What happens when special becomes normal and normal becomes less than? In Special by Chino Chakanga, this idea is explored through the lens of teenaged Hope, or Hopeless as her antagonizing schoolmates like to call her. Hope is known as one of the ‘maladroit’ among her peers. These ungifted kids have either manifested undesirable abilities, or in Hope’s case, no gift at all. Unlike her parents who can fly, heal rapidly and possess super strength, Hope is subject a barrage of medical tests and procedures all in the hopes of forcing her latent abilities. With the pressures at school mounting and the upcoming Spring Ball, combined with turmoil at home, Hope relies on her friends to get through the difficulties inherent to youth. Thus, when her closest friendships are jeopardized, Hope has to find a way to cope with her inability to conform to the norm.
Special is an action-packed look into the ongoing pressure to fit in, written by Chino Chakanga. The book includes all the expected drama and gossip of a book about teens but is enhanced with the unique fantastical element that includes special abilities such as levitation, telekinesis, and even plant manipulation being the norm. Hope is a character that anybody that has ever struggled to fit in or ever felt uncomfortable in their own skin can relate to. The addition of a few intense action scenes and a vigilante superhero gives the book a comic-book storyline, changing what could be an uncomfortable subject into a fun, enjoyable feel. Special is a book that can help any young person feel good about themselves.
