The bionic boy

Fifth grader Benji Ames-Cyr hates being the center of attention. He especially dislikes the stares and comments he gets when people notice he "was born without hands." Living in Maine with Dad and Papa, who adopted him from an overseas orphanage, he's accustomed to using tools, such as straps to wield utensils. Though he tries to emulate the can-do attitude of his favorite superheroes, he often feels like the opposite of super, particularly because he can't hold the hand of his spirited seven-year-old sister Becka, who has Down syndrome, to comfort her when she's overwhelmed or keep her close, as she's inclined to wander off. Then Benji attends a speech by staff sergeant Dirk Snyder, a "real live superhero" and quadruple amputee who uses a prosthetic arm and legs following an IED explosion. Benji resolves to become more like Snyder, who was "greater than any superhero I'd ever seen before." This uplifting, feel-good narrative by Plourde (Best Buddies) is reinforced by the compassionate support of Benji's family and friends, particularly from Snyder, whom the white-cued protagonist looks to as he begins to see himself in a new light. Ages 8--12. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Oct.)

A boy born without hands debates getting prostheses. Adopted from "an orphanage on the other side of the world" eight years ago, 11-year-old Benji Fadeyushka Ames-Cyr dreams of saving the day like the cartoon superheroes Dad and Papa introduced him to when they brought him to the United States. There's just one problem: 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. Though some readers may find Becka's cheery, earnest antics adorable, others may feel they toe the trope of people with Down syndrome being perpetually happy or angelic. Most characters, including Benji and his family, read white; Sam is Indian. A feel-good story of family, friends, and self-confidence. (acknowledgments/author's note)(Fiction. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.