sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Stanley is a comic book expert and his best friend used to like them just as much. However, as they are getting older, Stanley's best friend begins pulling away. Stanley tries to combat his sensory overload disorder and anxieties to try to keep his best friend. This becomes especially difficult with the overwhelming safety demonstrations his school provides regularly. Stanley finds solace in an unused office in the school, where he begins drawing the comic Johnny Lockdown with an unknown partner. Stanley is further pushed to the test when he is challenged to compete in San Diego comic scavenger hunt to win the ultimate prize of tickets to the Comic Con. Will Stanley be able to overcome his anxieties and show off his expert knowledge?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed. The scavenger was interesting and fast-paced. I enjoyed the Johnny Lockdown scenes. I wasn't as much a fan of the illustrations or the cover, they aren't as representative of the story that is found inside.
Stanley is a comic book expert and his best friend used to like them just as much. However, as they are getting older, Stanley's best friend begins pulling away. Stanley tries to combat his sensory overload disorder and anxieties to try to keep his best friend. This becomes especially difficult with the overwhelming safety demonstrations his school provides regularly. Stanley finds solace in an unused office in the school, where he begins drawing the comic Johnny Lockdown with an unknown partner. Stanley is further pushed to the test when he is challenged to compete in San Diego comic scavenger hunt to win the ultimate prize of tickets to the Comic Con. Will Stanley be able to overcome his anxieties and show off his expert knowledge?
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed. The scavenger was interesting and fast-paced. I enjoyed the Johnny Lockdown scenes. I wasn't as much a fan of the illustrations or the cover, they aren't as representative of the story that is found inside.
amberinpieces's review against another edition
4.0
This book is full of humor and heart. I think everyone needs to read this to get a glimpse at what it’s like to deal with anxiety and sensory overload. Be kind and courteous, all.
chelseymarie's review against another edition
4.0
Stanley's got anxiety and a sensory processing disorder - crowds, socializing, and public transportation all freak him out. The worst are the safety and active shooter drills his school keeps doing. His refuge is comics, and when a giant scavenger hunt opens up in his town, with a grand prize of tickets to the comic convention, he desperately wants to do it. And he's also terrified to do it. But he's going to try.
This book took til the halfway point to really hook me, but by the end I really enjoyed it. I think it will be a good read for shy, anxious kids who will see themselves in Stanley and feel less alone.
This book took til the halfway point to really hook me, but by the end I really enjoyed it. I think it will be a good read for shy, anxious kids who will see themselves in Stanley and feel less alone.
brogan7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As I'm always looking for books to read with my sensitive eleven-year-old son (he likes action but not trauma), this chapter book about a boy with sensory sensitivities and sometimes anxiety, felt right up our alley!
In its execution, it had a couple of flaws in my estimation, some less than believable plot developments and then some high drama that almost put us off the book (that's when I say: "do you want to stop reading?" "Yes." "Do you want me to keep reading and tell you what happened?" (Pause.) "Yes.") We got through it in this way.
I wanted a little more emotional work on the part of the author...working through some difficult feelings is so much more instructive than a magical transformation from shy overwhelmed boy to competent superkid in an emergency.
However, that being said, overall the book is great; we looked forward to it every day (we read it aloud together for bedtime). The characters are appealing, even the ones who make choices that are hard on others, feel really real (except for the one part where they don't). The relationships between girls and boys are healthy (asexual and aromantic, which avoids a lot of issues, but genuinely healthy, showing shared interests, the capacity for compassion, differences and respect for those differences).
We enjoyed the comics theme woven into the story; even though all references were unfamiliar to us, it worked with the story and my son could relate it to his own trivia obsession (with a sport).
I look forward to reading more by Sally Pla!
In its execution, it had a couple of flaws in my estimation, some less than believable plot developments and then some high drama that almost put us off the book (that's when I say: "do you want to stop reading?" "Yes." "Do you want me to keep reading and tell you what happened?" (Pause.) "Yes.") We got through it in this way.
I wanted a little more emotional work on the part of the author...working through some difficult feelings is so much more instructive than a magical transformation from shy overwhelmed boy to competent superkid in an emergency.
However, that being said, overall the book is great; we looked forward to it every day (we read it aloud together for bedtime). The characters are appealing, even the ones who make choices that are hard on others, feel really real (except for the one part where they don't). The relationships between girls and boys are healthy (asexual and aromantic, which avoids a lot of issues, but genuinely healthy, showing shared interests, the capacity for compassion, differences and respect for those differences).
We enjoyed the comics theme woven into the story; even though all references were unfamiliar to us, it worked with the story and my son could relate it to his own trivia obsession (with a sport).
I look forward to reading more by Sally Pla!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Good read about social anxiety and sensory disorders in the form of a cool kid like Stanley who loves comics!
pussreboots's review against another edition
5.0
Stanley Fortinbras suffers from anxiety which has only gotten worse with his father being overseas on a variety of charity missions and with his middle school principal hosting constant (but unpredictably scheduled) safety assemblies. Thankfully he finds an understanding adult in the office, Mrs. Ngozo who gives him a safe, quiet place whenever one of these assemblies are announced. It's during a lockdown drill that Stanley creates a comic book hero, alter-ego, that helps him deal with his anxiety.
Understanding Stanley's anxiety in the context of middle school is the set up for the second act — The Great San Diego Comic Quest — a treasure hunt around Downtown (and nearby) in the lead up to the comic convention (the off-brand fictional version of Comic-Con). The clues are a combination comic book reference paired with a local landmark reference to lead contestants around the center of the city to find tokens. Seven tokens equals VIP passes to the convention. This part of the book is very much like the old Magnum PI episode, "Treasure of Kalaniopu'u" (season 6, episode 8) but set in present day San Diego.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comments_02/stanley_will_probably_be_fine.html
Understanding Stanley's anxiety in the context of middle school is the set up for the second act — The Great San Diego Comic Quest — a treasure hunt around Downtown (and nearby) in the lead up to the comic convention (the off-brand fictional version of Comic-Con). The clues are a combination comic book reference paired with a local landmark reference to lead contestants around the center of the city to find tokens. Seven tokens equals VIP passes to the convention. This part of the book is very much like the old Magnum PI episode, "Treasure of Kalaniopu'u" (season 6, episode 8) but set in present day San Diego.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comments_02/stanley_will_probably_be_fine.html
kellyhager's review
This is an absolutely delightful story. Stanley is nervous a lot. A LOT, though. Among other things, he's afraid of public transportation and crowds (but there are many other things). He's also picked on a lot and his best friend has started spending more time with the bullies than with Stanley. When this trivia contest starts, he's pretty sure it's the answer to everything: he'll get passes to Comic Fest and Joon will be sorry he stopped being Stanley's friend. Except, obviously, he has to face crowds and mass transit.
I've heard of a lot of kids being diagnosed with anxiety or other disorders lately, and I think this book would be very helpful for them. Stanley never stops being afraid, but he learns how to overcome that and move forward anyway. (That's actually the best part. It's not like, "And Stanley tried really hard and he wasn't afraid anymore!" It's "Stanley was still terrified, but he tried anyway.")
This was my first Sally J. Pla book but I definitely want to check out her backlist.
I've heard of a lot of kids being diagnosed with anxiety or other disorders lately, and I think this book would be very helpful for them. Stanley never stops being afraid, but he learns how to overcome that and move forward anyway. (That's actually the best part. It's not like, "And Stanley tried really hard and he wasn't afraid anymore!" It's "Stanley was still terrified, but he tried anyway.")
This was my first Sally J. Pla book but I definitely want to check out her backlist.
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