Supernatural Hero

This is a fantastic and entertaining book for middle grade kids! Written in a casual style from 11-year-old Andy’s point of view, the book captures young readers from the very beginning. Andy is a “nerd” with few friends and has trouble connecting with his family and other kids his own age. His only real friend is his grandpa, who seems to be the only one who understands Andy and his strange ability to speak to those who have already died, like his grandma. But once his grandpa passes away rather suddenly, Andy’s abilities grow much faster than before. His grandpa is still there to help Andy with his problems, whether that means getting the girl he loves to notice him or battling evil spirits. I loved the characters. Andy is a compelling narrator who draws readers into his world and into his life. He is brilliant but shy, and he loves math. I really enjoyed all the numbers mentioned throughout the story, as math was one thing Andy could take comfort in. His parents care about him but often misunderstand him, and he has a rocky relationship with his sister. But his grandpa is always there for him, almost literally once he becomes a ghost! Then there’s Andy’s friend Tom, who is intelligent and helps Andy with not only trying to find a way to cure cancer but also finding a way to banish dark spirits. I wish I had that kind of friend! Tom was right at Andy’s side as their friendship grew out of necessity. I even liked Zoe, Andy’s crush. There was a great scene at the end that I hope hinted at something interesting to come in the sequel, which I eagerly look forward to reading. For such a simplistic style, this book is fast-paced and tackles plenty of important issues kids deal with. Making friends, dealing with bullies, trying to get your crush to notice you, making mistakes and resolving personal insecurities, handling the death of a loved one, connecting with your family, all alongside a couple uncommon supernatural issues as well. The black and white drawings at the start of every chapter are cute and a little eerie sometimes, which only added to the book’s compelling atmosphere. There were a few layout issues, like paragraphs and spaces in awkward places, but they were minimal and didn't affect the story in any way. I highly recommend this book to any middle grade kid, especially those who might be reluctant to read. This story will capture their imaginations and inspire their minds and hearts. It will definitely hook them and leave them wanting more. Good thing there’s already a sequel waiting to be enjoyed!

I can’t think of a better book for a middle grade student than “Supernatural Hero”. There are so many confusing situations children of this age have to face, and the author has managed to tackle them all in this lovely, heart-warming story of a class nerd who dreams of becoming a hero. And the best thing about this book is not that in the end his dream does come true, but that he becomes a hero through his own strength and courage. It is easy to see why Andy’s story is so empowering: it teaches children they have to believe in themselves even when no one does, and never let others bring them down. Andy is the class nerd and he knows it. He also knows why the other children like to bully him so much: he is skinny, wears glasses, he is smarter than most, and too weak to protect himself. His social skills are almost non-existent, but it’s not like anyone ever gave him a chance to prove what he can. The fact that he can see ghosts doesn’t help either, especially when his own parents think he is crazy and take him to a psychologist. So, what are the chances that the prettiest girl in class, Zoe, might consider going to the movies with Andy? This is why I loved the twist in this story so much: it turns everything upside down, but in a believable, constructive way. I liked that Andy didn’t turn into a superhero overnight. Even with his Grandpa’s guidance, he still had to make great efforts to find the courage to speak to Zoe, the girl he was in love with. As a character, he was very well-developed and very realistic. He was bullied, and each and every insult hurt him greatly and made him lose some of his self-esteem, but he always found the power to get up and go on. Also, I liked how he loved his parents so much even though they were ignoring him most of the time. He was even happy to help his sister with her homework even if she bullied him just as much as his classmates did. It’s impossible not to root for such a kind and special boy, and this is why “Supernatural Hero” is a great read for children: it offers them a role model who is their age. Another thing that I loved about this book was the gentle way in which the author managed to approach the topic of death. When losing a loved one, children might find it hard to understand what is happening and why. Before he dies, Andy’s grandfather promises him that he’ll always be there, beside him. When he dies, he becomes a ghost, so Andy finds it easier to cope with his death. Knowing that those who are not among us anymore still protect us from above can make us stronger, so it’s good for children to learn about this as soon as they are old enough to grasp the concept. “Supernatural Hero” is more than an entertaining, action-packed story that both children and parents will enjoy. It is the journey of a boy who discovers he can accomplish his wildest dreams only by being brave enough to step out of his comfort zone and face the challenge.

This kindle book for kids is written for children aged 9 – 12. However, I found that this book also captured my imagination. The story is well developed and took me on an emotional roller coaster back to my childhood days, when I was around nine or ten. Andy the main character is a nerd who feels isolated from his peers and his family until something tragic happens. It is from this tragedy that he gains or should I say regains his paranormal superpower. This book is beautifully written and manages to capture the thoughts and actions of Andy, in such vivid detail, I felt as though I was actually there at times. Whilst this book is fictional I felt as though it contained some really important content. It identifies types of behaviours that children who are bullied at school exhibit and how they may react at home as a consequence. As a parent I took note of these pointers. The book is also full of life lessons such as believe in yourself, never give up, if you want something go for it, stand up for yourself. This was useful not just for my child but for me too. This story concentrates on real life situations like falling in love. Andy has a crush on a girl called Zoe, however, he is afraid to speak to her as he considers her out of his league. His character is so well-developed and believable that it makes it hard to put the book down. I would recommend this book for everyone from the age of nine upwards. Children, Parents and Teachers alike.

I really wish that this book had been longer. It was a cute read. The beginning was a little hard for me, because poor Andy seems to have been dealt a bad family. I just wanted to cuddle him and tell him everything would be ok. And I loved that he was so close with his grandpa, just like me, so it was something that I could really relate to. Now let's get into the nitty gritty. The ghosts. So, Andy has been seeing and talking to his grandma's ghost for years, but he suddenly can't understand it when he see's his grandpa's ghost. That was something I had a hard time with, especially since later in the book you find out he sees all kinds of ghosts. You think he would be more understanding of it all. But really that was the only flaw that I saw in the book. It really felt like a good coming of age story, where Andy realizes that he needs to speak up and be himself and things will go his way. I also really liked a lot of the philosophies that his grandfather taught him. There are quite a few lessons to learn in this book, whether you are a child or an adult. There were also some parts where I got to relive the frustrations of being a child and having no control. Andy couldn’t control anything, his parents didn’t understand him and sent him to therapy, and when his sister bullied him his parents never took his side. I had forgotten that feeling, the one that feels like you have no say over your own life. I thought that came across very strongly here. Definitely a cute read. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, because of the ghost inconsistencies, but other than that it was good. :)

This is a very well rounded, thought provoking, children’s story. The book is fast paced and keeps you interested right from page one. I was not expecting to connect so strongly with the main character, but I did. Very strong character detail and development. Interesting illustrations. The story has a pleasant super natural twist and takes us on a surprisingly deep spiritual journey. Anyone can relate to this story- it is for all ages, though perhaps 4th or 5th grade and up will relate the best. Supernatural Hero is a story about Andy, a young boy in sixth grade, and his struggles within himself. Like most kids, he wants to be taken seriously, he desires to be popular, and really wants to “win” the girl. He's a "nerd" in every sense of the word, and the author portrays him in a detailed and genuine manner. Andy has very little self-esteem. He struggles with learning about himself and how to cope with social issues and just growing up in general. He has imaginary “friends” and a spirit guide and Hero that helps him through his journey of self -discovery- his Grandfather. Through it all Andy learns to be strong and confident and take a stand. He learns to trust in others and more importantly- to trust in himself. Andy learns great self-worth and confidence. He starts his journey as an insecure nerdy boy and the end result is a more mature version of himself and his abilities. He becomes is very own Hero! Eran Gadot did an excellent job with Supernatural Hero. Everyone can relate to Andy and his journey. This is a MUST READ!

I think I may be one of the few adults who purchased this book without the intention to read it to a child. The Kindle look inside feature told me I was going to love it because I fell for Andy in the very first paragraph. I honestly can't remember connecting immediately with a character like that before, so kudos to the author for rendering me spellbound so quickly. Andy is insecure, put upon, virtually friendless and bullied. The prose is simple, but I found it evocative and intelligent. It made me think of all the kids out there, under similar circumstances, who lash out in horrendous ways and are driven to violence by those dark thoughts. Andy's character could've been taken in any direction, but seemingly the love and attention from his Grandpa gives him what he needs to keep him on the straight and narrow. This book might encourage parents of the pre-teen set to begin a dialogue with their kids, see what's not being said and take the opportunity to slow down, and give some one-on-one. The paranormal elements were wonderful. Kids who really enjoy the Goosebumps series will love Supernatural Hero. Anyone who read Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will love this, too. It's entertaining, but delivers a message. For kids, it's that no matter how hard things seem now, they've got it in them to overcome anything that stands in their way. Nerds can be heroes. For adults, the message is they should find a way to connect and listen to their kids, talk without talking down to them. The afterward spoke of the author's children and family and told of the inspiration they provide. It touched my heart. And I have to mention the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were amazing, so now I've got my eye on the paperback version. A perfect book all the way around.

I loved the book and I'm way older than the younger people it may have been written for. I think it holds appeal for anyone - male, female, young and old. As a longtime researcher and writer in the paranormal field, I can say that Eran Gadot "got it right" in accurately portraying the notion of seeing and hearing spirits, what happens when we pass, etc. What a great gift to young people who may have this talent but are afraid of admitting that they can see or hear "the dead." That's only one lesson to come from this fascinating and beautifully-written book. On a simpler scale, it addresses the notion of bullying - at school and at home. It teaches young people that being a nerd isn't a bad thing, and the main character of Andy is certainly the classic "nerd" - skinny, not good at sports, wearing glasses, and never being invited to birthday parties, a major source of unhappiness for him. Andy's been seeing his grandma's spirit for quite some time and now has another spirit guide to help him, especially in his quest to win the "love" of Zoe, a popular girl in his sixth grade class. The overall message of the book is to believe in yourself, face your fears and follow your heart. Gadot is a refreshing and talented writer and the illustrations by Salit Krac are a little dark but certainly appealing and appropriate for the story. Loved this book! I'm sure the next installment will be equally wonderful.

Eran Gadot's charming "Supernatural Hero" took me by surprise. The cover promised an interesting read, yet was unassuming in retrospect, given the impact this story had on me. Where do I begin? First, it is delightfully well-writtten. Wonderfully paced, and refreshingly honest, it moves at a wonderful pace that kept me spellbound. I was quickly drawn into Andy's world, entranced into cheering this underdog on as he moved through the many challenges a 6th grade 'nerd' can face, from math, to bullies, a big sister & her friends, and a growing love for the seemingly unattainable fair maiden. As if that weren't enough, Andy's grandfather faces a sudden challenge that shakes the family - and especially Andy - to the core. Until that moment, the book was a wonderful story. Then it transformed into something far more. With the death of Andy's grandfather, this book became a genuinely important young adult work in that it a rare piece of art that finds the courage to take an honest look at how death impacts a child, while exploring the ways in which adults help (or fail to) a child navigate such complicated events. It manages this while still sweeping the story delightfully forward, as Andy, with the help of Grandfather's ghost, not only overcomes a number of middle-school challenges, but becomes a hero. I cannot recommend this story more highly. I hope many more read and discover it, as I believe it an important work with a timeless story. I very much look forward to vol 2 in this series.