Speed Reader

Book #1 of The Speed Reader
Illustrated by Zack Giallongo
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $12.99

About The Book

When Zander Fast discovers an old book that gives him the power of super speed, he finds himself the last in a long line of heroes. But is the world ready for a hero right now? The Flash meets The Bad Guys in this all-new, action-packed graphic novel series from the award-winning creator of the Cat Ninja books!

Zander Fast is always last—last to complete an assignment, last to finish reading, and last to the bus. Even worse, his Great Uncle Merv is constantly embarrassing him with his cheesy catchphrases and tall-tale stories. But when Zander receives a mysterious book in the mail, all of that changes. Suddenly, Zander has the speed (and popularity) he’s always wanted––and Uncle Merv’s stories no longer seem so far-fetched.

Between navigating the perils of middle school and balancing his newfound powers with his studies, Zander, his best friend Tanya May, and his trusty dog Spike must protect their hometown as it transforms into a wacky world of ex-heroes and villains. Will a mind-controlling villain have his way with the people of Cape City? Or will a new generation of heroes emerge to defeat him?

About The Author

Matthew Cody is the author of several popular books, including the award-winning Supers of Noble’s Green trilogy: Powerless, Super, and Villainous. He is also the author of Will in Scarlet and The Dead Gentleman, as well as the graphic novels Zatanna and the House of Secrets from DC Comics and The Bright Family from Epic/Andrews McMeel. He lives in Manhattan, New York, with his wife and son.

About The Illustrator

Product Details

  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (March 3, 2026)
  • Length: 160 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781524886394
  • Grades: 2 - 6
  • Ages: 8 - 12
  • Lexile ® GN410L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

“Readers will revel in the narrative’s breezy, comedic tone, which relays high-octane adventure with aplomb and emphasizes reading as a tool for knowledge and power.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Tongue-in-cheek super-fun”
(Kirkus Reviews)

The illustrations bring across the scenes with the needed emotions and give a slight reminder of past, superhero comics with occasional sound effects. The expressions on the characters add the last zest. The text is balanced with the images and flows well. It's a fun beginning to what promises to be a quick-paced series for superhero fans.”
(Bookworm for Kids)

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High Resolution Images

More books from this illustrator: Zack Giallongo

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