Stuntboy, In Between Time
#2 of 2 in Stuntboy Series
What’s inside...
From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes the sequel to the hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel Stuntboy, in the Meantime about the greatest young superhero you’ve never heard of, jam-packed with illustrations by Raúl the Third! Portico Reeves, known as Stuntboy, is a superhero many haven't heard of and he likes it that way to keep people safe. However, he faces a major fail as he couldn't save his parents from becoming divorced, referred to as becoming 'Xs.' The story explores Portico's life in-between living with each parent in their apartment building, and dealing with bullies in the stairwells due to a broken elevator. Along with his friends Herbert and Zola, they find an empty apartment to use as a hideout which leads to more complications, doubling the frets for Portico, and he's unsure if his stunts can handle the new challenges.
Discussion points
How do you think Portico felt when he was trying to save the day as Stuntboy? Can you relate to wanting to help your friends?
What are some of the ways Portico tries to manage his fears? Do you have any special tricks to help you when you're feeling scared?
Why do you think friendship is important in the story? Who are your closest friends and how do you help each other?
Portico faces challenges at home and school. How does he handle them? What would you do in his situation?
How do the illustrations influence your understanding of the story? Which illustration is your favorite and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage empathy by asking your child to put themselves in Portico's shoes and explore his emotions and actions.
Discuss Portico’s coping mechanisms for his fears and relate them to any methods your family uses to handle stress or anxiety.
Highlight the role of friendship in the book and relate it to your child’s personal experiences with their friends.
Use the challenges Portico faces to start a conversation about resilience and problem-solving in everyday life.
Take time to appreciate the art together, discussing what each illustration adds to the story and asking your child to describe what they see and feel about the visuals.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: In 'Stuntboy, In the Meantime,' the protagonist, Portico Reeves, shows empathy by understanding and responding to the feelings of others, despite handling his own challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by acknowledging the emotions of their peers or family members and offering support or kindness in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Resilience in facing personal challenges
Explanation: Portico grapples with his parents’ separation and his role as a superhero of secret missions. Through his journey, children see resilience in action as Portico navigates difficult personal circumstances.
Real-World Application: This story encourages children to maintain a positive outlook and keep pushing forward, despite the challenges they might face at home or school.
Example Lesson: Creativity as a coping mechanism
Explanation: The character uses his imagination to create a superhero persona, Stuntboy, which helps him cope with his anxiety and life changes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to use creative outlets, such as drawing, writing, or role-playing, as healthy ways to manage their feelings and stressors.
Example Lesson: Importance of friendship and support networks
Explanation: Portico draws strength from his friendships and the support network around him, demonstrating the value of having trusted individuals in one’s life.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to build and maintain meaningful relationships, recognizing the positive impact friends can have during tough times.
Example Lesson: Understanding and dealing with anxiety
Explanation: The book addresses themes of anxiety and mental health through Portico’s experiences, making it accessible and understandable to young readers.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize feelings of anxiety and understand that seeking help and talking about their feelings is a sign of strength, not weakness.