How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman

Release: October 19, 2021
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Publisher: Holiday House
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Ten-year-old Addie knows that Superheroes aren’t real, and that they certainly don’t hide out in retirement communities, but she may just have to change her mind.

Addie and her mom never stay in one place too long. They’ve been up and down and all around the country. When her mom, Tish, gets a new job at Happy Valley Village Retirement Community in Pennsylvania, Addie believes they’ll be on the road again in a month. But this time, something is different–make that, someone. Mr. Norris, a grumpy resident of Happy Valley and. . .a former superhero?

Well, that’s what Marwa, whose mom also works at Happy Valley, would try and have Addie believe. Addie and her friend Dickson know better even if there are things they can’t explain. Like the time Mr. Norris was about to get hit by a car and was suddenly on the other side of the road or the way his stare seems to take root in Addie’s stomach.

When a man starts prowling the Happy Valley grounds, claiming to be the great-nephew of a resident, Addie, Marwa, and Dickson soon stumble into a grand conspiracy involving the Manhattan Project, a shady weapons company, and the fate of the human race, in this smart, funny middle grade novel.

About the Author:

Ruth Freeman is the author of One Good Thing About America, which received a Golden Kite Honor Award and was called a “touching novel” by School Library Journal.

Ruth grew up in rural Pennsylvania but now lives in Maine where she teaches English language learners in an elementary school.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

How to Save a Superhero Review:

“How to Save a Superhero” is a charming middle-grade novel with a unique plot that I liked reading.

Firstly, I commend the author for writing such a creative plot. What happens when you hear someone from the retirement home is a potential superhero? The tagline had me hooked to the story, and I enjoyed reading it.

The highlight of the story is the characters. Addie is adorable in the role. I loved her zest for exploring and how she teams up with the cast to solve various mysteries, like the one with the missing pearls. Mr. Norris is also another highlight of the tale. While he is a question mark of being a superhero, I liked how he supports Addie, for instance, with Mrs. Sloat.
Similarly, Dickson is hilarious as he teams up with Addie to learn about Mr. Norris’s past. Also, Addie has a beautiful relation with Tish, and I adored the bond they shared. The author also had me chuckling at a few moments, like when Tish and Addie talk about stewed prunes. But, my favorite character was Marwa. I just loved her to bits.

Moreover, I liked how the author wrote the story. There are quite a few small plots that interconnect somehow, and Addie never has a dull moment. Characters like Mrs. Sloat and Marcus Fox added nicely to the story, and even the premise of whether Mr. Norris was a superhero or not intrigued me. I also enjoyed the events at the Halloween party that led to an exciting climax.

Overall, I enjoyed reading “How to Save a Superhero” and found it an intriguing middle-grade novel. I will miss the Happy Valley Village Retirement community’s residents and hope to revisit these characters soon in the future.

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of HOW TO SAVE A SUPERHERO, US Only.

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the How to Save a Superhero by Ruth Freeman Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!