  | Bionic boy Author: Plourde, Lynn | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
A superhero-loving boy born without hands finds the hero inside himself.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/25)
Booklist (08/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 06/30/2025 Fifth grader Benji Ames-Cyr hates being the center of attention. He especially dislikes the stares and comments he gets when people notice he "was born without hands." Living in Maine with Dad and Papa, who adopted him from an overseas orphanage, he’s accustomed to using tools, such as straps to wield utensils. Though he tries to emulate the can-do attitude of his favorite superheroes, he often feels like the opposite of super, particularly because he can’t hold the hand of his spirited seven-year-old sister Becka, who has Down syndrome, to comfort her when she’s overwhelmed or keep her close, as she’s inclined to wander off. Then Benji attends a speech by staff sergeant Dirk Snyder, a "real live superhero" and quadruple amputee who uses a prosthetic arm and legs following an IED explosion. Benji resolves to become more like Snyder, who was "greater than any superhero I’d ever seen before." This uplifting, feel-good narrative by Plourde (Best Buddies) is reinforced by the compassionate support of Benji’s family and friends, particularly from Snyder, whom the white-cued protagonist looks to as he begins to see himself in a new light. Ages 8-12. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Oct.) - Copyright 2025
Booklist - 08/01/2025 Benji was born without hands and is fiercely protective and supportive of his younger sister, Becka, who has Down syndrome. Benji is used to living with no hands, but he’s tired of others only noticing his disability. Even so, he’s not keen on getting prosthetics. However, following his sister’s brave and prize-winning event in the Special Olympics, Benji meets a veteran with prosthetic legs and arms and becomes excited about the prospect. A couple of small side-plots feel dispensable, as they add little to Benji’s and Becka’s stories of resilience, adoption by a male couple, and found family. At its most successful, this is a tale about bravery and not merely living through but absolutely thriving against odds. Told in very short chapters, this will appeal to readers in upper-elementary and middle schools who enjoy realistic fiction and accounts of everyday heroes. For fans of Sharon M. Draper’s Out of My Mind (2010), Cece Bell’s El Deafo (2014), and stories that celebrate children with disabilities. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.
