THE BIONIC BOY

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.