My So-Called Superpowers

Gr 4–6—Veronica is desperate to fit in with the cool kids at school. Too bad they mostly ignore her—until one day when Veronica's wishes and emotions begin to manifest themselves into actual events. Trying to avoid a bully, Veronica disappears. When her crush ignores her for another girl, she turns green with envy. While her best friend Charlie seems to think her new superpowers are pretty cool, Veronica can't help wonder if they're really just "stupidpowers." And when both a new guidance counselor and Veronica's nemesis start to take too much interest in her, and threaten to expose her secret, Veronica wonders if it's really all worth a little extra attention from those cool kids. Veronica's middle school escapades will seem familiar to readers trying to navigate cliques and new friendships, but her not-so-super powers are a fun twist on a familiar narrative and are delightfully presented in both the text and some cleverly drawn illustrations. Her warm relationship with her quirky father is a highlight and standout in the book. A side mystery involving her long-lost mother is less developed. Some of the side characters will feel a little one-dimensional and clichéd to savvy readers of middle school fiction. The ending is rushed and clunky, although it leaves room for some interesting follow-ups to this origin story.