MY BROTHER IS A SUPERHERO

In this sequel to My Brother Is a Visitor from Another Planet (1993), Adam is still having trouble with his big brother, Keith— so much trouble that when a gang of bullies start picking on him every day, he doesn't even consider asking Keith for help. Instead, he decides to stand up to the bullies and, to that end, tries to learn karate out of a book. Children who live in the shadow of seemingly perfect older siblings will identify with Adam and his resentment. But Adam doesn't solve his problems; Keith does, even though he has been unrelentingly mean and detestable throughout the book. The bullies agree to leave Adam alone only because he is Keith's brother, and Keith never acknowledges his mistreatment of Adam nor makes amends for it. It's an unsatisfying ending to a frustrating story. (b&w illustrations) (Fiction. 8-11)