Author: Danielle Banas
Genre: YA Romance/Science Fiction/Superheroes
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Description:
As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well… super.
Never trust a guy in spandex.
In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees―they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.
That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.
After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes.
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Sneakers crunched on the sidewalk behind me.
For a minute, I didn’t think anything of it. But when the foot steps continued, never veering off onto another street, my heart began to race. I breathed deeply, mimicking the exercises I usually did before singing. It’s fine, I reassured myself. You’re just paranoid.
The footsteps quickened.
I knew what to do in these situations. Connor and my dad drilled it into my head years ago. Keep walking. Don’t panic. Find an open storefront and hide inside and everything will be fine.
Scanning the street, I cursed under my breath. There were no open storefronts. Most places in Morriston—especially in the suburbs—shut down in the evenings. For good reason.
Feet pounded against the pavement. Okay. Officially time to panic.
I took off, stumbling in my haste and trying to ignore the angry grunt of my pursuer as his thunderous footsteps gave chase. Fire burned in my throat while I struggled to fill my lungs.
I chanced a glance over my shoulder. The man was about ten yards away, closing in quickly. He was skeletal in appearance, wearing ripped jeans and a football jersey that hung beneath his worn coat. I reached for my backpack, groping through the outside pocket for the can of pepper spray that my dad had forced on me at the start of the school year. I didn’t even know if it worked. Suddenly I realized how stupid I was for never testing it out.
Five yards away.
I rounded a corner at the end of the block, failing to dodge a puddle in the middle of the sidewalk. A splash of water filled my shoes, weighing down my socks. I looked back again.
Three yards and...
The air left my lungs as the man collided with my back. I spun on my heel, firing off the pepper spray. A thin stream made contact with the side of the man’s scruffy face, but most of it just dribbled down my hand.
The man grabbed the straps of my backpack, slamming me against the doorway of a closed consignment shop. My head ached, my ears were ringing, but when his hand reached for my throat, some type of primal instinct took over. I slammed both hands down on his forearm. His elbow buckled, and he toppled toward me, mouth agape like I’d actually managed to frighten him. Then, winding up, I punched him right in his lousy face.
The punch wasn’t really part of my dad’s attempt at SelfDefense 101, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Take that, you jerk!” I should have stopped there. I definitely should have run. But I felt rather smug seeing the big dummy crippled by my fist, and so I couldn’t help but drive my point home. Raising my knee, I aimed at his groin. But halfway through my attack, I realized my punch hadn’t harmed him as much as I thought. The man’s hand shot out, yanking hard on my leg, sweeping my feet out from under me.
I hit the ground hard, my forehead smacking the sidewalk.
And this is why Sarah carries a Taser.
Danielle Banas, a Pittsburgh native, earned a degree in communication from Robert Morris University. After years spent dreaming up characters instead of paying attention in class, Danielle joined the storytelling platform Wattpad, where her work has received millions of views online. When she isn’t writing, she can be found loudly singing show tunes, spouting off Walt Disney World trivia, and snuggling with her puppy. THE SUPERVILLAIN AND ME is her debut novel.Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @daniellebanas
