Archvillain (Archvillian Series #1)

by Barry Lyga

Overview

Critically acclaimed author Barry Lyga's middle-grade debut ARCHVILLAIN now in paperback!Kyle Camden knows exactly where he was the night Mighty Mike arrived: sneaking around the fallow field behind Bouring Middle School, preparing one of his most ingenious pranks yet.Which is why he couldn't tell anyone where he was. Or what he saw.Those lights everyone saw in the sky weren't tiny meteors burning up in the atmosphere. They were some kind of strange, supercooled plasma that bathed the entire field -- including Kyle -- in alien energies.Unfortunately, the energies also brought Mighty Mike to Earth. Kyle is the only one who knows that Mighty Mike is an alien. Everyone else thinks that Mike is just some kid who stumbled into the field, got beefed up on meteor juice, lost his memory, and decided to start rescuing kittens from trees. But Kyle knows the truth. And he'll do anything in his power to stop Mighty Mike, even if it means being an Archvillain!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545388894
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Series:	Archvillain Series , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Lexile:	740L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Barry Lyga is the author of ARCHVILLAIN and THE MAD MASK, the first two novels of Kyle Camden's adventures. He's also the author of several critically acclaimed YA novels including THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL, as well as its follow-up, GOTH GIRL RISING; BOY TOY; and HERO-TYPE. Barry lives in Brooklyn, New York. When he's not writing he uses his superpowers to fight crime.

Editorial Reviews

Comic book fans in particular will appreciate this clever origin story, first in a new series. Twelve-year-old prankster Kyle is making mischief at the middle school football field the night a plasma storm falls to earth. After being "bathed in the energy of the storm," he gains amazing superpowers, like heightened intelligence and the ability to fly. He later learns that a boy was found after the storm. Everyone in town assumes this stranger is "a normal kid with superpowers and amnesia," anointing "Mighty Mike" a hero after he uses his powers to extinguish a fire and save kids' lives. But as his memories of the plasma storm return, jealous Kyle is suspicious of the do-gooder's motives, believing it his duty "to expose him for what he is and drive him away." Lyga (Goth Girl Rising) laces his story with ample humor, from the persnickety AI sidekick Kyle makes from his iPod to his failed Pants Laser prank. Readers will find plenty to ponder, from guessing Mike's true motivations to debating whether Kyle is a hero--or a villain in the making. Ages 9–12. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 5–7—Sixth-grader Kyle is smart, popular, and the planner of high-quality pranks. Then an encounter with a mysterious "space plasma" leaves him with cosmic intellect, super-strength, and the ability to fly. Kyle loves his new skills, but decides it's safest to keep them under wraps. However, the plasma has brought something else as well—a strange boy whom Kyle strongly suspects is an alien. Mighty Mike has superpowers too—but he isn't shy about exercising them in public. Mike quickly becomes a sensation with adults as well as kids, even though his good deeds don't always go smoothly. Kyle resents Mike taking over his top-dog status and suspects that the newcomer may have more sinister schemes in mind. He plans a super prank to expose him, but things get disastrously out of hand. There is a subtle underlying message about perception vs. reality. Kyle is not a particularly admirable character. He is self-centered and frequently uses his newfound powers to manipulate people. Much of his vaunted popularity seems to rest on his ability to humiliate others, especially in setting up grudge pranks on request. His crowd is quick to switch allegiance when a new sensation comes along. The author takes some sly digs at popular culture as well. The question of Mike's true identity is left unresolved. Is he an earnest, if somewhat naïve superhero or are Kyle's rather cynical suspicions on track? Who is the good guy and who is really the archvillain? Tune in next time....—Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL

School Library Journal

Twelve-year-old Kyle Camden was an intelligent prankster before getting caught in a plasma storm (NOT a meteor shower) late one night while setting up a practical joke. Now he's super-intelligent and super-strong, and he can fly. Unfortunately, the plasma storm gave similar powers (and amnesia) to "Mike," another 12-year-old, who's a stranger in town. Mike becomes "Mighty Mike," a superhero (in a cape no less), as well as the talk of the town and school. Kyle decides Mike must be shown for the dolt--or alien--he is. Kyle's pranks (in disguise as the Azure Avenger) go horribly wrong, and to the locals Kyle's alter ego appears an archvillain. Will the town, especially best friend Mairi, ever see the truth of the matter? Kyle shares in the telling of his tale through "deciphered" secret journal entries, and the whole is good, snide fun. However, Lyga's first for a younger audience leaves too much unresolved, even for a series kickoff. Less a series opener than the first part of a longer single work, this offers too much setup, too little story. (Funny science fiction. 8-12

Kirkus Reviews