Superheroes soar in this promising debut—and they’re kids!
Twelve-year-old Daniel, the new kid in town, soon learns the t... read full description
Twelve-year-old Daniel, the new kid in town, soon learns the t... read full description
reviews
Oct 31, 2011
Aidan
rated it: 
How would it be to have a superpower? Flying would sure be pretty cool, right? In Powerless by Matthew Cody, I'd recommend flying past this bland, predictable fiction text.
This book, set in modern-day, follows the normal Daniel Corrigan and his move to the town of Noble Green, "The Safest Town on Earth." When Daniel's younger brother, Georgie, is stuck in a road, Daniel is left surprised when enighbor Mollie Lee was able to rescue Georgie in a heartbeat. It's not long unt More...
This book, set in modern-day, follows the normal Daniel Corrigan and his move to the town of Noble Green, "The Safest Town on Earth." When Daniel's younger brother, Georgie, is stuck in a road, Daniel is left surprised when enighbor Mollie Lee was able to rescue Georgie in a heartbeat. It's not long unt More...
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Oct 12, 2011
Kai
rated it: 
Powerless
By: Matthew Cody
Powerless is a book about the adventures of a twelve year old boy name Daniel who lives with his Mom, Dad and younger brother. Daniel has never been a very important person, but he soon realizes that he is part of solving a great mystery, a problem that has been troubling the young Superheroes of his town for many years. Why did their powers just vanish as soon as they turn thirteen? Throughout his new adventurous life he discovers that special kids in More...
By: Matthew Cody
Powerless is a book about the adventures of a twelve year old boy name Daniel who lives with his Mom, Dad and younger brother. Daniel has never been a very important person, but he soon realizes that he is part of solving a great mystery, a problem that has been troubling the young Superheroes of his town for many years. Why did their powers just vanish as soon as they turn thirteen? Throughout his new adventurous life he discovers that special kids in More...
Sep 15, 2011
Kitty
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Nov 19, 2010
Christina
rated it:
If you could have a superpower what would it be? What would you use the powers for? In "Powerless", the small town of Noble Green, PA is lucky to be the place of residence to a few special children who are born with superpowers – the ability to fly, become invisible, manipulate electricity, have super strength and heightened senses, and even super stench! Some of these children use their powers for good, and a few use them for bad. But what if these powers were suddenly taken away
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Nov 19, 2010
Andy
rated it:
Kids like to think about having superpowers, and there have been a number of great children's novels (Riordan's Percy Jackson series and Ingrid Law's Savvy for instance)starring kids with remarkable abilities. While this story is not nearly as well written, it is set apart by its comic book like characters, sensibilities, and themes. The town of Nobles Green is home to a group of children with superpowers ranging from super speed, strength, and senses to the ability to control electricity, to
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Mar 01, 2010
Mary
rated it:
Daniel's not too happy when his family moves to Noble's Green, PA to take care of his seriously ill grandmother, since the move means leaving his long-time best friend. It doesn't take Daniel long to make new friends, and to discover that their secret superpowers are one of the reasons Noble's Green calls itself the safest town on earth. But, when the kids with superpowers turn 13 they always lose both the powers and their memories of ever having had them. Several of his new friends are rapidly
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Jan 11, 2010
Brenda
rated it:
Daniel is an average junior high kid who moves with his family to a small town called Noble Green. The town looks innocent but it harbors a secret that Daniel uncovers when he makes friends with six of his fellow classmates. You see, all of them have a superpower. Some can fly, some can control electricity and others are super-strong. And they are not the first ones with these mysterious powers. There have been others before them but for some reason, everone seems to lose their powers when
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Feb 04, 2010
Sandy
rated it:
Read after a strong recomendation from Lynn. This is a superhero story told from the perspective of the kid without super powers - kind of like that issue of Superman that features Jimmy Olson as the hero who saves the Man of Steel. Solid themes of power, heroism, and friendship. Overall the various elements of the story are woven together pretty well, and I enjoyed the way that the story unfolded. I was very intrigued from chapter to chapter to see where things would go. This is a page-tur
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Jul 13, 2011
Jessica
rated it: 
Powerless tells the story of Daniel, a twelve-year-old boy who has recently moved to a new town, Noble’s Green, so his parents could take care of his very sick grandmother. Even though Daniel thinks being the new kid in town might be the hardest part of the move, he quickly learns it is not. He meets kids around his age and after a near tragic event, learns that they have super powers, such as being able to fly and being able to turn invisible. How could he possibly fit in with these super hero
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Jul 05, 2011
Alyssa
rated it:
Daniel is upset when his family moves to Noble's Green. Soon, he notices that something is a little bit different about a few of the kids there. They eventually let him in on their secret: they have super powers. Some of them can fly, have super strength, speed or be invisible. However, they subscribe to a certain set of rules: use the powers to help, not hurt; don't go to the quarry, it ends at 13, and don't let adults find out. On their 13th birthdays, something happens and they lose their pow
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Sep 01, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it: 
Cody, Matthew POWERLESS R 5-8
Not only is 12-year old Daniel the new kid in town, trying to fit in, but he soon discovers that his new friends have secret superpowers such as superhuman strength, senses, and the ability to turn invisible or fly. Is there any use for Daniel’s normal, human talents? An avid Sherlock Holmes fan, he soon finds himself investigating why the “supers” lose their powers, and any memory of them, when they turn thirteen. Inspired by classic superhero comics, More...
Not only is 12-year old Daniel the new kid in town, trying to fit in, but he soon discovers that his new friends have secret superpowers such as superhuman strength, senses, and the ability to turn invisible or fly. Is there any use for Daniel’s normal, human talents? An avid Sherlock Holmes fan, he soon finds himself investigating why the “supers” lose their powers, and any memory of them, when they turn thirteen. Inspired by classic superhero comics, More...
Dec 13, 2011
Grahamh
rated it:
Powerless
By Matthew Cody
Book Review By Graham Heckert
This is a fantastic book is great for kids who love super heroes and supernatural powers. In the town of Noble's Green a new boy, Daniel, and his family is moving in with his grandmother. Poor Daniel is so far away from his old friends. Daniel meets some strange kids. Daniel later on figures out that each one of them has supernatural powers. One can fly, another can turn invisible, yet another controls electric More...
By Matthew Cody
Book Review By Graham Heckert
This is a fantastic book is great for kids who love super heroes and supernatural powers. In the town of Noble's Green a new boy, Daniel, and his family is moving in with his grandmother. Poor Daniel is so far away from his old friends. Daniel meets some strange kids. Daniel later on figures out that each one of them has supernatural powers. One can fly, another can turn invisible, yet another controls electric More...
Aug 09, 2010
Chris
rated it:
What a great tween read! The book was recommended by one of my son's friends. It absolutely grabbed my attention, and I read it in two days. Daniel Corrigan is an absolutely normal 12-year-old boy who moves with his family to his grandmother's house while she is being treated for cancer. He soon finds out that some of his friends are anything but normal. Each one has a superpower and a secret. They will lose their powers on their 13th birthday, but no one knows why. Since Daniel doesn't have to
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Nov 28, 2009
Richard
rated it:
Cody's prologue sold me on this book. The way he described Michael's use of his powers during his last superpowerded race with his freinds was amazing. It's how I would imagine flying would feel in real life. I was a little disappointed that the entire book could not keep up the standad set in the prologue. Cody's choice to have the book follow Daniel, a normal boy, ironically seemed to limit his ability to make me feel any of the aww that I felt while reading the prologue which was written from
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May 27, 2010
Marjorie
rated it:
My mom's academic work has frequently dealt with heroism -- what are different cultural definitions of a hero? I was a folklore & mythology major in college; what are the stories different cultures tell and what do they say about us? So I love the notion of superheroes -- especially their origin stories and the hard choices they have to make ("with great power comes great responsibility"). But I've never been a reader of superhero comics: I think anything episodic tends to spin out int
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Oct 14, 2011
Robyn
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This book was fantastic. I love the twist and suspense as well as the humor Mathew Cody into his work. It's truly well written and offers a whole different perspecitive on what it means to be a hero. Finally a story were the hero is just an ordinary guy who saves his super friends. Now it's cool to fly and everything. But it's even cooler to be persistent and loyal to those super friends that you hold so dear, even when you feel . . . well . . . powerless. The main character Daniel is a Sherlock
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Nov 19, 2011
Addie
rated it:
This book was decent, but a little boring - I expected more adventure from a superhero tale. Slow start, but got more exciting towards the middle. I'm wondering if there will be a sequel, because the action didn't start to build until the middle and end and the resolution wasn't very satisfying. It's supposed to be geared toward middle school boys, but it's a little too tame for them - I think the real audience is more upper elementary through 7th grade. It's a Rebecca Caudill Award Nominee thi
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Nov 03, 2011
Nathan
rated it:
I thought at first the book was a little confusing with it's indirect characterization on Michael. After that, the story settles in to be pretty good. I had a Skype session with the author of this bok, Matthew Cody, and he said when asked of if a sequel was to arise, he said, "I'm going to let you in on a secret. I just finished the manuscript for the sequel, Super, the other day and my editor e-mailed me a picture of the cover. It is to come out in Fall 2012, so stick around to read the se
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May 24, 2011
Kim
rated it:
A book about superheroes where the kid without super powers is the hero. It's a nice concept, and the writing is pretty nice in this one. The plot isn't too hackneyed or easy to guess, which happens so much in juvenile mysteries. There's some legitimate misdirection in this one, and not the kind that makes you feel cheated as a reader. There were times, during the action, where descriptions got muddy, and it was hard to visualize what was going on, but these were brief. Over all the book ha
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Jan 31, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
A super fun book centering around an ordinary boy who befriends a group of preteen superheroes in his new town. There is a mystery afoot, though! Each pint size hero loses his or her powers and all memories of their special abilities on their thirteenth birthday. The plot is full of twists and red herrings -- I, as a grown up, was fooled. I admit. Cody's take on the superhero adventure story is grounded by its ordinary Joe perspective. I liked the characters a lot, with their mistakes, rea
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Aug 11, 2011
Liz
rated it:
Actually, I didn't read this, we listened to this on CD on a long car ride for a weekend getaway. My son picked it out and it certainly help pass the time. I really enjoyed it, the plot surrounds a bunch of kids under the age of 13 who have super powers but who lose those powers when they hit 13 years old for some reason. A normal boy, Daniel, who moves back into the neighborhood due to a sick grandmother befriends these little superheroes and they welcome him into their secret lives. It is Da
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Dec 13, 2011
Paige
rated it:
Powerless
Powerless, intriguing book of fantasy,mystery, and supers. This mystery is so mystery there , mystery there. The kids group together to find something unbearable. Each super is very special in their own way. I was shocked when I realized that the shroud was really the one who took away the kids powers when they are 13. When Matthew Cody was so descriptive with Gram and how she ached I couldn't believe that she used to be a super. The shroud needs to be stopped! More...
Powerless, intriguing book of fantasy,mystery, and supers. This mystery is so mystery there , mystery there. The kids group together to find something unbearable. Each super is very special in their own way. I was shocked when I realized that the shroud was really the one who took away the kids powers when they are 13. When Matthew Cody was so descriptive with Gram and how she ached I couldn't believe that she used to be a super. The shroud needs to be stopped! More...
Dec 29, 2011
Moira
rated it:
At least once in their life every kid dreams of having super powers. In Powerless Daniel stumbles into the next best thing (or the worst depending on your point of view). He moves to a new town and all the kids his age have super powers! An avid fan of Sherlock, Daniel makes friends and helps unravel the riddle of what happens to the super powers once a kid turns 13. A fun story and well written, it isn't the most enthralling mystery for kids but it is captivating and image inspiring and imagina
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Jan 09, 2012
Teri
rated it:
I just finished reading this with my kids, 10, 9, and 6. Everyone really enjoyed it. It got a little scary for my six-year-old (there is a shadowy bad guy that sneaks into the kids' rooms at night to take away their powers and memories), but she still enjoyed it.
There is one swear word in the book (the "d" word), and the kids say the word "butt", which I don't really like my kids saying, but I wouldn't prevent them reading a book just for that word.
Ove More...
There is one swear word in the book (the "d" word), and the kids say the word "butt", which I don't really like my kids saying, but I wouldn't prevent them reading a book just for that word.
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Mar 23, 2010
Cathy
rated it:
A great story of how the "ordinary" kid can be the one to save the day! Kids bron in Noble's Green have superpowers- they must use them for good, tell no adult about them, and, sadly, lose them (somehow) on their 13th birthday, with no recollection of having them. Daniel moves to town, meet the "Supers", and is welcomed, though he ISN'T super- but can this regular kid save the Supers- and their powers- from the evil lurking at the quarry? them SAME evil that steals their powe
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Jun 08, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
This was another one I think I might have liked better reading it myself rather than listening to the audio. Dikeos did an ok job narrating, but he had a kind of monotone thing going without enough variation in emotion particularly for the more exciting parts of the story. The story itself wasn't too bad although there were some definite holes in places - the most obvious one to me was when the bad guy says that Daniel was the one who brought the group together - the group was already together
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Jan 21, 2010
Elizabeth
rated it:
Superhero chapter books for kids. They're out there. Sure they are. Still, I kind of feel like the wizarding trend Harry Potter started sort of took the steam out of any superhero tales we might have been privy to. Generally speaking, if a kid has magical powers in a book then there's a lot of mysticism or magic surrounding the discovery. The plain old I-woke-up-and-could-lift-a-bus method of everyday powers is more popular in comics, but not so hot in written literature for young `uns. I do won
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Dec 18, 2011
Shaeley
rated it:
Engaging story about kids with super powers that they lose at age 13. When the "New Kid" comes to town, he uses his "Sherlock-Holmes-style detective powers" to help them figure out how to keep their powers beyond their 13th birthdays.
Some similarities between this book and Michael Carroll's The Awakening, although Powerless is better suited for younger readers. More...
Some similarities between this book and Michael Carroll's The Awakening, although Powerless is better suited for younger readers. More...
Jun 18, 2011
Jackie
rated it:
The children of Noble's Green, Pennsylvania have a secret. And, Daniel, who has just moved into town will be unknowingly caught up in it and fight to keep it just that...a secret. His new friends, Mollie, Eric, Rohan, Lindsey, and Rose are Supers. They possess powers which ward off evil and help Noble's Green live up to its town motto "the safest place on Earth". Some can fly, some car hear or smell anything, anywhere no matter how far, some can turn invisible and on and on. Unbeknowns
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Sep 23, 2011
Miriam
rated it:
It’s a solid, entertaining, uncomplicated read. The powers and their limitations are thoroughly conceived and the characters, though not particularly deep, are believable and consistent, complete with badly-suppressed anxieties and early-adolescent awkwardness between friends of different genders. The writing dips into the sentimental at times, but it’s self-aware enough to shrug off its saccharine tendencies: “‘But, you know, that’s what being a hero is all about, right? Overcoming your fears a
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