The Stupendous Adventures of Mighty Marty Hayes revolves around a middle school science experiment gone awry, Marty’s struggle with his newly evolving superpowers, his attraction to a girl in his class, and a school bully – among other things.
While middle grade leisure readers will be lured by the story’s superpower theme, there are many other subplots and adventures that Marty experiences on an emotional, educational, and technological level that make for a multi-faceted, well-rounded adventure story that goes far beyond a singular approach. A multicultural cast of superheroes, and spy gadgets on full display, aid the story.
While The Stupendous Adventures seems like a complex read with so many elements entwined, one of its pleasures is that the story’s progression is logical and compelling, from the realistic portrait of Marty’s first day in 7th grade in an era when the Zika virus is big news to his fascination with CRISPR-Cas9, a gene editing technique which his advanced science class is investigating.
Marty’s prowess in navigating science, his evolving and uncertain powers, and life in general are central themes in a fast-paced adventure that follows his romp through maturity and a rapidly-changing world, and these elements, combined with a hearty attention to strong character development, keep young hearts and minds engrossed in his story.
Marty’s family is as much a part of his adventure as his peers and classmates; and this too is a fine highlight: his actions and choices don’t take place in a vacuum of peer relationships; but embrace the entirety of his world and everything he holds dear. Young readers get a dose of history as they learn of past spies of color, and how Marty’s Granny used her superpowers to aid Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Smartphones and superpowers, adults who struggle to understand and support Marty’s evolutionary process, and missions involving spy manuals and games in the name of science coalesce in a vivid and engrossing tale filled with satisfying twists and turns as well as subliminal messages on choices and consequences.
Middle grade readers who pick up The Stupendous Adventures of Mighty Marty Hayes expecting a one-dimensional story of a young would-be scientist/superhero will find the read exciting, stimulating, and a powerful probe of heroism’s roots and friendship’s special challenges; highly recommended as a standout tale.
D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
