Johnny Ultra by Kristoffer Gair

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There is no better example of artful prose and diversity of talent than Kristoffer Gair.  A master storyteller (and a genuinely kind human), he runs the gamut from the sublimely touching to the craftily creepy to the spectacularly snarky… and sometimes, he hits all those marks in a single book.  His novels are simply unputdownable! 

In his latest, Jonny Ultra, an adventure novel for young adults, he again blurs the lines of reader demographics with a story that reaches far beyond the middle and high school crowd it is intended for.  As an adult playing through the latter half of my life, I can say with all sincerity: I LOVED this book.  It was a well-paced and highly entertaining read that felt incredibly indulgent. 

Although this is a story that plays with themes of superhero spectacle, tap dancing lightly through multiverse potentials, and the idea that revenge is sometimes a dish best served through mailing list subscriptions, it’s also a story grounded in the importance of friendship, family, and never giving up even when you think your best friend might be a little nuts.

This is one of the funniest, most heartwarming books I’ve read in a decade.  There were moments when I looked over at my sleeping dog and asked out loud, “Charlie, can you believe he really did that?” as my words were swallowed up by the laughter I could not suppress.  The giggles came fast and furious, and there were also tremendously tender moments that made me realize that perhaps all that awkwardness I experienced in high school prepared me more effectively for love as I grew older and became a parent.

Sho and Gabe, the two main characters in this story, exchange barbed one-liners that will not relent long enough for you to breathe, but you won’t mind.  The giggles are well worth the lack of oxygen.  But more than a raucous romp through stereotypes and practical jokes that I’d never be brave enough to try, there is a strong undercurrent of loyalty, friendship, and courage that lies at the heart of this story.  These characters are genuinely devoted to their bond and their instincts to do the right thing, albeit from different sides of the same mirror.

Yes, bullies, cheerleaders, and jocks abound, as they do in any high school hallway… but here, we discover two young boys who made a pledge in second grade to always have each other’s back, and they never relent on that promise… even while one is plotting the psychological demise of the principal and the other is keeping them both grounded in gratitude.

The reason I was so drawn to this story is that Kristoffer takes inclusivity seriously.  Yes, there is a gay student in the story – but that doesn’t matter.  Yes, you will find racial diversity here – but that doesn’t matter.  Yes, there are the cool kids who get more attention in the lunchroom – but that doesn’t matter, either.  Kristoffer helps every kid who never felt seen in school, those taking refuge in the theatre and in other shadowed places, to finally stand in a spotlight… but without the microphone on stun.  These kids are given their time center stage not because they are weird or odd, or don’t fit in.  They are encouraged there, indecisively, because they alone hold the key to the success of every other “in-crowd” kid, simply by virtue of their unique authenticity.  I was proud to admit that I was one of those kids once.  I felt like a little bit of me (yes, even though I’m a girl) got to be a superhero for a few pages, and I’ve got to tell you, that felt fantastic.

Yes, this book is hysterical.  Do not drink anything while reading; you’ll most likely do more spit takes than you expect, and that’ll create a mess… But also keep a box of tissues nearby, for your heart will be touched in ways you won’t expect, too.