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Smallville City
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Plot Summary of Smallville City
"

Aspect, March 2004, 5.99, 257 pp.
ISBN 0446613622

In 1989, a meteor shower hit Kansas changing the landscape of Smallville. The Kents found the toddler they adopted and named Clark and concealed his spaceship among the meteorites on their farm. At sixteen Clark Kent knows he is different from every other being on the planet but he still tries to fit in. His friend Lex Luthor, who lost his hair in the meteorite shower, invites Clark to take a trip to Metropolis with him.

A scientist who had a psychotic breakdown thinks he's Agent Green. He believes an alien lives in Kansas and it is his duty to capture him. He bugs the room that Clark and Lex are temporarily residing in. While he spies on them, the Yakuza (the Japanese mafia) kidnaps Lex in order to blackmail his father into paying the money he owes them. Clark knows he must help his friend escape from the Yakuza and the fake government agent without revealing his powers because as much as he likes Lex, he does not trust his pal.

One of the best features of the Smallville series is that Clark is just as confused and unsure of himself as most sixteen-year-olds are. There is plenty of action in SMALLVILLE CITY but the best parts are when Clark questions his role in life and why he was sent to earth in the first place. His pondering about himself and those around him makes him seem real. His relationship with Lex is fascinating and it would be interesting if Lex remains a true friend (comic book aside) when an adult Clark becomes the superhero he is meant to be.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Smallville City
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - guardian of justice
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - rescue mission/escape from confinement
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - student
Age: - a teen
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status: - accused criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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Nekropolis by Maureen F. McHugh
Venus by Ben Bova


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Devin Grayson Resident Scholar Profiles

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Harriet Klausner  

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