The Bionic Boy - by Lynn Plourde (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A superhero-loving boy born without hands finds the hero inside himself"--

Book Synopsis

The moving story of a superhero-loving boy born without hands who finds the hero inside himself

Benji feels like he's had more than his fair share of good luck--so it's frustrating that his disability tends to make people think the opposite. Adopted from an overseas orphanage when he was four, he's grown up surrounded by the love of his dads and little sister. But it seems like the only thing people notice about him is that he was born without hands. He wishes that it didn't bother him so much when people stare at him and that he could be as confident as the superheroes he's obsessed with. Then Benji meets a real-life hero and begins to dream about new possibilities. Staff Sergeant Snyder is a quadruple war amputee whose comfort in his own skin inspires Benji. Plus, Staff Sergeant has fun with his prosthetic limbs, making Benji wonder if it's time he becomes bionic. It takes a near disaster in the neighborhood with their pet cat to show Benji that bionic or not, he already has all the courage it takes to be a hero. After all, heroes walk among us every day, and if he just remembers to believe in himself, he can easily be one of them.

Review Quotes

"Benji hates being the center of attention, and his limb difference invites plenty of scrutiny. But after Benji meets Staff Sergeant Dirk Snyder, a self-assured quadruple amputee who uses a bionic prosthetic arm, he realizes that getting hands of his own could make him a superhero: the Bionic Boy. Still, he wonders if he made the right decision, especially after an upsetting incident involving the family cat. Can Benji still be a hero? While his conflicting feelings about using prostheses realistically highlight issues such as identity and self-confidence, family and friendship are the story's core. The loving support of Benji's dads, his best friend, Sam, and his 7-year-old sister, Becka, who has Down syndrome, radiates throughout, and even a surly new neighbor, Izzy, has a soft side. . . . A feel-good story of family, friends, and self-confidence." --Kirkus Reviews

"This is a tale about bravery and not merely living through but absolutely thriving against odds. Told in very short chapters, this will appeal to readers in upper-elementary and middle schools who enjoy realistic fiction and accounts of everyday heroes. For fans of Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind, Cece Bell's El Deafo, and stories that celebrate children with disabilities." --Booklist

"This uplifting, feel-good narrative by Plourde is reinforced by the compassionate support of Benji's family and friends, particularly from Snyder, whom [Benji] looks to as he begins to see himself in a new light." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Lynn Plourde (LynnPlourde.com) is the author of more than forty children's books, including Maxi's Secrets, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, Wild Child, Moose, of Course!, At One in a Place Called Maine, How to Talk Monster, Best Buddies, and many more. A former speech-language therapist, she worked in public schools for twenty-one years. She grew up in Maine, and currently lives there with her husband, where she loves spending time outdoors snowshoeing, walking, kayaking, and gardening.