In Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, Sally J. Pla captures the challenges of moving through a world that can sometimes feel too big to face and introduces a character that readers cannot help but root for. A fun, vibrant story full of humanity and heart!
Stanley’s anxiety and sensory processing disorder are portrayed in a sensitive and relatable way...refreshing.
Stanley is an eminently lovable underdog!
Stanley Fortinbras is a master of superhero lore, an artist, a kid who deeply feels the impact of his surroundings, and a protagonist with enough heart and soul for a thousand comic-con attendees. Readers of Stanley Will Probably Be Fine will be much more than fine; they’ll be elated.
11/01/2017
Gr 3–6—Stanley Fortinbras is not excited about seventh grade at Peavey Middle School. Stan has sensory processing disorder and when his environment becomes too chaotic, he begins to worry. He gets "red alerts" from Principal Coffin's safety drills, crowds, too much noise, and all the ways that his brother, Calvan, picks on him. Recently, his best friend Joon has begun to drift away and hang out with the more popular kids. Stan is an expert on comic trivia and comics comfort him when life gets to be too much. When Stan is called to the stage to participate in one of Principal Coffin's safety drills, he passes out. Humiliated in front of the whole school, Stanley is escorted to the office where he meets with the school psychologist. She gives him a relaxation technique and shows him a room he can visit whenever he feels overwhelmed and needs time to himself. In his "ready room," Stan finds a giant sketch pad on an easel and a box of markers. Drawing helps Stan relax, so he begins to sketch and creates his very own superhero named John Lockdown. Now, Stanley has entered Trivia Quest and must face his fear of crowds, talking to people, and busses. He is paired with his fearless new neighbor, Liberty. But Liberty has a secret that may affect the outcome of the Trivia Quest. The story encourages students to see the best in others and to understand that sometimes people are going through difficulties that cannot be seen. VERDICT An excellent addition to promote social-emotional learning.—Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY
★ 2017-10-30
Superheroes can be found in unlikely places.Middle schooler Stanley Fortinbras has a sensory-processing disorder and experiences anxiety, both of which make the principal's many emergency preparedness drills difficult for him to handle. When he passes out at a safety assembly, he's sent to school counselor Mrs. Ngozo, an African-American woman, who creates a Ready Room for him: a quiet place where he can go when school becomes too chaotic. It's here that John Lockdown, hero of the underdog, is born. Stanley, son of a "dark," Morocco-born French father and white mother, is no superhero, but he does have a superpower: comic-book trivia. When his best friend, Joon (who is Korean), suggests they enter Trivia Quest, a comics treasure hunt that takes place all over San Diego, Stanley's mind reels with both possible and unlikely worse-case scenarios. After Stanley and Joon have a disagreement, Stanley asks his new neighbor, confident white girl Liberty, to go with him instead. To get through the stress of the day, Stanley creates his own way to manage his out-of-control thoughts and the resultant paralyzing fear: What would Lockdown do? The story never dumbs down or oversimplifies Stanley; he's a multidimensional character of great depth who gradually learns how to calm his worried mind, and the book avoids patronizing readers with a false sense of everything's-right-with-the-world.Add to the growing list of intelligent books about kids whose brains operate outside the norm. (Fiction. 8-12)
In Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, Sally J. Pla captures the challenges of moving through a world that can sometimes feel too big to face and introduces a character that readers cannot help but root for. A fun, vibrant story full of humanity and heart!” — Booki Vivat, New York Times bestselling author of Frazzled
“Stanley Fortinbras is a master of superhero lore, an artist, a kid who deeply feels the impact of his surroundings, and a protagonist with enough heart and soul for a thousand comic-con attendees. Readers of Stanley Will Probably Be Fine will be much more than fine; they’ll be elated.” — Mike Jung, author of Unidentified Suburban Object
“Stanley is an eminently lovable underdog!” — Leslie Connor, author of All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
“An excellent addition to promote social-emotional learning.” — School Library Journal
★ “[Stanley is] a multidimensional character of great depth who gradually learns how to calm his worried mind. Add to the growing list of intelligent books about kids whose brains operate outside the norm.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Stanley’s anxiety and sensory processing disorder are portrayed in a sensitive and relatable way. Refreshing.” — Booklist
“Comics fans and young readers who experience the world more intensely than their peers will love this one.” — BookPage.com
Comics fans and young readers who experience the world more intensely than their peers will love this one.
