This is what happens when a master storyteller decides to break all the rules in the best possible way. Reynolds and Raúl the Third created something that looks unlike anything else on the middle-grade shelf—and it works.
The superhero framing is brilliant because it lets kids process heavy stuff (divorce, anxiety, feeling powerless) through play and imagination. Portico isn't saving the world from aliens; he's saving the building's cat and trying to save his parents' marriage. It's grounded, real, and deeply validating for any kid who's ever felt responsible for fixing things they can't control.
The anxiety representation is particularly strong. Reynolds doesn't pathologize it or make it Portico's whole identity—it's just part of his experience, something he's learning to name and manage. Kids who live with anxiety will feel seen; kids who don't will gain empathy.
The format might throw some adults ('Is this a graphic novel? Poetry? A script?'), but kids don't care about genre labels. They just know it's fun to read, moves fast, and doesn't talk down to them. It's 2021 so still fresh, and the themes are timeless. This is a genuine win.
