Boys of Steel

The Creators of Superman

Illustrated by Ross Macdonald
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Paperback
$7.99 US
8.5"W x 11"H x 0.14"D  
On sale Jun 11, 2013 | 40 Pages | 978-0-449-81063-7
| Grade 5 & Up
Reading Level: Lexile 760L | Fountas & Pinnell U

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two high school misfits in Depression-era Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent--meek, mild, and myopic--than his secret identity, Superman. Both boys escaped into the worlds of science fiction and pulp magazine adventure tales. Jerry wrote his own original stories and Joe illustrated them. In 1934, the summer they graduated from high school, they created a superhero who was everything they were not. It was four more years before they convinced a publisher to take a chance on their Man of Steel in a new format--the comic book. The author includes a provocative afterword about the long struggle Jerry and Joe had with DC Comics when the boys realized they had made a mistake in selling all rights to Superman for a mere $130.

Ross Macdonald’s real name was Kenneth Millar. Born near San Francisco in 1915 and raised in Ontario, Millar returned to the US as a young man and published his first novel in 1944. He served as the president of the Mystery Writers of America and was awarded their Grand Master Award as well as the Mystery Writers of Great Britain's Gold Dagger Award. He died in 1983. View titles by Ross Macdonald
  • WINNER
    IRA CBC Children's Choice
  • WINNER
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • WINNER | 2008
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
  • SUBMITTED
    Arizona Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
  • NOMINEE
    Rhode Island Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE
    Utah Children's Book Award
Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2008:
“[T]his robust treatment does [Shuster and Siegel’s] story justice.”
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2008:
"The battle for truth and justice is truly never-ending."
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, June 23, 2008:
“Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonald's … punchy illustrations.”

About

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two high school misfits in Depression-era Cleveland, were more like Clark Kent--meek, mild, and myopic--than his secret identity, Superman. Both boys escaped into the worlds of science fiction and pulp magazine adventure tales. Jerry wrote his own original stories and Joe illustrated them. In 1934, the summer they graduated from high school, they created a superhero who was everything they were not. It was four more years before they convinced a publisher to take a chance on their Man of Steel in a new format--the comic book. The author includes a provocative afterword about the long struggle Jerry and Joe had with DC Comics when the boys realized they had made a mistake in selling all rights to Superman for a mere $130.

Author

Ross Macdonald’s real name was Kenneth Millar. Born near San Francisco in 1915 and raised in Ontario, Millar returned to the US as a young man and published his first novel in 1944. He served as the president of the Mystery Writers of America and was awarded their Grand Master Award as well as the Mystery Writers of Great Britain's Gold Dagger Award. He died in 1983. View titles by Ross Macdonald

Awards

  • WINNER
    IRA CBC Children's Choice
  • WINNER
    Sydney Taylor Book Award, Association of Jewish Libraries
  • WINNER | 2008
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
  • SUBMITTED
    Arizona Young Readers Award
  • NOMINEE
    Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Award
  • NOMINEE
    Rhode Island Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE
    Utah Children's Book Award

Praise

Starred Review, Booklist, June 1, 2008:
“[T]his robust treatment does [Shuster and Siegel’s] story justice.”
Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2008:
"The battle for truth and justice is truly never-ending."
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, June 23, 2008:
“Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonald's … punchy illustrations.”

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