Book Review: Stuntboy, In The Meantime

by Ermiyas Abiy, age 9

Stuntboy, by Jason Reynolds, is a great book filled with action. The illustrations by Raul the Third are just as amazing too!

The main characters in this book are Portico and his best friend Zola. This book begins with Zola transferring to Portico’s new school. The problem is Herbert Singletary is bullying her and Portico. Because of this, Portico pretends to be Stuntboy, who has superpowers.

Portico is an optimistic child. His mom works as a barber and his dad works as a trashman, which Portico thinks are cool jobs. Zola lives right next to Portico’s apartment and often helps Portico calm down when he stresses about his parents fighting over the smallest things.

Zola’s dad sells folding chairs. Zola likes those folding chairs so much that she thinks they’re beds and actually naps in them sometimes. She uses them to calm her and Portico down. She also enjoys comics just like Portico.

Portico really likes his apartment building because he imagines it’s a giant castle or tower. Portico also knows practically everyone who lives there.

I love this book because it had action and felt like a roller coaster of feelings. One moment everything was normal, and then the next, you experience the biggest surprises in the book! I also enjoyed learning about the characters and their different personalities and traits. I related to Stuntboy because I also enjoy comics. I found it funny that Stuntboy has different moves to imagine he's a superhero. I enjoyed the ending because in the beginning Portico and Zola used to be enemies with the bully, but in the end, they became best friends. I recommend this book for grades three to six and to anyone who has a big imagination.