Cole Champion Takes On the Villains: Book 2

By Rebecca J. Allen and Courtney Huddleston

Hi, I’m Cole Champion, and I’m finally finding my place at HERO Junior High. But now the villains have arrived. Every two years, my school’s heroes-in-training test their powers against the villains-in-training from WICKED Junior High. It’s bad enough that I have to keep my lack of powers a secret. But some of the villains-in-training are acting suspicious, and it doesn’t seem like they’re here to play fair.

To figure out what’s going on, I’ll need the help of my new friends. But as amazing as super-strong Boulder and plant-powered Thorn are, their powers are still limited. At least they’re used to working as a team . . . right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: North Star Editions
• Release date: Jan 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781631635939

Rebecca J. Allen

Rebecca J. Allen writes middle grade stories that blend mystery and adventure and young adult stories with kick-butt heroines. Her middle grade mysteries Showtime Sabotage and Math Test Mischief were published under the pseudonym Verity Weaver. When not writing, she loves to rollerblade, hike, practice Pilates, or attempt to reclaim her garden from encroaching weeds.

Book preview

Chapter One

The Hero vs. Villain Challenge

As Mom and I inch slowly through traffic toward HERO Junior High, I scowl at the obnoxious bumper sticker on the minivan in front of us. It reads, My sidekick can beat up your superhero. A stick-figure drawing shows a pint-size villain karate kicking a full-size superhero onto his butt. It’s taking a zillion years to get to school this morning, and that bumper sticker has been taunting me for all of them.

Mom glances at the time on the dashboard and sighs. Last time, I arrived a half hour early and beat the traffic. Today, it looks like everyone else had the same idea.

My bot, Sidekick, lets out a beep that mimics Mom’s sigh. I just glare out the window.

Mom’s pumped for the biggest event on the school calendar—the Hero vs. Villain Challenge. The Supers call a temporary truce every two years to hold these supercharged games. Heroes-in-training compete against future villains from WICKED Junior High in tests of quick thinking, resourcefulness, and, of course, superpower. The winning school gets bragging rights, plus the honor of hosting the next Challenge.

I was pumped for the Challenge at first. I was excited to compete using my STEM knowledge—that’s science, technology, engineering, and math. But Mom doesn’t believe in the power of STEM. She wanted me to call in sick! She’s only letting me come cheer on my friends if I pretend to have a real superpower and don’t actually compete.

Mom pulls forward as the minivan with the pro-villain bumper sticker finally turns into the school parking lot. We’re stopped by a man in a black suit and completely opaque black shades. He’s holding a clipboard.

Name? the man in black asks.

Mom lowers her window. Amanda Champion, principal of HERO Junior High.

The man’s eyebrows rise above his frames, and he leans in, whispering, How do the odds look for the heroes?

Good. Good, Mom says, beaming. HERO Junior High hasn’t lost a single Challenge in the ten years I’ve been principal. We don’t intend to break our record today.

The man in black gives her a curt nod. Officially, of course, the agency needs to remain impartial.

Mom leans in too. Officially, we’re trying to persuade future villains to abandon the dark side and transfer to HERO Junior High. But that doesn’t mean we won’t compete as hard as we can.

They share a meaningful look, both confident that the good guys will triumph, even if it’s just a junior high challenge.

Getting back to business, the man points at me. And your passenger?

I open my mouth to answer, but Mom beats me to it. Cole Champion, seventh-grade student.

Power?

Of course he wants to know my power. But on the drop-down list of powers, awesome STEM knowledge doesn’t show up. And without a power, you’re not a Super.

My friend Thorn is always complaining that plant power, which is a legit superpower, is always forgotten. You’re nothing in the Super world if you don’t have one of the big three: strength, speed, or flight. Unless, like Mom, you’ve managed to take down dozens of villains despite your disadvantage.

Mom clears her throat, lowering her voice again. Undisclosed. We’ve received threats and want to keep Cole’s power secret for the time being, for his protection.

The man in black doesn’t need to hear any more. We understand, Principal Champion. Will Cole need a security detail?

I slide lower in my seat. How could my life be any more pathetic? My STEM knowledge was enough to save the