I really enjoyed reading this aloud to my students and they thought it was great too! We had some great conversations from it about taking care of yourself, not just others. It was a great novel for upper elementary and I think middle school would be great too. They loved the illustrations and the whole storyline.

It take a lot of work to be a superhero who's power is to keep the other superhero's safe but that's Portico Reeve's job. Its even harder when his parents spend all their time in the "mean time" arguing. Portico is struggling to juggling friends, family and even the apartment bully. Hilarious and heartbreaking all at the same time - this is a must purchase for any middle school library!

I finally had a chance to sit down and read Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Raul the Third. It's really outstanding. I loved the art, the themes, and especially the creative flow of the narrative. I can't wait to get it into kids hands soon.

In this illustrated chapter book from the incomparable Jason Reynolds and Raúl the Third, we meet Portico Reeves, aka Stuntboy. Portico is navigating challenges with a neighbor kid, his parents’ constant arguing, and “the frets” (anxiety) with the help of his best friend Zola and his not-so-secret identity. Stuntboy is a fast-paced read with captivating illustrations. Lots of kids will relate to the things Stuntboy is dealing with, and others will enjoy this unique window into Portico’s apartment-living, multigenerational household.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC to review.

Who hasn't dreamed about having superpowers? Whether you want to become invisible, fly, or read minds, I think we can all relate to Portico and his calling to keep his loved ones safe. Portico's parents share that they are going to live in two apartments in the same building and proceed to have many disagreements "in the Mean Time" about who will get certain meaningful items. As Portico realizes that his parents are separating permanently, he struggles with who will get to keep him...all while keeping his identity a secret, protecting his family and friends, and battling his archnemesis.

I absolutely loved the hybrid format of this book. It will hold the attention of even the most hesitant readers. The story shifts between a traditional novel, a graphic novel, and a picture book. All of the visual interest perfectly supports the story. I am not at all surprised that Jason Reynolds has once again written a stunning book. Be sure to pick up a copy of Stuntboy, in the Meantime; you'll thank me later!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

There isn't anything Jason Reynolds touches that isn't gold. This solidifies it for me. Fantastic illustrated chapter book that should be added to every elementary and middle school libraries. Lovers of Jerry Craft's and Jeff Kiney's books will eat this up!

Is there anything Jason Reynolds can’t write? I found Stuntboy, In the Meantime an engaging, unique read that middle grade kids will flock to. Reynolds has a way of making very serious topics more accessible by adding a no nonsense humor to his stories. The voice in this book was perfect and I found myself wanting to read it out loud to really hear the cadence. It sounds just like Jason Reynolds talks! The illustrations were amazing and I absolutely loved the format of intermixing the illustrations and the text. This is a format we need more of in the world of middle grade literature! I wished there was a bit more of a conclusion to the story but a book that ends in “to be continued” means we can expect more of this awesome duo! Looking forward to the next installment!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, NetGalley, and LibroFM's Educator ALC program for complimentary advanced reading and listening copies of this title.

This book was so much fun to read as well as listen to. I wasn't sure how such a highly illustrated book would translate to audiobook format, but it works! There are so many great things between the pages that kids need to see in their books - the characters are all non-white, Stuntboy deals with anxiety and he finds meditation helpful, his parents are separating, and there's a bully in his apartment complex. Jason Reynolds tackled some heavy topics with humor and friendship. My almost 12-year old some enjoyed both the book and audiobook just as much as I did. I highly recommend it for the kids in your life!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. I like graphic novels when they are done well, and this was not. The graphics themselves were the strongest part of this story. Unfortunately, the story was not strong at all. The talking down to the reader felt very contrived. The confusion and misunderstandings that Portico has feel like they should happen to a much younger character. The ending is not clear cut, it just ends, I thought my copy got cut off. Very disappointing.

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this to review! You know that pretty much anything Jason Reynolds will immediately go on my to-read list. And he’s shown that there probably isn’t anything that he can’t write! Stuntboy is a fun book that many middle grade readers will find themselves relating to.

This is an illustrated chapter book, kind of along the lines of something like Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The overall tone of the novel is fun and lighthearted, reading like episodes of a TV show. Part of what makes this book so funny and entertaining is the way the story is told. The hybrid format of the book will help hit that audience that love graphic novels, too. Add on the superhero format, and you’ve definitely got yourself a winner

Reynolds also puts concepts into terms that kids can understand. One of the best examples of this is Portico’s struggle with anxiety, which he calls “The Frets.” These are feelings that a lot of kids probably have, and they can work through them the way that Portico does. It’s effective, and just adds to the overall story.

All in all, this is a book that a lot of kids I think will be drawn to. I’m hoping that this is the start of a new series, because I don’t think Portico’s story is done quite yet.

Jason Reynolds does it again! *chef's kiss* AND *heart eyes*

Topics discussed within:
- bullying
- parents getting a divorce
- anxiety and coping strategies
- apartment living vs. house-in-the-suburbs living
- not liking reading

This book is perfect for strong-reading 1st graders, 2nd graders, 3rd graders, and maybe low-level-reading 4th graders.

Portico Reeve's is my new favorite superhero. His superpower is making sure that all of the other superheroes (the everyday superheroes) stay super and stay safe. The thing he is trying to hide though is that his parents are fighting all of the time, and now they are moving into two different apartments. All of the fighting gives Portico the frets or what his mom calls anxiety. How can he keep being super with these frets?

I love the way this book is told. Part graphic novel, part prose, part music in your own head. At first, I had a hard time figuring out how to read this with some of the writing being in graphic novel format and some being in traditional text but there were actual arrows on some of the pages showing you what to read. As you moved further into the book you needed this page clues less and less.

I also just love Portico. He was so much fun to read about. He is a great friend, son, grandson, and cat owner. How he deals with his "frets" are good techniques for all kids and a very realistic picture of what anxiety and bullying look like at this age level. I can't wait to recommend this book!

I'll read anything Jason Reynolds puts out: prose, verse, YA, Middle Grade. Whatever. And I LOVE that he is willing to branch out and reach so many more readers with different kinds of writing.

This times it's a half prose, half illustrated story about Portico, a boy who's having a bit of a rough go. His parents won't stop fighting, the building bully won't leave him alone, and he struggles with anxiety. He decides that becoming a hero who protects others is the answer, and what follows is a series of hilarious, heartfelt moments in the life of Stuntboy.

While I'm not usually a fan of stuff for younger readers, the way Reynolds and Raul the Third approach Portico's story is engaging and fun. I prefer Portico's story as opposed to the super hero television show sprinkled throughout the book, but that's just this reader's opinion--I know many of my students will love the episodes.

Jason Reynolds does it again I enjoyed this book and can see students enjoying it as well. This story is about a boy that lives in an apartment building, his parents are getting a divorce, he has a new best friend, and there is a bully in the building. I enjoyed how the characters were developed and the illustrations were a great addition as well. I can see this book being popular in the library.

What you want in a book for 3rd through 6th graders:

A character like Portico with a real-life problem - parents who love their kid but fight with each other.
A flaw, like anxiety, that feels overwhelming.
A friend, like Zola, who likes superhero TV and movies.
A nemesis, like Herbert, who is a tease and a bully.
A setting, like an apartment house full of memorable characters.
Lots and lots of funny parts!
A pitch-perfect authorial voice.
Plenty of superlative illustrations you will want to look at again and again.
The promise of a sequel.

This book has it all. Every elementary and middle school library as well as lots of classrooms need this book.

Stuntboy, In the Meantime is another winner by Jason Reynolds. Stuntboy is for a younger crowd (2nd-5th grade) than most of his other books, but still covers important topics like friendship, divorce, anxiety. Portico Reeves, aka Stuntboy, has parents who are always fighting… over everything in their apartment! This gives Portico the “frets” as his mom calls it - anxiety. His best friend Zola helps him learn to fight his anxiety by becoming a superhero and trying to look at things in a different way. This book is fun and colorful and has a great cast of characters. The drawings are amazing and I can’t wait to see it in print!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Stuntboy is Portico Reeve's hidden superhero. He springs into action when someone needs to be distracted from an argument or to rescue a friend from a bully. These awkward actions are done with love and to help Portico cope with unnerving situations.
Reynolds has created a lovable character that resonates with middle grade readers. The action and humor work together to pull readers in. The artwork helps readers visualize the action and use their own imagination to flesh out the scenes. They will connect with feelings of anxiety, family arguments, separations and divorces, bullying, etc. Reynolds weaves these themes together in his new superhero simply trying to handle life.

Stunt boy, in the Meantime is a good mix of story, comics, and highly engaging illustrations. I think the kids will all pick it up based on the cover. However, I think they may be a bit disappointed when they read it. Portico, the main character, seems immature for a ten year old. I can't really see a boy In middle school acting like a super hero. Also, the book seemed to drag on and on for me, especially when I got to the end, and there was no resolution to the story. That was a real turn off. That said, I will probably still buy it for my library based on the format, the diversity, and the popularity of the author. Not everyone likes the same books as I do.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure what to expect upon seeing that Jason Reynolds now has a graphic novel in his collection of creative works, but I guess I can't be surprised that once again he has knocked it out of the park. The title was confusing to me when I began reading, but as I began understanding the dynamic Portico, the main character, is dealing with between his parents, it made more sense. Every time they begin arguing (which is often), and then realize he is nearby, they tell him that everything is fine and they are just disagreeing, and, in the meantime, he should go do some other task away from them. Reynolds understands that kids don't always put two and two together when it comes to their families, and Portico is no different. Any adult reading the book would understand that his parents' bickering and arguing about who will get what for each of their new apartments isn't about enriching Portico's life by giving him two places to live, but they are instead separating and Portico will be living a life of joint parental custody. Portico deals a lot with anxiety ("the frets"), but Reynolds shows some coping strategies he uses, which could be beneficial to students who are dealing with some of the same situations Portico finds himself in, such as his parents' separation and bullying from another character in the book. Portico is a very empathetic character, using his stuntboy skills to help others whenever he can. Having a best friend, a grandmother on his side, and a cat of considerable character gives Portico some advantages to handling his worries. Readers will pick it up thinking it is just a fun graphic novel (I think after this, Jason Reynolds should turn Look Both Ways into a graphic novel. His humor would really shine in that format for it, too, based on this book!), and will finish it with a deeper understanding of how to help others as well as themselves.

Anyone who knows me and who follows this blog knows I am a huge Jason Reynold's fan. This was an exciting ARC for me to read because I know my students will devour it. Not only is the graphic design amazing, the story it tells and the characters in it are quite real and relatable!

Portico Reeves is a boy who worries about others. He wants to make sure everyone in his life stays super and he does that by turning himself into Stuntboy and using his spectacular stunt skills to keep everything in his life in order. However, when his parents start fighting and they keep telling Portico to find something to do in the "meantime", Stuntboy knows he has his work cut out for him!

Kids of all ages will love this book and I can only hope it turns into a long lasting series!