Review: Searching for Super by Marion Jensen

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Title: Searching for Super
Author: Marion Jensen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. Date: January 20, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade
Rec. Age Level: 8-12
Pages: 256
More by this author: Almost Super
Description:
Rafter and Benny Bailey are back in this laugh-out-loud follow-up to Almost Super, which Kirkus Reviews called "fluent, funny, and eminently sequel-worthy," perfect for fans of Pixar's The Incredibles.

The superheroes of Split Rock are hunkering down, which is really just a fancy way of saying they're hiding. Ever since those supervillainous Joneses took away their real powers, the Baileys and the Johnsons have been living in fear. But Rafter has had a taste of what saving the day feels like, and now he's desperate to do something important.

So when he gets an opportunity to fight with a real superpower--as long as he promises not to tell his parents--he is going to take it, no questions asked. With the help of his brother Benny, his cousin Thimon, and his best friend, Juanita, Rafter Bailey is searching for super.

Filled with heart and humor, Searching for Super is a family adventure of heroic proportions.

The best thing about Marion Jensen's Super books? I always know that I'll spend most of the book laughing!

I was a huge fan of Almost Super, which released early in 2014, and was excited to hear that the Baileys and Johnsons would be returning to continue their battle with the supervillain Joneses in 2015. This second book picks up shortly after the events of book one, following a catastrophe that left the superhero families robbed of their superpowers. Needless to say, moral is low in the superhero camps. But Benny, Rafter, and Juanita know that real superheroes don't let adversity - or missing powers - stand in their way. So, instead of hunkering down, they think outside the box, finding an alternative solutions.

One of the driving forces behind these books is friendship and family. I love that the three main characters are the catalysts for change within their families and the superhero community, rather than the adults. And, even though they sometimes get into more trouble than they bargained for, they are willing to try new things and collaborate. 

While readers could probably start with this book and puzzle their way through any missing information from book 1, I'd recommend starting with Almost Super. This will prevent any plot holes and give readers a better understanding of the dynamics between the Baileys and Johnsons, an element I think really make these books shine.

Recommended.