Billy Hooten: Owlboy

Billy Hooten:Owlboy is that rare book that can capture the imagination and interest of even the most reluctant pre-teen boy reader. It has it all: action, adventure, strange parents, potty humor and monsters. However, it is also a book which is so well-written and does such a good job of investing you in its characters and plotlines that even the parents or teachers of the aforementioned boys can enjoy reading it with their young charges. AND it might even hold the interest of a girl or two! In all seriousness, this really is what we call a 'threshold' book, one which can be the beginning of a young reader's true joy and lifetime immersion in the world of books.

Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? Wonder what it would be like if you got the chance to live that dream? Then you are going to love the Owlboy series! Billy would rather read his comic books - especially Owlboy - than deal with his classmates - especially the bullies. When he learns that Owlboy's adventures may be based on real stories, and when he dons the Owlboy costume, his life changes in ways he never could have dreamed. Where can you find walking skeletons, a talking firefly named Walter, and dust bunnies that are actually in the shape of bunnies? Nowhere other than Monstros City, a mysterious place beneath Billy's hometown of Bradbury, Massachusetts. In Monstros City, he quickly meets two allies: a tuxedo-wearing creature named Archebold and a savvy, fast-working troll named Halifax. He also encounters, among other things, Slovakian Rat-Toothed Hopping Monkey Demons, a little red female dragon named Ferdinand, a talking firefly named Walter, and dust bunnies, which are really bunny-shaped. Between fighting evil, protecting the townspeople, riding in the Owlmobile, keeping his secret identity a secret, and devouring cloud cake, Billy manages to finish his homework and hang out with his quirky parents. He also realizes that knowledge is power - in fact, it's a superpower! Written by Thomas E. Sniegoski and illustrated by Eric Powell, the Owlboy books are packed with adventure, action, and humor. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions. The dialogue is witty, the characters are fun, and the illustrations are eye-catching. I highly recommend this series to both kids and grown-ups.