The Bionic Boy

Benji and his sister Becka are being raised by their Dad and Papa near Bangor, Maine. Benji was born without hands in a country far away, and Becka lives with Down Syndrome. Benji is in fifth grade, and spends a lot of time thinking about superheroes with his best friend, Sam Patel. There's a new neighbor, Izzy, but she is angry about having moved, and won't talk to anyone, which really hurts Becka's feelings. When his fathers take him to see Staff Sergeant Dirk Snider speak about having lost all of his limbs in a bombing attack, Benji is amazed at what Sgt. Snider can do with prosthetic limbs. He agrees to meet with a prosthetist to see if artificial hands might be right for him; when he was younger, it seemed like something that was too stressful, and he's relied on using his feet, lower arms, or strap on utensils since. He's intrigued to meet Wyatt, who lost a limb in a tractor accident, and has been to Camp No Limits, a summer program for children with limb differences. Benji is fitted with a rudimentary 3-D printed hand while he's waiting for his myoelectric ones, so he can get a feel for what it is like. He has some initial success with it, but when the family pet, Kitty, escapes, he feels that perhaps he doesn't deserve the hands. His family and Sam assure him that he is already a super hero, and he learns why Izzy has been so difficult.

What worked:
Although Benji is the main character, his younger sister may be the most entertaining part of the book. Becka is in the first grade and has Down syndrome. Becka’s positivity and friendliness make it almost impossible for readers not to feel good. She says hello to everyone, and her smiling face spreads happiness to everyone she encounters. Becka gets very psyched to participate in the Special Olympics, and her performance there earns her a special honor. She loves Benji unconditionally, and they get along as well as any brother and sister.
Benji was born without hands, and his fathers adopted him into their home. They’re supportive and patient with him, especially as he battles his fears and lack of confidence. Benji is used to his lack of hands, but he’s uncomfortable when others stare at him when they first meet. Meeting a quadruple amputee inspires and excites Benji, but he’s too frightened to ask the man a single question. Benji fears anything he assumes he can’t do, but the staff sergeant’s speech at the Special Olympics gets Benji wondering. Is he brave enough to tackle difficult challenges, knowing that he might fail?
A subplot involves a new neighbor who seems to be angry all the time. Izzy makes it clear that she doesn’t want to be here, and she has no intention of ever speaking to Benji or Becka. Benji can handle being ignored by Izzy, but he’s very protective of Becka and her feelings. No one is allowed to hurt Becka! Readers will find Izzy is almost an unsolvable mystery, as she doesn’t offer any clues to explain her attitude.
What didn’t work as well:
The book’s first half focuses on Becka’s story rather than Benji’s. His handicap is put on the back burner until Benji is offered an opportunity to get bionic arms. However, Becka is delightful, so readers won’t mind the wait. Also, the reason for Becka’s grumpiness is predictable, especially as the author provides small clues.
The final verdict:
This emotional, feel-good story will appeal to readers who enjoy simple plots in a family setting. The topics of Down syndrome, physical disabilities, and adoption are large parts of the book. I recommend you try this book for yourself, but don’t be surprised if you shed a tear or two.