Pizazz #2: Pizazz vs the New Kid; Sophy Henn

The brilliant Pizazz is back and this time there’s a new ‘superhero’ in town.

Since saving the park from being bulldozed by Mr. Piffle, the dad of her school nemesis Serena, Pizazz has been busy leading her not-so-ordinary life of school, homework and saving the planet. Now there’s a new superhero in town and Pizazz is determined that Jett will not suffer the same mocking and belittling from Serena and the rest of the ‘Populars’ at school that she does. But when Jett picks Serena over her to show her around the school, Pizazz finds herself as the outcast yet again and rather than superheroes sticking together, Serena wants to pit them against each other, EYE ROLL.

Can Pizazz deal with the constant ridiculing from Serena, compete in a battle of the supers and continue to save the world from Mothman, the Time-a-nator, Nostrilamous and Sonic Burp? No-one ever said being a superhero was easy…

I have so much love for Pizazz who narrates this heroic read in her wonderful sarcastic and humorous tone. She is the perfectly imperfect superhero that all girls should admire. Superpowers may help Pizazz save the world but they are not much use when it comes to all of the worries and anxieties that many readers will relate to. Pizazz is regularly caught up in embarrassing moments - much to the amusement of Serena and the other ‘Populars’, Pizazz’s parents are embarrassing, and all she really wants is to fit in with everyone at school, maybe be a little bit cool and perhaps even a little bit popular.

Themes of bullying, friendship, the importance of being yourself, working together and not letting the Serena’s of this world get to us are all featured. Importantly, Pizazz learns that people like Serena can only put us down and make us feel bad about ourselves if we let them and this message is shouted loud and clear. And whilst being able to produce a jazz hands glitter storm is all well and good, Pizazz’s best powers are that of kindness, being a good friend and embracing who she truly is - valuable lessons for all children.

Brilliantly written and illustrated, featuring comic strips, funky fonts and plenty of illustrations, Pizazz vs the New Kid is another smashing read from the superhero that is Sophy Henn and I cannot wait for Pizazz to return in her next superhero outing.

Recommended for 7+.