When I started reading Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon I had no idea that it was about superheroes and supervillains. I think this is a book that kids in fourth grade and up who enjoy comic superheros will love (third graders could enjoy it too, but it might be a challenging read). Anyone who has read the Powerless series and liked it, is sure to enjoy reading about Joshua and his friends. It's a unique story because it's being told from the supervillain’s point of view instead of the superhero’s perspective. I really like Joshua and his friends and found it easy to relate to them. I also thought it was fascinating to learn about all kinds of cool superhero products. It was fun diving into a world of supervillains for a few hours. As Joshua learned more about his fire power it was easy to understand his worries and concerns, after all he doesn't want to hurt anyone he knows. I think the theme of friendship is a strong one, and the kids in this book could teach adults a thing or two about right and wrong and how to be a true friend. This is the first book of the series, and I look forward to reading more. ( )

Familiar themes with an original plot. I could have done with not as many similes, but perhaps middle graders appreciate them.

While the plot originality was refreshing, the writing style was ... how to explain ... intentionally meh? Like the author didn't want the words distracting from the plot. Which can be the foundation for a great book. In my own reading, I like writing with the occasional alliteration or fourth-wall-breaking.

I won't be reading book two. ( )

This book was about a boy named Joshua Dread. HIs parent were the worst super villains in the world, the Dread duo. The story starts out as Josh walked in school, and a storm threatening the existence of civilization as we know it. They leave school early, and got stuck in a crossroads in a showdown with the Dread Duo and Captain Justice, the greatest superhero. Captain Justice wins, but the Dread Duo escape alive. He arrives home and later at night, he overhears his parents discussing something whether or not they should tell Josh. He gets curious, and listens. They say that he will discover sooner or later. A few days later, he scrapes by and nearly got his legs broken. 2 of the school's worst bullies try to beat him up, but he mysteriously knocked him into the girl's bathroom with only a punch. He find out that he has a superpower, spontaneous combustion. In other words, he can make things blow up. He goes to a super villain fair with his parents, but there was a surprise attack in the middle of the fair. There were smoke creatures that teleported the majority of the villains away. Josh and his family escape unscathed. His dad gets a sample of the smoke creatures, and to break them down, he has to get a special chemical from a lab in town. Josh's parents get kidnapped in the process. Josh goes ahead and gets the chemical, and had to tell his friends that he is the Dread Duo's son. They find out the location of the smoke creature's hideout and the kidnapped super villains from the smoke creature remains and rescues them and his parents. I think that this book was good because it had a good plot and the suspense was good too. However, it wasn't the best book that I read. ( )

The kids and I listened to this book on audio, and they loved it. I enjoyed it, too. We're on to the next one, and maybe I'll write a more detailed review when we finish it -- probably soon. ( )

Joshua Dread has to keep the identity of his parents a secret. They are the Botanist and Dr. Dread, famous supervillains. Josh discovers he too has emerging powers. When he attends Vile Fest with his folks, he's surprised when Smoke Monsters attack the convention and steal many of the villains. His new friend at school seems to have a hidden identity as well. The kids start investigating the mysterious Z technologies.
An action fantasy. ( )