The Super Life of Ben Braver (Ben Braver Series #1)

by Marcus Emerson, Marcus Emerson (Illustrator)

Overview

An extraordinary boy ends up at an extraordinary school for children with super powers in the first book in a new middle-grade series from Marcus Emerson, author of Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja.

Ben Braver is an ordinary kid. All he wants to do is finish his summer watching awesome TV shows and eating his favorite candy. But when some kid screams for help, Ben, like his favorite comic book heroes, tries to save the day. Let's just say it ends badly. But it does lead him to a secret school where kids with super abilities learn to control their powers. Ben's never had any powers—and never thought he could be special. So when he's offered a spot at the school, Ben realizes this is his chance to become the superhero he's always dreamed of.

Packed with black-and-white art and comic strips throughout, The Super Life of Ben Braver is the first book in a hilarious adventure series about the greatness that lies within any middle schooler who dreams big.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250294340
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/05/2019
Series:	Ben Braver Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	176,310
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Marcus Emerson is the author of the hit Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series and the Secret Agent 6th Grader series. His career started in 2nd grade when he discovered Garfield. He grew up playing Super Mario Bros. 4, watching Thundercats, and reading comics like X-Men, Superman, and Wildcats. He lives in Eldridge, Iowa with his wife and children.

Marcus Emerson is the author of the hit Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series and the Secret Agent 6th Grader series. His career started in 2nd grade when he discovered Garfield. He grew up playing Super Mario Bros. 4, watching Thundercats, and reading comics like X-Men, Superman, and Wildcats. He lives in Eldridge, Iowa with his wife and children.

Editorial Reviews

"Fans of superhero fiction will laugh out loud and identify with aggressively regular Ben. Just the right mix of mystery and kooky fun.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A clever hybrid novel that’s sure to be a hit with the comic-cartoon crowd and fans of superhero tales.” —School Library Journal

“A crazy fun ride—action packed and loaded with laughs!” —Max Brallier, New York Times–bestselling author of The Last Kids On Earth

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
Gr 4–6—Ben Braver's dad calls him "creative" and his mom says Ben is a "free spirt," but Ben thinks he's just a typical, boring 11-year-old boy. He's spending the summer at home watching old Batman reruns starring Adam West, reading comics, and dreaming of becoming a superhero. His whole life changes when he has a craving for a peanut butter cup. He sets off on his bike for the local gas station to buy the delicious treat and return home. But events result in a big detour when he hears someone crying for help. Though his intervention doesn't go well, he winds up getting selected to attend a school for kids with super abilities—that is, if the school doesn't find out he has no superpowers. Entertaining "zip-pop-go" action is divided into 53 brief chapters and accompanied by numerous black-and-white cartoon illustrations. VERDICT A clever hybrid novel that's sure to be a hit with the comic-cartoon crowd and fans of superhero tales.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego

School Library Journal

2017-12-23
Ben Braver: superhero or superzero?With best friend Finn moved away, Ben Braver has spent the summer binge-watching Adam West-era Batman, playing video games alone, and reading comics…and wishing to be a hero. When he responds to a cry for help, the resultant conflict with school bully (and evidently supervillain) Dexter Dunn leaves Ben frozen—literally. Ben is whisked away from the hospital by mysterious, old Donald Kepler, who invites Ben to Kepler Academy, "a secret school for kids with special abilities," hinting Ben may have "abilities" of his own. Once Ben's sure it's not an elaborate prank, he agrees, wondering what his superpower…er, "ability" will be when it manifests. However, Kepler Academy is no school for training heroes à la the Xavier Institute of X-Men fame; aside from ordinary classes, Kepler trains its students not to use their powers. While Ben tries to figure out why Kepler recruited him, he and his fireball-belching roommate, Noah, and their small-animal-controlling friend, Penny, uncover a mystery. Can they figure out what's causing students to act like zombies (and eat worms!)? With this title, Emerson launches a new series narrated by sarcastic sixth-grader Ben. The inline comics proffer punchlines and extra laughs (some are metacomments on the action of the tale); in the illustrations, black-haired Ben and blonde Penny are depicted with light skin and Noah with dark. Fans of superhero fiction will laugh out loud and identify with the aggressively regular Ben.Just the right mix of mystery and kooky fun. (Graphic/adventure hybrid. 7-12)

Kirkus Review