Stuntboy, In Between Time

LoveReading4Kids Says

September 2023 Book of the Month

We absolutely adore Jason Reynolds' writing and were delighted (but unsurprised) to discover that Stuntboy, In-Between Time delivers another delicious slice of the writer’s trademark wit, heart, and understanding of young readers. It offers an un-put-down-able, empathy-packed injection of super-hero hi-jinks, comic book pizzazz, and anxiety-zapping magic alongside showing the value of family, friends and community.

This second Stuntboy adventure sees Portico (AKA said Stuntboy!) and his best friends Zola and Herbert (formerly Herbert the Worst) find themselves the potential perfect base when they stumble upon an empty apartment in their block, Skylight Gardens. For some background, when life gets a bit tricky and uncomfortable, Portico finds that “everything in his body gets uncomfortable too. He calls this… the frets.” And right now, Portico’s parents’ split is giving him a serious case of the frets — he feels like he’s in-between, all the time.

As an adventure involving escaped iguanas and battling bullies plays out against a backdrop of Portico’s anxiety around his parents split, readers will be entertained and thrilled alongside learning about tough real-life situations — Reynolds really is the king of knowing how to engage and support young readers.

In addition, the comic book style interjections that break the fourth wall are brilliantly inspired and super-funny, thanks to the spot-on dynamic between Reynolds’ text and Raul the Third’s fabulous illustrations. What a book, and what a series!

Joanne Owen

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