Leon the Extraordinary

Gr 2-5–Leon wants nothing more than to be a super kid at Guillaume Elementary School, where some students have fantastic powers and almost all the students have personal cell phones. If Leon did have superpowers, he would continue the work of keeping his peers safe from bullies, which proves to be tricky, especially when said bullies have extraordinary abilities. Leon yearns for the chance to help others and do good in this world, but he becomes a laughingstock when he announces this to his class. Clementine, Leon’s former bestie and super-kid, has let the fame of her super-parents get to her head. To make matters worse, Leon is forced to attend her birthday party amid a cell phone zombie apocalypse. Nicholas crafts a heartfelt story highlighting the power of doing the right thing and the strength of mothers. The cartoon style and vibrant colors of the illustrations bring Leon’s action-packed story to life. The variation in panel sizes and text per page keeps the story moving at a fast pace, which matches the tone of the graphic novel. The range of diverse characters and relatable situations, such as bullying, jealousy, and personal growth, will provide readers with recognizable characters and feelings.