Pizazz; Sophy Henn

Pizazz is Sophy Henn’s first book in a brand new series and it is fresh, funky and bags of fun.

Being born into a family of super-heroes is anything but super, just ask Pizazz. First of all, who name’s their child ‘Pizazz.’ Pizazz is not a fan of her name and I can’t help but think it looks a little too much like pizza (which as it happens is one of the things that Pizazz loves to eat). Anyway, more bad things about being part of the superhero family…you have to wear the same clothes everyday and saving the world can be super annoying. Having to fight baddies and stop disasters really does get in the way of a ‘normal’ life. Oh, and then there’s the younger sister, Red, who happens to be perfect in every way and is just amazing at everything.

After moving to a new town, leaving her friends behind and starting at a new school, Pizazz is feeling far from super. She is struggling to fit in whilst Red is quickly becoming one of the most popular people at school and has been elected to the school council. Pizazz on the other hand has a habit of messing things up and when she gets over-looked for the position of school council her teacher gives her the consolation of eco-monitor rep. Well at least she should be good at that, after all, she saves the planet on an almost daily basis.

When the the local park next to the school comes under threat from the bulldozers with the developers wanting to turn the park for people into a park for cars, Pizazz has a chance to be super. If she can save the park then maybe, just maybe, she’ll make friends and fit in at her new school, but to do so will mean exposing her super-duper embarrassing superpower which she will absolutely not, never-ever tell you about. Or will she…

Superpowers aside, Pizazz is so relatable for young readers. She is having to the overcome the difficulties of moving home and the challenges of starting at a new school, a very real situation that children often find themselves in through none of their own doing.

Pizazz is a big dose of girl-power and Sophy Henn introduces readers to a relatable and real character. Pizazz is imperfect, flawed and ordinary and that is what makes her so brilliant. She is the complete opposite to the female superheroes that are depicted in films - who are often flawless in both skills and appearance - and because of this she feels far more real. She is the kind of person young girls should want to be like - she is relatable, achievable and downright super-cool.

There is an environmental theme running throughout and there’s much saving of the planet to be done, whether you are born with superpowers or not. Even Pizazz’s superpower is environmentally friendly, although you’ll have to read the book for yourself if you want to know what it is.

Brilliantly written and illustrated by Sophie Henn featuring comic strips, funky fonts and plenty of illustrations. Pizazz is the perfectly imperfect female superhero that children’s books need and I can’t wait for her next adventure.

Recommended for 7+.