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55th out of 85 books
—
1,058 voters
Eighth-Grade Superzero
In this terrific debut, a Brooklyn middle-schooler finds the superhero within himself thanks to old friends, new dreams, and a pair of magical "Dora the Explorer" sneakers.
Ever since a deeply unfortunate incident earlier this year, Reggie's been known as "Pukey" McKnight at his high-intensity Brooklyn middle school. He wants to turn his image around, but he has other thing...more
Ever since a deeply unfortunate incident earlier this year, Reggie's been known as "Pukey" McKnight at his high-intensity Brooklyn middle school. He wants to turn his image around, but he has other thing...more
Hardcover, 324 pages
Published
January 1st 2010
by Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic
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I chose this book a long time ago, when I was about 9 or 10 years old because I thought it would give me some insight on what life in 8th grade was like.I decided to give it a re-read sice I didn't find it interesting when I read it a few years back. Eighth-Grade Superzero is about Reginald "Reggie" McKnight and his adventure through the glorious world of 8th Grade. Nicknamed "Pukey" by a former friend, Reggie doesn't exactly have the best reputation at school--but he doesn't let that stop him f...more
Reggie is like a lot of eighth graders; he knows what he should do, but he reminds us how hard it can be to stand up for what is right. The audience is introduced to Reggie toward the beginning of eighth grade, but it is clear from the beginning that something happened that damaged his image. When the principal decides to hold an election for class president, Reggie initially tries to remain invisible. Although he is frustrated that his classmates don’t do more to uphold the school motto and pos...more
Reggie McKnight has always been called Pukey. On the first day of school, he stood on stage in front of the whole school and threw up. Reggie must redeem his reputation and clear his name. An idea sparks in Reggie when the principal announces there will be elections for president. Reggie, with the help of his best friends Joe.C and Ruthie runs for president. Reggie must face his enemy Donovan and Justin, the Justin Bieber of his school. There is also a project for his youth group he must comple...more
Recap:
"Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
the harmony-hushers,
'even if you are not ready for day,
it cannot always be night.'" - Gwendolyn Brooks, from "Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward"
Reggie is a zero. After vomiting in front of the entire student body on the first day of school, more people now know him as "Pukey" than as "Reggie." He has his two best friends, Ruthie and Joe C, but it's tough to be thankful for two when you're teased on a d...more
"Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
the harmony-hushers,
'even if you are not ready for day,
it cannot always be night.'" - Gwendolyn Brooks, from "Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward"
Reggie is a zero. After vomiting in front of the entire student body on the first day of school, more people now know him as "Pukey" than as "Reggie." He has his two best friends, Ruthie and Joe C, but it's tough to be thankful for two when you're teased on a d...more
Reginald has all kinds of problems. He's called Pukey by a former friend. His father is out of work. He has a crush on Ruthie and isn't sure what to do about it. Reggie also writes comic books and is a big buddy for a disadvantaged boy. To top it all off, he is volunteering with his church at a homeless shelter and starts to feel that his school isn't doing enough to give back to the community, so instead of helping the shallow Vicky win the election for class president, he decides to run himsel...more
I picked this book up after multiple recommendations during a Twitter Chat (#YAlitchat). Maybe my expectations were too high but I was slightly disappointed. It's not that 8th GRADE SUPERZERO is bad--not at all! Actually, it would be a great book to teach in my 8th grade class. There are tons of lessons and research that I can totally see resulting from my students reading this book.
But as a reader, I didn't want to be preached to. Which is what I felt like was happening through much of the stor...more
But as a reader, I didn't want to be preached to. Which is what I felt like was happening through much of the stor...more
The force driving the plot is Reggie McKnight's campaign for president at a progressive school in New York city. To win, he has to overcome the mental image everyone has of him throwing up on stage on the first day of school.
However, Reggie doesn't declare his campaign until page 178 of 324.
That's because the author also wanted to cover Reggie's "big brother" relationship with a troubled kindergarten kid, his community service project at a homeless shelter, his worries about his dad's unemployme...more
However, Reggie doesn't declare his campaign until page 178 of 324.
That's because the author also wanted to cover Reggie's "big brother" relationship with a troubled kindergarten kid, his community service project at a homeless shelter, his worries about his dad's unemployme...more
Rhuday-Perkovitch has created a delightful multicultural setting that feels authentic, not planned for best effect. Protagonist, Reggie McKnight tells his story with a strong, believable voice. He's funny, articulate, confused, compassionate, questioning, bright, perceptive, trying to fit in, wanting to stand out, seeking his own true voice. He is surrounded by good friends, caring adults, and a number of the usual suspects of middle school. Readers see deeply into Reggie's mind and spirit and r...more
Reginald Garvey McKnight would have preferred to begin the 8th grade school year as King of Clarke Junior School (a High Academic, Study Intensive Middle School). Instead, he fast becomes known as Pukey and is made a school-wide laughingstock. Such a reputation is not easily overcome as Reggie tries to figure out who he is and how to let the world see him for his better attributes (not his weak stomach). He isn’t the only one. 8th Grade Super Zero is ripe with characters trying to figure out wha...more
I really enjoyed this book. Reggie is a lovable character that readers like myself will root for, yet his doubts and mistakes -- including things like his rivalry with his sister, and his struggles to get over the embarrassing "puke" incident that's haunted him all year at school -- make him believable. The supporting characters are diverse yet none of them stock or stereotypical, and a lot of difficult issues such as homelessness, poverty, and racial tension are touched upon thoughtfully withou...more
Some kids get nicknames in junior high. Some of those nicknames are even cool. But Reggie McNight’s nickname isn’t cool at all and it is a daily reminder of a very embarrassing event. His nickname? Pukey.
All Reggie wants now is to be invisible, operating under the radar…at least until everyone forgets about “the event.”
How is it then, that Reggie ends up running for class president? Why is he willing to put himself under the scrutiny of his peers again? After volunteering his time at a local hom...more
All Reggie wants now is to be invisible, operating under the radar…at least until everyone forgets about “the event.”
How is it then, that Reggie ends up running for class president? Why is he willing to put himself under the scrutiny of his peers again? After volunteering his time at a local hom...more
Realistic fiction, father unemployed, middle school, faith/religion, homelessness, social action.
Reggie is in 8th grade and pukes in front of the entire school on the first day of school. He later ends up running for school student body president and everyone remembers him as the who puked. He is in a youth group that begins a listening ear project at a homeless shelter. There he interviews a man, George, and gets to know him. At the same time he becomes buddies with a kindergartener at school a...more
Reggie is in 8th grade and pukes in front of the entire school on the first day of school. He later ends up running for school student body president and everyone remembers him as the who puked. He is in a youth group that begins a listening ear project at a homeless shelter. There he interviews a man, George, and gets to know him. At the same time he becomes buddies with a kindergartener at school a...more
Oct 08, 2012
Harry Lazerwitz
added it
I am enjoying this book because there are comparisons I can make to the main character Reggie. One comparison is that sometimes I feel that schools don't listen to the students opinions. Another comparison I can make with Reggie is that I wonder why some people are in a terrible situation and others are in a great situation because of the family that they are in. I think everyone should get equal opportunities and equal education. Another reason I like this book is that it uses realistic views o...more
One of the main character was Reggie. He used to be bullied and was called pukey because he puked often. He agreed to be a campaign manage for president, but he quit because Vicky was too annoying. After that, he ran for president. Since then, lots of people stopped bullying him. I think the character is very realistic because I think most people will do the same thing. Reggie is compared to a lot of books that I read. He is the one being bullied, and there are other books that makes the main ch...more
May 05, 2010
Amanda
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommended to Amanda by:
Book Club Selection
Shelves:
started-but-put-down
I tried to read this book and got about halfway through, but couldn't make it any further. It's not that the book was badly written, or even that the story didn't have merit. At the end of the day, I just wasn't interested. Mostly I felt like I was reading an after-school special.
I'm sure there are kids out there who would enjoy this book and take something from it. As a reader though, even as a child, I wasn't so much interested in hearing about how the world is and how we might deal with it. E...more
I'm sure there are kids out there who would enjoy this book and take something from it. As a reader though, even as a child, I wasn't so much interested in hearing about how the world is and how we might deal with it. E...more
Another one that was heavy on the religion, but it just works out. Maybe I'm a closet Christian? "All I want is some positivitiy for Heaven's sake." See???
I actually liked this more than Lost Songs by Cooney though it wasn't as complex with Cooney's multiple character perspective. I want to nominate this one for SSYRA too.
Main character is at an alternative/progressive learning school in NY but still suffers from typical middle school problems. Reggie's called "Pukey" by most classmates since an...more
I actually liked this more than Lost Songs by Cooney though it wasn't as complex with Cooney's multiple character perspective. I want to nominate this one for SSYRA too.
Main character is at an alternative/progressive learning school in NY but still suffers from typical middle school problems. Reggie's called "Pukey" by most classmates since an...more
For middle schooler Reggie McKnight, being called “Pukey” is the least of his problems. School elections are coming up, but he’s as far away from being school President as he is from shutting down his enemy Donovan or meeting up with the beautiful Mialonie. His friends Ruthie and Joe C. have his back, but let’s face it: Reggie can only be a superhero on the pages of his graphic novel, Night Man.
Then Reggie gets involved with a local homeless shelter, the Olive Branch. Haunted by two of the clie...more
Then Reggie gets involved with a local homeless shelter, the Olive Branch. Haunted by two of the clie...more
I don't think it's hyperbole to say this is one of the best middle-grade novels I have ever read.
When people use the word ambitious, there's often a negativity lurking beneath it--that the author is to be admired for taking on so much, even if she didn't succeed.
Eighth-Grade Superzero is an ambitious book that delivers, and then some. It deals with important issues--homelessness, religion, social responsibility, family dynamics--but readers will hardly notice. They will be caught up in the char...more
When people use the word ambitious, there's often a negativity lurking beneath it--that the author is to be admired for taking on so much, even if she didn't succeed.
Eighth-Grade Superzero is an ambitious book that delivers, and then some. It deals with important issues--homelessness, religion, social responsibility, family dynamics--but readers will hardly notice. They will be caught up in the char...more
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Great book!
I am not one to usually read the YA genre, but this story has so much heart, I truly couldn't put it down.
I really enjoyed the main character's interaction with his family, especially the tensions that were going on at home, juxtaposed with the tensions in school and within Reggie himself. There were a lot of scenarios in the story that felt so familiar, where I had oh-my-gawd-that-happened-to-me moments. This is a kid who is trying to figure it all out, and you can't help but root fo...more
I am not one to usually read the YA genre, but this story has so much heart, I truly couldn't put it down.
I really enjoyed the main character's interaction with his family, especially the tensions that were going on at home, juxtaposed with the tensions in school and within Reggie himself. There were a lot of scenarios in the story that felt so familiar, where I had oh-my-gawd-that-happened-to-me moments. This is a kid who is trying to figure it all out, and you can't help but root fo...more
Reggie McKnight has been known as Pukey ever since he puked in front of the whole school on the first day of school. So when he decides to run for middle school president, he has a long way to go to get the vote. In the meantime, his church youth group started volunteering at a homeless shelter, which Reggie gets really involved in. While the book seemed kind of preachy at times, the story is light-hearted, funny, and touching and the characters felt real (if sometimes a little too mature for ei...more
I really enjoyed reading 8th Grade Superzero. I didn’t expect it to have such a positive message and for a middle grade novel it really addressed a lot of issues that are many times overlooked.
Initially I wasn’t a big Reggie fan. There was nothing particularly special about him and he seemed content with the way things were in his life. But after visiting the Olive Branch be becomes less naïve and more aware of the things happening in his community. Instead of sitting around he starts taking an...more
Initially I wasn’t a big Reggie fan. There was nothing particularly special about him and he seemed content with the way things were in his life. But after visiting the Olive Branch be becomes less naïve and more aware of the things happening in his community. Instead of sitting around he starts taking an...more
Dec 03, 2012
Meghan
added it
This was a book that I very much enjoyed reading. It is about an eighth grade boy and the impact that he has on his school, church, and community. This book is one that I think students can really connect to and that is about making things better by doing small, seemingly unnoticeable things. But these things can help make a difference, even if it is just to one person.
This is a good book to teach about community, service, personal growth, and many other things. I would recommend this book for o...more
This is a good book to teach about community, service, personal growth, and many other things. I would recommend this book for o...more
I thought that this book was very educational, because it shows and gives the readers advice about how to be a popular kids and what not to do to lose the respect of your people. If you don't star getting peoples respect than everyone will still call you mean names, like when Reggie has been called Pukey all the time, everyday at school. So if you want to be popular than you start looking the part, and try to be cool. If any one out there is reading this book or has read this book or want to rea...more
"You don't have to do something BIG. Just something right. And when you do something wrong, that's not the end of it; you can step up again and still do something right. We can build up without tearing down, even if it's only in baby steps."
—Reggie, 8th Grade Superzero, P. 311
While I haven't yet read any Paula Danziger books at the time of this writing, I'm certainly well familiar with the award-winning work of Madeleine L'Engle, and the fact that Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of 8th...more
—Reggie, 8th Grade Superzero, P. 311
While I haven't yet read any Paula Danziger books at the time of this writing, I'm certainly well familiar with the award-winning work of Madeleine L'Engle, and the fact that Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of 8th...more
Eighth Grade Superzero is a book that's great for both MG and adult readers. Reggie was a lovable character, a typical boy trying to make his way through school with his two best friends.
His most defining moment in school was the puking incident. Reggie has the potential to be one of the most annoying characters ever written, with his beliefs and actions, but Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich wrote him in such a way so as to be irritatingly endearing instead of just plain annoying.
My favourite chara...more
His most defining moment in school was the puking incident. Reggie has the potential to be one of the most annoying characters ever written, with his beliefs and actions, but Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich wrote him in such a way so as to be irritatingly endearing instead of just plain annoying.
My favourite chara...more
Reggie otherwise known as Pukey on account of puking in front of everyone in the beginning of his 8th grade year just wants everyone to forget him. After the incident everyone always calls him Pukey especially his relentlessly cruel former friend Donovan. One day he just stopped hanging out with him, Joe C., and Ruthie. Joe C. always has a bottle of Juiced! with him which comes with random information that no one needs to know. Ruthie is what you would call an activist. She cares about everyone...more
Reggie McKnight and his friends are precocious eighth-graders in a public school for gifted students in Brooklyn, New York. Bearing that in mind as I read this was helpful, as some of their interests and concerns seemed much more sophisticated than the eighth-graders I've known-- or perhaps the eighth-grader I was. The characters' behavior, though, seems accurate and believable. The story centers around a school presidential election, and Reggie's involvement in it, while he attempts to rise abo...more
Ages 10-14. From the title, I was expecting quite a different book--another sad, bullied loser needing to learn to accept who he is (and somehow triumph over the bully). True, Reggie does feel "uncool" and does endure some bullying, but the story is more about a teenage boy looking beyond himself to see the needs of others. His church youth group is assigned people from a homeless shelter to interview for a project. Gradually Reggie starts volunteering there, and finds he truly cares about the p...more
What a delightful YA read, exposing typical middle-school struggles and fears, while inspiring readers to follow Reggie McNight (aka Pukey) in taking the higher road. Reggie deals with popularity and character issues throughout, as he attempts to stay under the radar of notoriety and overcome his alias, well earned during a presentation to the Clarke school body on the first day of school. Readers will love, laugh, and relate to real-life issues and colorful characters, such as Joe C’s worthless...more
Reggie McKnight’s eighth-grade year started off badly with a public puking incident. Ever since, he has attempted to stay under the radar at his NYC school that emphasizes leadership and public service. Since most of the students – and the administration – seem to pay only lip service to these issues, Reggie is able to do so at first. When he gets involved with a nearby homeless shelter through his church youth group, however, his experiences there force Reggie to see beyond his troubles (his f...more
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