favorite character is Boy in the Plastic Bubble Boy. He runs around in his Giant Hamster Ball of Justice and no one can understand what he says because the plastic bubble is too thick. He's just one of the crazy characters in this book. If you read it, you'll laugh until your stomach hurts!

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, February 12, 2009

By 

Matt Shurtleff (Salt Lake City,UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sidekicks (Paperback)

I'm a fifth grade teacher and am always on the lookout for books that will motivate students to read. During my years as a school teacher, I have read dozens of children's books and this is one of the funniest ones I've ever read. One of my favorite parts is when Earlobe Lad screams at the other sidekicks to stop breathing so loud because it hurts his ears. You'll love this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars My 8 year old loved this, December 16, 2004

By 

C. Oliver "Cari Oliver" (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sidekicks (Paperback)

I'm always trying to find story lines that will appeal to my son. He's not into fantasy fiction and has a very keen sense of humor. This book, and it's sequals, kept him giggling in the car, on the couch, in the tub, and way past bedtime. He would come find me to tell me what Spelling Beatrice had just said or what Exact Change Kid did. This book engaged him tremendously - he read it in two days. We'll read them all!