Guys Read: Will

Will’s got it rough.

He’s practically the only kid in school who hasn’t found out that he’s a wizard or a vampire or the child of a Norse god. But when a supervillain takes over the school and all the kids with powers are gone, it’s up to Will to try and save the day.

Instead of shooting lasers or sprouting wings, he spends his birthday morning glaring at a paper clip and timing how long he can hold his breath. While other students pack off to fairy academies, Will is trapped in a locked-down building with a demigod who forgot his hammer.

An eight-million-dollar exoskeleton named Cyberstructo has smashed through the cinder block, hunting for a superhero who is not there. Facing an arm cannon and a villain who doubles over if anyone scratches the blackboard, Will has to figure out how to trip up a battlesuit running on Windows.

A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

• Unlikely Hero: Without superpowers of his own, Will relies on quick wits and an abandoned digital camera cord to outsmart an eight-million-dollar exoskeleton.
• School Drama: Seventh grade is chaotic enough with sudden lockdowns and crumbling cinder blocks, especially when the teacher is hiding behind her desk.
• Short Stories for Kids: Will teams up with a classmate who secretly body-swapped with his accountant dad.
• Also by This Author: Cold Cereal, Champions of Breakfast and Unlucky Charms.