This is a great choice to highlight during Anti-bullying week and an excellent model of standing up for your friends, even if it feels like the unpopular choice.

This book starts out with a sad beginning leaving your wondering what happened. I'm very interested to see what kids responses will be to the book and the tough issues it deals with. I thought it was all done in a very realistic way.

An easy read and engaging story with a lot of heart and ackward 'school'moments. The dialgue is lively and clearly conveys the sentiments and struggles of the students and characters in the story

There don't seem to be a lot to choose from in middle-grade fiction, but if you look you can usually find some. This one is one of those I don't hear much of anything about, but I ended up really enjoying it!

CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE by J.S. Puller tells the story of a seventh grader who becomes a superhero’s sidekick.

Janey’s goal is to avoid conflict and fly under the radar. However when Captain Superlative arrives bearing acts of kindness, Janey decides to team up with this superhero and take action. This fast-paced and endearing middle school drama explores social themes such as bullying and childhood illness. Elements of humor and authentic characters add to the appeal of the story.

Librarians will find youth drawn to this story of courage and kindness. Feature it along with other positive school stories with a message.

Published by Disney Book Group on May 8, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Every character adds to the story, and plot centers on the small acts that cumulatively, make a huge difference.

While this book was contrived and surely took place in a fictional middle school, it would be a school I’d want to be at. To have the courage to be yourself, to dare, to be “weird” and to be constantly giving and optimistic shouldn’t be restricted to the dying. Besides, we’re all dying in a sense - we just don’t all have the agenda in front of us. Such a great debut novel!

I wish I could give this more than five stars. This was stellar - excellent - superlative. The characters are endearing, but it's the heart and the message of the story that won me over. This is a bullying story on one simple level, but it's really so much more. Highly recommend this one! Right now this is my favorite read of 2018.

I went into this book somewhat dismissive. How quickly I was corrected. It's funny because I can point to specific elements that would normally annoy me: making excuses for bullies, ill children living freely, the bullied kids coming together to defy the bully. I would normally be rolling my eyes at such moments. Instead I enjoyed most of it, because it's so much more. It's an exploration of putting kindness into the world even when it has been treating you unfairly. It's determining your legacy. It's being fearlessly weird. It's pain and joy. Dynamic, appealing characters in a halfway believable plot.

Captain Superlative by J S Puller is a great middle school book. The book is about living your life even when you are not long for the world. It also has a great secondary plot line about bullying and abuse. The book is well written and the topics are introduced and dealt with in a thoughtful manner.

Janey has been hiding since her mom died. However when Captain Superlative comes to school and starts doing good deeds and helping people, Janey starts to come out of her shell. As Captain Superlative’s sidekick, she is helping stop the bullying and meanness in her school. Until the day, she finds out more about Captain Superlative and suddenly she isn’t sure she can help anyone.

This book is one I would want for my students to read and one I will add to my list of books to buy. Captain Superlative is a stupendous, superb, stunning, superlative read.

The foreshadowing that Captain Superlative kept me reading with such curiosity because I couldn't imagine what happened to her nor a superhero character in a realistic book. And, wow. I'm so glad I read this powerful book! Both my daughter and I fell in love with this story. Captain Superlative has a thoughtful plot with captivating characters. The big lesson our main character, Janey, learns is to not stand by when injustice happens. She learns this from a girl dressed in a swimsuit, wig, mask, and high tops who arrives at her middle school and changes everything -- Captain Superlative. Read this with a book club or with your child -- there's so much to talk about!

This book makes me want to be a better person. Absolutely loved this heartwarming but heart wrenching story! I feel like donning tights and a cape and seeing how many ways I can help people today. This book will encourage bravery, selflessness and empathy. Cannot wait to share with students.

Janey has learned that in middle school it is best to blend in, not stand out or you risk becoming a victim of Dagmar's bullying - like Paige. But then, all of a sudden, Captain Superlative arrives in her blue wig, cape, and good deeds. She stands up for the bullied, holds the door open for kids, helps people with tests. She is amazing and soon Janey finds herself joining Captain Superlative. Soon she is noticed for all the right reasons and Dagmar seems to be losing her command. But then Janey learns Captain Superlative's secret and is confused, angry, and scared. Can Janey find the courage to take up Captain Superlative's mantle?
I have really been struggling to find time to read. Long days at school - some stresses and disappointments - and then too tired to focus on my reading. I have been chipping away at this for about a week and had only got 1/2 through. But then tonight I really dove in and became entranced. Yes, it has some flaws - I find it hard to believe that Dagmar's situation was allowed to go on as long as it did - but it was a good story. There was good growth in the characters and a good message.

Janey, is an ordinary middle school student. She is happy to live her life invisible. Until she meets Captain Superlative who is the epitome of everything she fears. Once she becomes her sidekick her life quickly changes. I recommend this book for grades 7 and up.

A seventh grade girl who wants nothing more than to remain unseen gets pulled into the spotlight by a classmate with a secret identity. As the girl begins to face her anxiety, she learns that bravery doesn’t mean an absence of fears: it means moving ahead despite them. Debut author J.S. Puller gives middle grade readers an endearing story in the funny, touching novel Captain Superlative.

Jane Silverman doesn’t want anyone to pay attention to her. She’s content to live in the shadows. Life at Deerwood Park Middle School isn’t awful, but bully Dagmar Hagen makes sure that people listen to her. Jane’s seen firsthand how mean Dagmar can be, and like all the other kids she keeps her head down and minds her own business.

Then, one day, someone comes to school who makes it impossible for everyone to keep to themselves.

She calls herself Captain Superlative, and she comes to school dressed in a bathing suit—in January, no less—and neon-blue tights. A blue wig and a red mask hide her true identity, but they can’t hold back her enthusiasm as she addresses all the students as “citizens” and reassures them she’s there “to make all trouble disappear!” Dagmar and her groupies have a field day making fun of the mystery girl, but Captain Superlative either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

At first, Jane wants to ignore the odd girl like everyone else does. When Captain Superlative steps in to stop Dagmar from attacking another student, Jane finds the guts to speak up on the student’s behalf too. With her trademark enthusiasm, Captain Superlative decides Jane will be her sidekick and they’ll dedicate their time to helping others: opening doors for teachers when their hands are full, handing out study guides before a big test, even collecting litter from the sidewalks.

Soon, Jane catches the spirit of caring and ignores the shrinking part of herself that demands she remain hidden. With Captain Superlative by her side, she knows she can do anything. Then Jane finds out a secret about the person she’s come to admire so much, and she’ll have to decide whether she can really be a hero—this time for herself.

Author J.S. Puller nails the middle school atmosphere on the head. Jane’s voice is crystal clear, and many readers in the target audience will identify with her deep desire to stay out of the spotlight and, by association, out of trouble. On the surface, the description of Captain Superlative’s outfits and behavior might seem silly. Puller, however, creates a character who can see life for what it is. Captain Superlative may have a sweet nature and seem like an explosion of optimism, but she doesn’t hesitate to let the bully, Dagmar, know that some behaviors won’t be tolerated. It’s refreshing to see a middle grade character with such inner strength as well as deep conviction.

A few of the book’s elements ring a little too serendipitous. Because of the way Puller sets up the story in the opening scenes, readers will already know the ending even before they meet Captain Superlative. It’s a shame, too, because part of Captain Superlative’s charm is in her seemingly endless zest for helping others. When she reveals a secret to Jane, some of the dramatic impact of that secret is lost due to the setup. By the same token, more sensitive readers may appreciate knowing what’s coming.

Even with that minor drawback, Captain Superlative is an excellent read, and I highly recommend readers Bookmark it!

Ah, Captain Superlative. The title is a little misleading, because I mistakenly thought this book might have something to do with English/grammar so I was not in a hurry to read it. What a mistake that was! This story is a wild ride that is surprising and amazing with its twists and turns. At certain points in the book, I was sure one character was imaginary and in another, I was sure the inevitable would not happen. Instead, it unfolds exactly how it is supposed to and reminds the reader of some very important life lessons in the very best way. I sincerely wish for every reader to have a Captain Superlative and sidekick in their life to remind us what is important.

Captain Superlative is the story of Janey, a perfectly ordinary junior high student who's content to live in the shadows. More than content, actually--it's what she strives for. She's been in the spotlight once, as the "poor girl who just lost her mother" and she never wants to be there again, so she floats through school each day, making as few ripples as she can, feeling bad when she witnesses the school bully tormenting her favorite target but not doing anything about it.

But then Captain Superlative shows up, seemingly unfazed by all of the things that scare Janey the most, and her presence both fascinates and terrifies her. Almost before she realizes what is happening, Janey has become the Captain's sidekick, and together they are making the world a better place for all of the citizens entrusted to their care. But Captain Superlative's cape and wig and suit hide a pretty big secret, and Janey has to decide for herself how she means to go forward in life. Can she go back to being invisible? Does she even want to ?

I loved watching Janey become a part of the world around her through the course of this book. Some things are left out of the narrative here--Captain Superlative's actual ending, the bully's reformation--but that was okay. As a former junior high teacher I still have a hard time believing that every single adult at the school could be totally blind to the other side of the bully--maybe their school was just that much bigger than mine? Still, this is a sweet story with a good message that it manages to tell with out hitting the reader too hard over the head with it. I definitely recommend for classrooms and libraries everywhere.

Just be sure to have tissues handy! Boxes and boxes of them...

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I know my students will enjoy CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE by J. S. Puller. With the popularity of Wonder and the Kindness movement, they ask for more books that deal with bullying and diversity.

Janey or as her dad calls her, Janey! is a relatable character - even to adults. It's not easy to be the one to stand up to a bully, but when you do, there's a ripple effect. Not that it excuses Dagmar behavior, seeing a small glimpse into her home life gives the reader a small understanding of why.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe Dagmar ever apologized. Not even a hit of shame or asking to be forgiven. With the years of torment she directed at Paige, the ending was just a little unsatisfying. Perhaps that was the intent

CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE is a well-written middle grade story of friendship, courage, and looking beyond one’s own challenges to touch the lives of others. The diverse cast of strong middle school girls face some big and scary problems in a variety of ways. One girl withdraws, one reaches out, one lashes out. This book would make a good class read as it demonstrates the power of small kindnesses. The cover made me think the intended audience was a tad younger than the content is geared for. The problems the characters face are substantial and realistic for upper elementary readers.

I received a pre-release copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest feedback.

As I started this book, I was hoping to find a new summer reading book or novel study book to use in the classroom. Unfortunately, I do not anticipate using the book in either capacity, but will likely add it to my classroom library for students to choose or possibly use it as a read-aloud

I loved the messages in this story. In seeing more and more self-involvement and bullying with students today, I think the acts of showing simple kindnesses and the differences they can make was wonderful. I also liked that the background stories of Dagmar and Caitlyn were withheld for much of the book, showing that we don't always know the reasons for people's actions.

I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Janey and her father. In reading their scenes, I could truly imagine the love and affection they had for each other. And, the humor made it even more entertaining.

The reasons I will not be adopting this title as required reading include its slow progression and the difficult themes. My reluctant readers would not get past the first couple of chapters due to the slow start to the story. As it progresses, it improves somewhat and does include a lot of dialogue to help it along, but the ebbs and flows would not have enough action to engage those who do not enjoy reading. Also, the themes, although important and well-presented, would be difficult for some students. Requiring a book involving bullying, abuse, loss of parent, death of youth, etc. would be rejected by many of the parents in the area in which I teach. It was an emotional read for me as an adult, so would likely have a similar effect on students.

Overall, I did enjoy the book once it got moving. I think it appropriately discussed many issues we see in schools today. I would recommend the book to some parents and students, and I would make it available in my classroom, but I would have difficulty incorporating it for classroom activities.