Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy: The Capture of the Crimson Cape

This is a great book for children and adults alike. My stepson LOVES the movie that this book is based one. :)

This is a great title to read to your kids. Or have your kids read to you, it is nothing like the movie, but still a enjoyable read.

Written and illustrated by Jason Lethcoe, Amazing Adventures From Zoom's Academy is the story of Summer Jones' first year at Zoom's Academy. Summer has to learn to cope with this new school, new friends, and face her fears. Hero's are sometimes just as afraid as we are--they just don't give up. Summer is thirteen; her parents are divorced and share custody. She's slightly ashamed of her Dad who invents really weird stuff that usually doesn't work. Her mom is a super-organized attorney. Summer doesn't fit in anywhere and her parents are so different she can't be like them both at the same time and she doesn't know who she is either. Reading this book reminded me of my early teens and I could so empathize with Summer. What child hasn't wished that they could be special so that the other kids would like them and be their friend? It's usually not until you're an adult that all that stuff parents tell you about it being who you are inside that really makes the difference begins makes sense. Amazing Adventures From Zoom's Academy tries, and I think succeeds, in really getting that message across. Summer is a typical young teen looking for an identity in circumstances that are, except for the super powers and the Academy, typical for most young people. I'm sure this book will be fun for adults but children will surely enjoy Summer's klutziness as she begins to suspect she doesn't have any super powers. It's chapters are short and it would make a great read-aloud book for younger children. However, it's written clearly enough for those who are beginning to read on their own.

Summer Jones feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and she has no special talent. Her father Jasper is a nerd like her who invents things that don't work. One day while playing in a soccer game Summer does something that makes Jasper feel that she is very special and to prove his assertion he places a ring on her finger. It emits a blue glow which means she has a superpower. Jasper takes her by rocket to Zoom's Academy where she is tested to find out what powers she may have. She flunks all of the tests but the faculty allows her to stay on at the academy in the hopes her power will manifest itself. The school's enemies, the students from the Graves Academy for the Villainous Arts attack the academy and Summer is the only one who can assure the heroes a victory but first she must believe in herself and her power. This tale will appeal to the Harry Potter crowd. Readers will empathize and sympathize with Summer because almost everyone at one time or another feels like the odd person out; Summer feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and she doesn't have what it takes to be a hero. Although aimed at the young teen crowd, adults will enjoy this bold tale and will want to see the movie version of Zoom's Academy coming out soon. Harriet Klausner