Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Dull Boy

by Sarah Cross (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 484 ratings · 119 reviews

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you?re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you?re a former jock turned freak, you can?t afford to let the secret slip. But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they?re more than just freaks?t...more

Hardcover, 308 pages

Published May 14th 2009 by Dutton Juvenile (first published February 12th 2009)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2009 Debutantes

27th out of 59 books — 414 voters

Books for 2009

116th out of 554 books — 2,366 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,419)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was waiting for me when I moved back home from the dorms, and I picked it up and devoured it that night. (And I went to sleep early, since I needed to wake up the next day to drive.) Boy, did it hit most of my <3 buttons. (It does star a group of superheroes. That's number one.)

I liked Avery, who doesn't really think of using his superstrength and flight for anything other than protecting those who need it. Of course, he has some control issues that end up making him look like a del...more This book was waiting for me when I moved back home from the dorms, and I picked it up and devoured it that night. (And I went to sleep early, since I needed to wake up the next day to drive.) Boy, did it hit most of my <3 buttons. (It does star a group of superheroes. That's number one.)

I liked Avery, who doesn't really think of using his superstrength and flight for anything other than protecting those who need it. Of course, he has some control issues that end up making him look like a delinquent. (Not to mention he keeps breaking things at home.) Of course, his power incontinence is nothing compared to Nicholas's.

I think I loved Darla most. (Well, aside from Catherine, but that's a given. She's sarcastic, hard-working, and has way cool powers.) Her power is her intelligence - and it didn't come with social skills, though she seems to think so. She's the uber-geek, ready to form them into a team on par with the X-men. Of course, some of the others doubt there is practical application for their powers. It's fun to watch them all go out together and find lost girls or stop a mugger. All of them want a place to belong, like any teenager, with or without superpowers.

And that's exactly what Cherchette is offering. But she gives off a bad vibe that has nothing to do with her ice powers. Should they trust that she can help them with their powers, or should they continue to stumble along on their own? And if one of them does accept her offer, what about Sarah, whose power wasn't considered valuable enough?

I really enjoyed this origins tale. (I also really hope the ending was a set-up for the next adventure.) It's pretty light, but Nicholas's power might be disturbing to some readers. I know I found some of the implications creepy. Sarah Cross does paint a believable dark side to waking up with superpowers. Along with the ending, I hope that there's a sequel because I believe there's still more of these characters to explore. We know some about their home lives and dreams, but there's more to be plumbed. (And more romance to develop too!)

And can I mention that I loved the use of comic book font? It was a nice touch of design.(less)

like · see review

Jun 06, 2011 Dana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-never-finished, just-no

So what do you whenyou have amazing powers? Do you protect yourself from Bullies, save yourself from public humiliation along with your friends or are you gonna whine about it and do stupid things?

Apparently... The "hero" on this book is the third option. The protagonist Averyflies every night for some superpower action and (surprise!) finds nothing. Then accidentally meets three weird people and find out they're like him. Because he had the idea to save someone, he gets in trouble with the cops...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 11, 2010 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

It’s not every day you wake up and realise that you can fly, wake up and realise that you’re actually a whole lot more ‘special’ than you first thought you were. Avery isn’t stupid; he knows that he has to hide his powers from the world. Hiding his true self is something Avery becomes an expert at and soon learns that constantly having to cover for yourself can be the most isolating thing in the world.

Enter Cherchette. She’s the keeper of secrets – everyone’s secrets. She knows about Avery, and...more

like · see review

Feb 11, 2010 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

With superheroes being one of the in things right now, there is no shortage of titles allowing young adults a peak into that life style. In this first novel, readers meet Avery Pirzwick, a pretty average guy with some pretty un-average abilities. He is super-strong and can fly, but he is not too keen to let everyone know about it because he is worried that he might end up as someone's test subject.

He does struggle with his abilities since he doesn't have complete control of them. The previous ye...more With superheroes being one of the in things right now, there is no shortage of titles allowing young adults a peak into that life style. In this first novel, readers meet Avery Pirzwick, a pretty average guy with some pretty un-average abilities. He is super-strong and can fly, but he is not too keen to let everyone know about it because he is worried that he might end up as someone's test subject.

He does struggle with his abilities since he doesn't have complete control of them. The previous year, he had to quit the wrestling team after hurting a teammate. He also tends to do some heavy damage as he is using them to help people. His parents worry that he might be turning into a hoodlum, so they register him with at a school for troubled teens.

This turns out to be just what he needed, though not for the reasons his parents believe. While there, he meets up with a small group of other super-powered beings. First, there is Darla, who has an amazing intelligence. Then there is Catherine, who has razor-sharp claws and the abilities to talk to felines. Sophie has the unfortunate ability to ooze a substance from her skin that will allow her to stick to anything. Nicholas has a vortex that develops in his chest, sucking everything in. Finally, their is Julian, who has the ability to chill things down.

Of course, there is usually bad that comes along with the good in these superhero stories. In this instance, it is Julian's mom Cherchette. She has the same abilities Julian, but they are stronger and she is better able to handle them. She is actually moving around trying to recruit the teams while insisting she is really hoping to teach them to use their abilities safely. This would seem perfect for people like Avery and Nicholas. With that said, Darla questions Cherchette's motives, which is probably partially due to the fact that Cherchette is pretty selective with who she is hoping to recruit ... she only wants the strong and useful kids.

The kids are basically all looking to better get a handle of who they are and where they stand in the world, a common theme in books for the age group. While much of their insecurities tie in with their abilities, they are also unsure in the same ways that most kids there age are.

Each of the characters is pretty well developed. The one exception seems to be Cherchette, but she seems to flesh out toward the end of the book as things start getting resolved. I really liked the story line, but I thought it could have been tightened up a bit. There are some moments when I thought things were getting a bit bogged down in conversation. With that said, I really liked the story and thought it was a nice addition to the genre.(less)

like · see review

Oct 15, 2009 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, young-adult

Avery is your typical teen boy - with superpowers. He's super strong, has the ability to fly, and yet hides these powers from the world, scared he'll be studied by scientists if anyone finds out. As he soon discovers, he's not the only one with powers; there's a whole group of people who have some sort of superpowers, and they form a superpowered crime-fighting group, which soon turns into a group dedicated to fighting against a villain wanting to take them away and train them for her own purpos...more

like · see review

Aug 17, 2009 Mark Freeman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

Description provided by Amazon.com.

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you’re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you’re a former jock turned freak, you can’t afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they’re more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they...more Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

Description provided by Amazon.com.

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you’re fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you’re a former jock turned freak, you can’t afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they’re more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

I have to admit, I’m a geek, so when I first saw this book I had an inkling I would like it. Superheroes, in any context or medium, usually are a safe bet with me. I was a comic fiend through my middle and high school years, and even though I spend WAY less on them now-a-days it doesn’t mean I’m any less drawn to them. The fact that comics have become so mainstream is a good thing in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t love every movie being made – and some just make me sad, but when they nail it with the likes of Dark Knight, Ironman, and the Watchmen, I get just as excited as my twelve year self did while reading X-men the day it hit the newsstand. So, in short, I like superhero-ish things. Movies. Comics. Graphic novels. And now, novels.

But let me get back to Dull Boy and my reason for writing this review. Dull Boy joins the burgeoning new sub-genre within sci-fi/fantasy of the sueprhero novel. Yeah, graphic novels have been around for a couple decades now, and novelizations of some comics and movies have been done before, but books like the Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem or Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman have been few and far between. In a sense, I think, it’s a challenge for these authors to attempt to write a superhero book without that visual component we’ve associated with the genre for so long. Cartoons, comics, movies have always drawn the characters and action for us, so when authors like Cross, Grossman, or Lethem put their work out there, they’re doing it with a handicap, I think.

Cross doesn’t let us down, though. Her book is one part teen angst and three parts hero action. Her team of young heroes are well written and likeable. She captures the awkwardness of adolescence nicely while adding the extra burden of superpower-freakishness believably and well. Think Catcher in the Rye meets the Teen Titans or New Mutants.

It is quick and fast paced, and captures the traditions and charisma of comics from a decade or two ago. If you like the Incredibles or even Dr. Horrible and His Sing Along Blog, I think you’ll find yourself enjoying Dull Boy.

The only thing I can find fault with, and it’s by no means a deal breaker, is the title. I just don’t think it captures the book, characters, or story well. I think, and forigve me for this, it’s dull.

The story wraps up well, and does open itself up for a sequel, which I hope is forthcoming shortly. I enjoyed this novel very much and think if you’re a fan of comics or the superhero genre you’ll like this book.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 22, 2009 cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blue-covers

Dull Boy is definitely an superhero origins story, and I have to admit that I typically find such stories a little boring. Throw me in the middle of some action-packed battle between world domination and salvation, and I am a happy camper! If there is a sequel, I hope to see less emphasis on backstory and more on how these teenaged superheroes find their place in the world!

There are actually 5+ superpowered teenagers in Dull Boy with Avery being the main focus. There are some really interesting...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 23, 2010 Jodysegal rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Middle school- High school

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, middle-school, young-adult

Passing for a "dull boy" is Avery's attempt at being inconspicuous, but this 17 year old is anything but dull. With super strength and the ability to fly, Avery wants to save the world. Instead he keeps accidentally breaking things and landing in trouble for his "destructive behavior." When Avery draws the attention of similarly endowed misfits, he finally has a chance at friendship, and the mysterious Cherchette promises to help him master his powers. Of course, like the X-Men and other superhe...more

like · see review

Oct 22, 2009 Ilis Cruz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Si te gusta el anime, el J-Pop, las figuras de acción, los robots, los super héroes, los comics... En resumidas cuentas, si te consideras una geek de corazón, definitivamente este libro es para ti.

¿Qué les digo de este libro? Así de primeras, en general me gustó aunque nunca pude quitarme de la cabeza su alta semejanza con X-Men. Leer este libro es como leer X-Men, pero versión comedia adolescente. Pero no quiero que me malinterpreten, el libro sí tiene sus puntos buenos. Primero, esta narrado p...more Si te gusta el anime, el J-Pop, las figuras de acción, los robots, los super héroes, los comics... En resumidas cuentas, si te consideras una geek de corazón, definitivamente este libro es para ti.

¿Qué les digo de este libro? Así de primeras, en general me gustó aunque nunca pude quitarme de la cabeza su alta semejanza con X-Men. Leer este libro es como leer X-Men, pero versión comedia adolescente. Pero no quiero que me malinterpreten, el libro sí tiene sus puntos buenos. Primero, esta narrado por un chico, Avery, cuyo sentido del humor es buenísimo y ver sus sentimientos fue súper interesante, al igual que ver su posible amor en pleno desarrollo por una de sus amigas con súper poderes. Pero alerta: este libro no tiene romance, los sentimientos de Avery son más bien... Sutiles. Tú te das cuenta, pero él no.

Todos los personajes me gustaron. Todos, incluso Cherchette que, por alguna razón, no dejo de imaginarla como la chica mala (la de cabello platinado) del anime Higashi No Eden. Hay personajes que te dejan con un mar de risas. Avery esta en primer lugar, claro, y luego le sigue Darla, una chica genio cuya capacidad de crear robots gigantescos y armas de artículos tan impensables como una bola ocho, te dejan alucinando, además de que tiene un temperamento tan volátil como sus armas. Hay personajes, como Nicholas, que te provocan pena, lástima y compasión. Y también hay personajes como Jacques, cuyo aire de misterio y su extraño poder te atrae como abejas a la miel. Todos los personajes tienen su encanto propio.

Lo malo del libro, además del detalle de X-Men (que para colmo en el libro se menciona unas… mil veces) es que te deja con muchas interrogantes. Hay muchas cosas que no se resuelven del todo y el final es bien abierto. Tiene que haber una continuación. Además de que acción como tal no hubo. Repito, tiene que haber una continuación.

En fin, Dull Boy es como un baño de agua fresca en un mundo en donde los vampiros y la palabra "Twilight" parecen dominar la literatura juvenil y no deberían pasarlo por alto (y tampoco dejarse intimidar por es cover tan cómico).

---Literatura Juvenil y fantástica(less)

like · see review

Feb 09, 2012 Jeretta Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction-fantasy

This book was truly a great read! For the most part, this book seems as though she actually watched everything a superhero teenager did and just wrote it down. There were parts where I didn't like how he was handling things with his parents (poorly handled, Avery). But then again, he is a teenager and would probably mishandle the situation in real life! I liked most of the characters...not so much Jacques. I feel like he was trying to be too mysterious for most of the book. But I loved Catherine...more

like · see review

Jun 19, 2009 Bridget rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fic, sci-fi

I know, I know. I can hear you saying, dude! What is up with all these high star YA reviews lately? Have you just given up on adult life and decided everything you read is awesome because your brain is broken now?

First of all, my brain is NOT broken and I have not given up on being a grown up (…mostly). Second of all, have you read these YA books I’ve been rating? They are AWESOME. I don’t know. This is the year of great books or something. Maybe just my year of great books? Whatever.

Reasons wh...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 14, 2009 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, fantasy, ya

Most teenagers think they are pretty special but Avery knows there's no one else just like him. And actually, he's right. Avery's got some super special and completely super secret super powers. Not only can he bench-press his mother's car (sometimes resulting in a little body damage) but Avery can actually fly - which of course he can't even tell a soul about since it would most likely result in a massive government investigation. Hey, I'd be worried about becoming a science experiment too. Fee...more Most teenagers think they are pretty special but Avery knows there's no one else just like him. And actually, he's right. Avery's got some super special and completely super secret super powers. Not only can he bench-press his mother's car (sometimes resulting in a little body damage) but Avery can actually fly - which of course he can't even tell a soul about since it would most likely result in a massive government investigation. Hey, I'd be worried about becoming a science experiment too. Feeling rather confused and alone, his parents send him to a reform school in hopes of curing his 'troublesome' behaviors, which only leads to encounters with Big Dawg the bully and the Mary Janes (watch out, those girls will cut you for a Diet Coke). Fortunately, Avery meets up with some other not-so-average kids including a genius ready to conquer the world with robots, an ultra tough (and grumpy) Catwoman, the Iceman, and Sticky Girl - who happens to also be Awfully Cute Girl. Together, these misfit teens decide to take the law into their own hands by tracking down muggers, rescuing lost boy scouts - while still making it home in time for curfew. If only they can continue to outwit the villainous Cherchette [insert evil laugh here:] who wants to take control of them and use them for her own nefarious purposes. MwaaHaa!

Avery is such a likable kid with his constant sarcasm and desire to 'use his powers for good.' He's just so dang lovable as a teen trying to figure out things but once he gets matched up with the kooky Darla and her gang of merry misfits, he goes from loner to having some dang funny adventures in a hurry. Usually the hilarity is due to some unfortunate accident or other while the gang tries to help some hapless victim using one of Darla's prototype weapons. What other teenager has a boomerang that will not only disable them but cover them in sparkles?

Even if Dull Boy became somewhat predictable at times, Sarah Cross has effectively created a light and fun hero vs. villain adventure full of adventure and friendship. I quickly became attached to Avery and was totally cheering when he found some kindred spirits in Darla, Catherine, and Nicholas. Full of geektastic references (anyone else love X-Men and Batman?), Dull Boy strikes a nice balance and I happened to love it.(less)

like · see review

Nov 10, 2009 Marye rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: woman and young adults

Recommended to Marye by: Mundie Moms

Avery is the guy of my dreams! Seriously, here's this kid that doesn't fit in, even with his friends. Because of his unique abilities he ends up finding the most wonderful group of true friends, which is almost unheard of in high school. I have never been a super hero kind of gal, but I was, and am, rooting for Avery!
I'm looking forward to seeing what Avery can do in the future!

1 like · like · see review

Jul 08, 2011 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

Dull Boy is a wonderful story about accepting one's differences and fitting in when what makes one different is something that other's can't understand. It is also about wanting to do good and being punished for the resulting actions. Best of all is the balance Sarah Cross gives her main character. He realizes that he makes poor decisions and understands why his parents are unhappy with him, but he also naturally thinks his decisions are often justified and is uncertain how to communicate with h...more

like · see review

Jun 20, 2009 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, favorites, own, fave-covers

I have been quite lucky to hit upon several great books in a row. "Dull Boy" is no exception. It is, however, EXCEPTIONAL (whoo, word play!).
"Dull Boy" follows Avery, your average American teenage boy. Oh, except that he has super strength and can fly. So far, he loves the flying, but the super strength has proved to be...problematic.
There are, of course, some hijinks that ensue, and he meets some new friends - the first friends he's ever been able to tell his secret to. Add to that batch a fabu...more

like · see review

May 17, 2009 Alea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-for-review

Dull Boy was awesome, hilarious and pretty geektastic! I really liked the main character Avery, I usually prefer books in a female voice just because it's easier for me to relate to, but Avery was just a cool guy with a good heart. I really liked him, and he was pretty funny! I really liked the abbreviated swear words he used or thought, stuff like "What the F". That kind of stuff is just perfect to me!

And of course Avery isn't the only character. I loved all his new friends from Darla the super...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2009 Karin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads, youngadult

Avery lives for the darkness. Not for any deviant reason, but because he is less likely to be seen when he is flying around town. You see, Avery isn’t like other kids. He has super strength and can fly. Since these powers developed, his life has totally changed. His normal friends are pulling further and further away because he is spending less time with them. Avery’s friends are upset that he quit the had to quit the wrestling team, but he really didn’t have a choice. His strength was too hard...more

1 like · like · see review

May 14, 2010 Mandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Aug 24, 2009 Veens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-read

I won this one from TravelingToTeens.com. I read it in flat 2 days :) It was amazing.
Avery is the Dull boy who knows that he is different. Well he is very strong, so strong that he lifted the car off a small boy whose mother accidentally backed up on him. And well he can fly. He had a lot of friends, with whom he can't hang out anymore, as he is afraid of his own strength and roams in dark alleyways, so that he can help others in distress, so that he can put his super-hero skills to use!

Love the...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Sarah Whisted rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

This book is like X-Men meets the Kick-Ass kids. It's told from a boy's POV that is spot on. It's filled with kids who find strength in themselves through quality friendships. It's about bravery, and confidence, and purpose. The brief hints of potential romance are just that, and you're not forced to witness awkward and unnecessary teen romance amongst all the action.

I am greatly disappointed to see this book won't have a sequel -- the reasons why make no sense to me. I can't see anyone not enj...more

like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Serena rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are few books that I love so much that I force it into the hands of friends and ramble on about how much they have to read exclaiming “its funny read it”.
This book really is the most fantastically funny, quirky book I have ever read. Some of my friends have looked at me sceptically when I have declared this and I have the promptly flicked to a random page and managed to find a funny quote.
Quick synopsis of the book; Ambry the main character is your average slightly awkward teenage boy wh...more

like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Aamir K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dull Boy
Sarah Cross
308 pages
Science Fiction

In this book, Avery is a boy who has super powers. He has to keep them safe from anyone's knowledge that he is special. Otherwise, they might dissect him the way we dissect frogs. The problem with his powers are that they always get him in tough situations. Like once where he lifted up an entire car, just to save a little kid. It was hard for him to explain, so he said he just had an adrenaline rush. He had to keep his head low after that to make sure h...more

like · see review

Jul 27, 2009 Lacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: four-and-five-stars

Avery is a 15-year-old superman, with super strength and the ability to fly, but all he wants is to be normal, dull, and not have to worry about sending his parents to the poor house with all the stuff he breaks or about hurting someone unintentionally.

But after trying to flex his powers for the forces of good, Avery finds out he's not the only person in the world with super powers — and that not all of them are so interested in fighting for the forces of good.

Avery and his buddies were what sol...more

like · see review

Feb 07, 2011 Quanjun rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, favourites, humour, superpowers, young-adult, wishlist

Dull Boy is a YA superhero book that is skillfully written. The story follows Avery, a boy who's a good boy just because he's a good boy. Avery has superstrength and he flies and all he wants is to be a hero, not because it's cool, but because he feels great after having done something good. So he patrols neighbourhoods, hoping for troubles he can break up, people he can save. But really, so far, not much luck. Although his superpowers has brought him a whole host of trouble that includes breaki...more Dull Boy is a YA superhero book that is skillfully written. The story follows Avery, a boy who's a good boy just because he's a good boy. Avery has superstrength and he flies and all he wants is to be a hero, not because it's cool, but because he feels great after having done something good. So he patrols neighbourhoods, hoping for troubles he can break up, people he can save. But really, so far, not much luck. Although his superpowers has brought him a whole host of trouble that includes breaking a wrestling opponent's hand by accident, and breaking his best friend's parent's car. So he isn't exactly in his parents' good books.

One night Avery is set up by his friends in Roast, one of the two spots to hang out in his neighbourhood, wearing a pikachu birthday hat and sitting at a table taped with balloons alone, embarrassed and mad, he accidentally crushes his cell phone. Then he notices a geek dressing up as a goth reciting a bad poem, a boy who keeps fidgeting with his trench coat, and a pretty blond girl who lends him her cell. And a very pissed off cleaner at Roast who scratches blood on her forehead when she tries to brush off her hair. And that is the night he meets Cherchette, who claims to be able to help him with his powers, so that he can be all he is all the time. All he has to do is leave home and go with her.

Before he knows it Avery is enrolled in a school for delinquents, only to realize the cleaner from Roast and the girl who recited the bad poem is also there. In between getting out of the way of seriously messed up kids and keeping his parents happy with good grades, Avery makes new superpower friends and starts an adventure he's only dreamed of.

What I love about this book is there aren't a lot of assumptions made about teenagers. The characters in this book aren't trying to be cool, they're not very susceptible to bad influence, and they know what's right and wrong like a normal person. I love it when I can just read and not go "don't do that are you stupid?!" in my head. There also isn't a play on stereotypical social scene that is the normal kid, the popular one, and a weirdo.

I find this book really consistent in writing and pace, and I love it. Avery and his friends kick ass and their relationships are also very well developed. There are a lot of tensions between being themselves and how hard it is to hide from their parents, and I thought it was handled really well. Overall, perfectly written in its genre, and it's not very fair to compare outside of it, is it?(less)

like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Lesley rated it 4 of 5 stars

It took a while to get going and had some bumps along the way, but had a lot going for it: An appealing, funny male narrator. An interesting variation on the superpowers theme. A good balance of character-building and action. The aforementioned bumps were mostly inconsistencies, some of which were eventually straightened out, but were more distracting than intriguing at the time. My big question is: Where is the sequel we were set up for? That shows I enjoyed it enough to want to find out what h...more

like · see review

Jun 20, 2009 Tammy Blackwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

What I love about Avery is that he's a realistic teenage boy. He doesn't always know what to say or what to do. Quite often he comes off as a complete spaz, awkward and uncool. OK, so he can fly and he's like super-strong, but he's not your typical too-cool-for-words book boy.

I've had this book sitting around my house for weeks, trying to talk myself into reading it. It was one of those, "Well, everyone says it's good but I just don't know..." Today I finally did myself a favor and read the thi...more

like · see review

May 27, 2010 Reba rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's been awhile since I complained about this, so here goes. I wish we could do half-stars. Not quite a four, but more deserving than a three. Most frustrating part of the book for me? Lack of explanation about the origins of the characters "superpowers." Didn't even try to bring in a little bit of science to explain anything. You're also left with a cliffhanger ending, clearly making way for a sequel, but I can't find any mention of a sequel. The characters in this story are its real strength....more

like · see review

Dec 13, 2009 Cait rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, books-i-own, young-adult

This book is so much fun! High schoolers with super powers – what could be better than that? Avery, our main character, first discovered his super-strength when he managed to lift a car, and tried to pass it off as adrenaline. The flying, though? That’s a little harder to explain.

DULL BOY follows Avery as he tries to use his powers for good, and meets others like him for the first time. And meets Cherchette, the villian of the story. I loved the characterizations in Dull Boy. Avery’s just this n...more

like · see review

Aug 10, 2009 Gwen the Librarian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction, teenbooks

Avery has superpowers - really amazing ones, like superhuman strength and the ability to fly - but he doesn't want anyone to know because he's afraid of the ridicule of his peers or being tested by scientists. When he meets a rag tag group of friends who also seem a little different, Avery is relieved. The group wants to use their powers for good and to help people, but an evil sorceress is after them all and wants to bring them over to her side. How will the teens learn to use their powers if t...more

like · see review

Oct 31, 2010 Chris Maselli rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's about a boy named Avery and he has superpowers. No one can know.Avery feels out of place and feels all alone, until he meets a group of kids with superpowers just like him. As they all get to know eachother better,they decide to stop crime. At first, they stop little petty crimes like a man stealing women's purses at a local park. Than they make the news by rescueing a group of cubscouts that got lost in the woods. when a lady Cherchette comes and talks to Avery she offers for him to come l...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 47 48 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Young Adult

47 users

Fantasy

30 users

Comics > Superheroes

19 users

Science Fiction

8 users

Young Adult > Teen

8 users

Adventure

4 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Fantasy

4 users

Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

4 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

3 users

Action

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Sarah Cross

Shadowhunters and Downworlders: A Mortal Instruments Reader

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Dull Boy

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Dull Boy

“And at that age, the only boys I didn’t think were gross were dead scientists – and it’s not like I wanted to kiss those guys. (No offense, Niels Bohr.) ” — 4 people liked it

“That was like watching my dad French-kiss a raccoon-I feel violated on so many levels.” — 3 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Dull Boy
avg rating	preview: Dull Boy Goodreads rating: 3.68 (484 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5895933-dull-boy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347518538l/5895933.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5895933-dull-boy?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Dull Boy by Sarah Cross[/url]

Dull Boy

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website