Cassidy Jones, Seattle's fascinating fourteen-year-old super-hero, returns in another delightful adventure for middle graders and beyond in book two, Cassidy Jones and Vulcan's Gift. Cassidy continues to adjust to heightened abilities of sight, smell, speed and athleticism since the accidental exposure to Professor Phillips secret, experimental 10X formula.
The adventure begins with Cassidy at the Seattle Center garbed "head-to-toe in black," wearing a black ski mask to disguise her youthful age and "mutant" identity. It's one in the morning as she runs her gaze up and down the "white-painted beam of the Space Needle's northern leg" gauging the gravity defying climb to the top.
Seconds later, Cassidy settled under the Christmas tree that adorns the 605 foot, saucer-like Space Needle and could feel the Needle's exhilarating sway as icy wind whipped her "dark-red hair into a frenzy" She knew Emery, the professor's brilliant fifteen-year-old son, would be upset she left home without calling his Droid and then dismissed the thought. Even though he was her secret bodyguard she had to work off this pent up energy. Besides she planned to climb back through her bedroom window before he checked for her GPS location.
She peeked over the saucer like edge when she overheard voices below and saw four surly teens circling "Ol' Joe," a homeless man she knew by scent, until he spoke to her for the first time tonight. When he saw her at the base of the Needle he had warned "...Ol Joe is watchin you Green Eyes...somebody is up to no good."
Now, loud, slurred words floated up through the icy air, taunting the old man with words that made hot blood pump through Cassidy's veins. "Prey drive" engaged and she hit the ground, her black Nike sending one punk flying, while another's head snapped to the side and the others ran away...
Thus begins Cassidy's newest escapade where danger, mystery and a touch of romance abound. Cassidy discovers additional super-hero capabilities, whether using scent to track an escaped Siberian tiger, chasing a screeching, smelly Sasquatch, or confronting a thrashing, thirteen-foot python intent on a fearsome "hug." This larger-than-life character keeps the pages turning long after lights should go out.
There are also large amounts of danger, treachery and suspense with a mysterious man in a silver suit, another mutant and formidable Lily White. Not to mention the ancient secret everyone searches for the Germans invented in WWII. From the well-written Prologue to the villain's maniacal laughter at book's end that foreshadows book three, readers of all ages will be added to Cassidy's growing fan base.
Besides entertaining, the Cassidy Jones series contains no graphic violence, curse words or sexual innuendo, yet the pace is fast, the conflict authentic and the danger real. If you're looking for realistic characterizations, substantive plotting and vulnerable, lovable characters who deal with modern issues in wholesome ways, look no further, the Cassidy Jones series is for you.
Teen superhero Cassidy Jones is back in an all-new adventure! Cassidy and Emery, Cassidy’s 15-year-old super-genius boss/side-kick, are up against an all-new evil villain with powers equal to hers! OH, I forgot to tell you. Cassidy Jones has awesome superpowers (super-enhanced senses, super speed, super strength and a whole lot more) which she got during an accident in Serena Phillips’ (Emery’s mom) scientific laboratory. In “Vulcan’s Gift” Cassidy and Emery uncover a plot that involves an escaped tiger, the “Metal Man” super villain, an invention made by the Germans during World War II that some people will stop at nothing to get, and a Sasquatch (but that was really Cassidy in a furry coat). Follow along as Cassidy tries to learn how to control her growing powers, make-up with her boyfriend, survive gym class…and save the world!
In my opinion, Cassidy Jones is as great a superhero as any others! Cassidy is an awesome main character because she really is a “regular” kid that just happens to have superpowers. I really like how she keeps trying to figure out how to use her powers and how to control them. I also like Emery even more in this book. I like how Emery is a super genius, but in the second book he seems even more like a teen or kid and he’s a little more cool. I really like the way Ms. Stokes tells an action packed good vs. evil story in a super clean way (a way that younger kids can read without having bad words or graphic violence in it). I also like that Cassidy’s little brother, Chazz, kind of figures out that she’s a superhero and I hope that we learn more about this in the next book. The ending of “Vulcan’s Gift” is AWESOME because it shows the meeting of two evil villains that are combining forces for the next great adventure!
FIVE OUT OF FIVE bookworms for “Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift”!!
