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cleah's review
4.0
Kyle Camden lives in the small town of Bouring, where nothing exciting ever happens. Until one strange night when the sky lights up with mysterious lights. All of a sudden, nothing is the same. Kyle discovers his body has developed so interesting powers. Even more perplexing is the arrival of a boy with similar powers, named Mighty Mike. Mike has been flying all over the nation saving lives, but Kyle knows there is something much more sinister going on. The question is, can Kyle exposed Mike for the fraud he is without making his own situation into something worse?
A super, drippingly cute book. I am a HUGE fan of Barry Lyga, so I was totally expecting to love this book. But it was not like I thought it would be. There were totally some surprises that threw me off, and I still enjoyed the book. First of all, Kyle's voice is both wise and funny. Then there's the fact that he is a super genius and yet still struggles with the things normal boys do (like having "the talk" with his Dad). I loved how Kyle takes everyday techie objects and turns them into boy fantasy items. This is how I imagine boys ages 6-12 see their world all of the time. Very clever! Kyle's friend Mairi is also a nice touch, to give the story a slight feminine side. And with an ending that is sure to leave readers wanting more, elementary school age boys will love it!
A super, drippingly cute book. I am a HUGE fan of Barry Lyga, so I was totally expecting to love this book. But it was not like I thought it would be. There were totally some surprises that threw me off, and I still enjoyed the book. First of all, Kyle's voice is both wise and funny. Then there's the fact that he is a super genius and yet still struggles with the things normal boys do (like having "the talk" with his Dad). I loved how Kyle takes everyday techie objects and turns them into boy fantasy items. This is how I imagine boys ages 6-12 see their world all of the time. Very clever! Kyle's friend Mairi is also a nice touch, to give the story a slight feminine side. And with an ending that is sure to leave readers wanting more, elementary school age boys will love it!
pwbalto's review
3.0
Kyle, always a plotter and a prankster, and determined to protect his identity so that he doesn't become some government agency's lab rat, keeps a low profile. Mike, however, is out there plucking kittens out of trees and ineptly putting out fires left and right. He usurps Kyle's social status, begins to win over Kyle's best friend Mairi, and really gets on Kyle's nerves.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/11/archvillain-by-barry-lyga-review.html
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/11/archvillain-by-barry-lyga-review.html
abigailbat's review
4.0
Kyle Camden is just your slightly-above-average sixth grader (smart, super popular, and known prankster) until he's caught in a plasma shower in a field outside the small town of Bouring. Suddenly, his intelligence goes through the charts, he has super strength, and he can fly! But Kyle's not the only thing that changed that fateful night. Another kid was apparently caught in the storm. They're calling him Mighty Mike and the whole town adores him for his good deeds. Only Kyle can see Mike for what he truly is, only Kyle can defeat Mighty Mike and show the whole town his true colors... and if that turns Kyle into an archvillain, so be it!
This is a fun and funny start to a new series. I found myself chuckling out loud throughout the book. Best of all, Lyga manages to make Kyle's archvillain character a sympathetic one. Recommended.
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/07/archvillain.html
This is a fun and funny start to a new series. I found myself chuckling out loud throughout the book. Best of all, Lyga manages to make Kyle's archvillain character a sympathetic one. Recommended.
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/07/archvillain.html
ubalstecha's review
3.0
Thanks to his pranks, Kyle is the most popular kid in town. He has managed to prank everyone, his teachers, his peers and the police. He was setting up one of those pranks when the plasma storm hit. He was knocked unconscious and woke up three days later smarter, invulnerable to pain and able to fly.
And he's not the only one. A teenager was found after the storm, suffering from amnesia and possessing powers similar to Kyle's. Mike, as the boy comes to be known, quickly becomes the most popular kid in town, displacing Kyle. This makes Kyle very jealous, and he begins to plan a pranks to expose Mike as the fake he thinks he is.
Unfortunately, these pranks quickly get out of hand, and Kyle is painted as a villain who is out to hurt all. Can Kyle convince the town that Mike isn't the goody two-shoes he seems? Can he avoid capture by the authorities as he learns to master his own powers.
This book was a difficult read, because it was quite obvious to me that Kyle is a self-centred, jerk who can't handle his demotion to second banana in the kids eyes. And it was hard to have any sympathy for him, and when you can't empathize with the main character, it makes reading a book a tough slog. Too bad, because author Barry Lyga has proved before that he is a very competent author who is not afraid to deal with tough topics head on, treating his readers with a respect and maturity that many others lack.
And he's not the only one. A teenager was found after the storm, suffering from amnesia and possessing powers similar to Kyle's. Mike, as the boy comes to be known, quickly becomes the most popular kid in town, displacing Kyle. This makes Kyle very jealous, and he begins to plan a pranks to expose Mike as the fake he thinks he is.
Unfortunately, these pranks quickly get out of hand, and Kyle is painted as a villain who is out to hurt all. Can Kyle convince the town that Mike isn't the goody two-shoes he seems? Can he avoid capture by the authorities as he learns to master his own powers.
This book was a difficult read, because it was quite obvious to me that Kyle is a self-centred, jerk who can't handle his demotion to second banana in the kids eyes. And it was hard to have any sympathy for him, and when you can't empathize with the main character, it makes reading a book a tough slog. Too bad, because author Barry Lyga has proved before that he is a very competent author who is not afraid to deal with tough topics head on, treating his readers with a respect and maturity that many others lack.
themadmaiden's review
4.0
I really liked this book. It's from the point of view of a 12 year old who has always been the smartest and most popular kid in his town because of his pranks. However when the "starts fall" he gains super intelligence as well as super powers. Meanwhile a strange boy named Mike has appeared and is now making a name for himself as a superhero.
Kyle can't stand this and the way the book shines is that it takes you into the mind of a burdening supervillain. It makes sense why he starts to act out, that most of his acts are misunderstood and while trying to get rid of this "brainless alien" he just makes everything worse for himself.
The character of Kyle, while arrogant and Lex Luther like in his role, is well developed and as the main character I sympathized with him a great deal. And while I was hoping it would wrap up, I am going to look for the next book in the series because I want to know what happens next.
Kyle can't stand this and the way the book shines is that it takes you into the mind of a burdening supervillain. It makes sense why he starts to act out, that most of his acts are misunderstood and while trying to get rid of this "brainless alien" he just makes everything worse for himself.
The character of Kyle, while arrogant and Lex Luther like in his role, is well developed and as the main character I sympathized with him a great deal. And while I was hoping it would wrap up, I am going to look for the next book in the series because I want to know what happens next.
akmargie's review
3.0
A fun read that might skew a bit younger but that's okay. I like the evil genius angle especially since Kyle's too self-absorbed to think he's not the evil genius. I also like the hints of self-awareness that are creeping through. Adult characters are a bit flat = all stupid which to be honest, an 11 year old kid would probably enjoy more than me. I might read the rest of the series now.
claudiaswisher's review
3.0
Kyle has always been the smartest kid in school...and the one whose pranks give him attention. His total disdain for others, including his TV-watching parents is an attitude I've seen in young kids. And adults.
But Kyle is caught in a plasma event and everything changes. HE's even smarter, and he is strong, can fly, and he feels no pain. All dangerous qualities in a kid who doesn't really have much empathy for others.
Something else happens that night...a boy appears...no memory, no name, no family. But all the powers Kyle now possess and then some. Mike is an alien, he must be!
Mike now inhabits the niche at school that was Kyle's. And Kyle seethes. In his zeal to get revenge, he goes to extremes...and he fails every time. He's labeled the villian. He's seen as the bad guy. Interesting turn of events.
He creates a superior 'brain' in his iPod, and gets a taste of what it's like to be his friend...the put-downs, the superior attitude.
SO FAR, Kyle hasn't learned...learned to work with people for real instead of seeing them as targets, of looking for the good in people.
Kyle was a frustrating character. I liked the excerpts from his journal. His own voice was much more engaging to me than the third-person narration in between journal entries.
I LOVE Lyga's murder-suspense novels, and his new adult novel is intriguing too. I wanted to see what his style would be with books for youngsters. I do prefer I HUNT KILLERS to Kyle...but I can see how kids would really love the idea of getting revenge on those who seem so beneath us.
Another reviewer saw a parallel I didn't -- Kyle as Lex Luther; Mike as young Superman. Hmmmm. interesting
But Kyle is caught in a plasma event and everything changes. HE's even smarter, and he is strong, can fly, and he feels no pain. All dangerous qualities in a kid who doesn't really have much empathy for others.
Something else happens that night...a boy appears...no memory, no name, no family. But all the powers Kyle now possess and then some. Mike is an alien, he must be!
Mike now inhabits the niche at school that was Kyle's. And Kyle seethes. In his zeal to get revenge, he goes to extremes...and he fails every time. He's labeled the villian. He's seen as the bad guy. Interesting turn of events.
He creates a superior 'brain' in his iPod, and gets a taste of what it's like to be his friend...the put-downs, the superior attitude.
SO FAR, Kyle hasn't learned...learned to work with people for real instead of seeing them as targets, of looking for the good in people.
Kyle was a frustrating character. I liked the excerpts from his journal. His own voice was much more engaging to me than the third-person narration in between journal entries.
I LOVE Lyga's murder-suspense novels, and his new adult novel is intriguing too. I wanted to see what his style would be with books for youngsters. I do prefer I HUNT KILLERS to Kyle...but I can see how kids would really love the idea of getting revenge on those who seem so beneath us.
Another reviewer saw a parallel I didn't -- Kyle as Lex Luther; Mike as young Superman. Hmmmm. interesting
thisgrrlreads's review
3.0
If you like snarky, know-it-all kids who become superheroes...or super villains? Not my usual cup of tea, read for inspiration for programming. Lots of hacking and making for this super smart superhero. Plus, I truly enjoyed how dumb Mike was and how the other kids just failed to notice anything because of his powers.
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