Synopsis
Spider-Man is in for a shock! Electro plans to steal the city's power supply, and he won't let anything get in his way. Can Spider-Man save the day before it's too late?
Children's Literature
Peter Parker thought his day was bad when school bully Flash Thompson connected a water balloon with his head. Then Electro showed up. This villain's mastery of sizzling electric bolts is flaunted all over his green-and-yellow suit, and he seizes the jumbo screen in Times Square with a threat to black out the city. Parker quickly dons his suit to become Spider-Man, but can he beat an enemy that throws not water balloons, but lightning? Part of the "I Can Read!" series, this latest adventure of "The Amazing Spider-Man" is a level-two reader, meaning it features "Engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play for developing readers" who are still reading with another's aid. Hill does a fantastic job of integrating advanced concepts—bullying, respect versus fear, moral fiber—in a short, exciting tale, but teachers and parents should be sure to stress that in real life, one cannot simply put on the janitor's rubber boots to handle high voltages safely. If taught correctly, though, this book could be an entertaining, memorable lesson on holding to one's principles and the benefits and dangers of electricity. Reviewer: Cara Chancellor