I'm torn about this one, it has a good story and set up and the characters are interesting but it feels like I'm watching a teen drama half the time.

Charlotte, as the narrator, borders on whine-about-everything and cute-rebellious-brat. There were times where I liked her kick-butt nature but a whole lot more times where I want to kick her butt. For one thing, she likes to yell. And every other page will have her CAPITALIZE something because that's absolutely not annoying at all (I personally didn't like it but some might). Another thing is that, though there's a reason for it, a journey with Charlotte is an emotional roller coaster. She's sad, then she's happy, then she's moody, then she's a crybaby.

The ending was awesome, the beginning was okay, the middle felt like something from a high school Disney tv show. It was really hard to choke through that part. Especially how she keeps apologizing for something she'll do again anyway.

Pro: interesting though slightly cliche story, Amusing dialogue and characters, flawed main character (flaws make them more realistic!), action-packed ending, short concise chapters
Con:some things are pretty predictable (think Disney), half the story is spend reacting rather than doing something, emotional roller coaster

Overall, you'll like the story if you can muddle through it. It's a great read for small-time pleasure and it has some nice messages in it. I really think the story has potential but it still needs work. This story is more suited for teens and younger readers but readers of all age is welcome to try it out!

Won in a giveaway in return for an honest review ( )

I had a little bit of trouble at first getting into the young girl rationale of this story, but then I enjoyed it. It tells a true to life story and keeps you reading. A good book for anyone to read. ( )

Charlotte Powers, the main character in Ben White's novel Charlotte Powers: Power Down, is a fifteen year old with a simple dream: she wants to be a super-hero like her parents. She has super powers (strength, agility and the ability to walk through walls) and one super flaw: she always has to tell the truth. Unfortunately it is hard to be a super-hero when you live alone with your parents and brother in a secret volcano base far from civilization. Finally her parents agree to let her go away to school and experience the real world. Unfortunately, the real world turns out to be a more dangerous place than Charlotte anticipated.

This is a fun YA novel. Charlotte is a funny and endearing character. The reader grows to care about her and root for her. The novel is very funny and exciting. Recommended for older children and fans of YA fantasy fiction. ( )

Review of Charlotte Powers: Powers Down, wasn’t exactly the best thing I’ve ever read. The story seemed to be a little far fetched, and the characters are a little annoying. I had a hard time forcing myself to read it, and the only mystery in the story was the cause of the school’s mind alteration. Unfortunately, the writing didn’t help, as journal entries seemed far-fetched. I hate to say it but this was not one of my favourite books. ( )

It has been a long time since a book kept me up at night. But Kindles make impulse-buys so easy, and what started as research ended after midnight when my eyes rebelled and I had to stop. Some background: I have recently self-published my first novel, Wearing the Cape, on Amazon for the Kindle. WtC is a superhero story, and it’s had a few buyers so far and some good reviews, but Amazon has that Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought function so you can see what other readers with your interests are also enjoying. There are not a lot of superhero stories out there, so my Also Bought bar isn’t very long, and one of the entries is Charlotte Powers: Power Down. Yesterday night I decided I wanted to see how another author had translated superheroes (indigenous to comic-books, a very visual medium) into literature. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from it–the product description made it sound, well, “fluffy.“

Boy was I wrong, and my mistake cost me half a night’s sleep. Power Down is a YA novel, and Charlotte Powers is a plucky 15-year old wannabe superhero. The only problem is the Age of Heroes seems to have passed; her parents fought all the big fights before she was born, and, villains vanquished, they live in a secluded base on an island somewhere. There they train, and monitor the world, but don’t interfere in “normal” problems. This isn’t good enough for Charlotte, who wants to Use Her Powers For Good, and use them Now. After what is probably the hundredth argument, her parents decide that, at the very least, it’s time to get her off the island and into the world; she can get socialized and build a public Clark Kent type identity. So they send her off to live with an uncle and go to public school. This, of course, is where it all goes horribly, horribly wrong.

I read Charlotte Powers: Power Down in two sittings separated by too little sleep. Although I’d have to label it YA, adults will enjoy it. (I’m an adult. I enjoyed it. The conclusion follows logically.) Ben White has great respect for the superhero genre; in Power Down he plays it straight–the humor comes from Charlotte’s reactions and thoughts, not from the plot (which turns out to be deadly-serious). There is pathos along with the humor, and a great deal of wisdom. As my tired eyes can attest, it’s a page-turner, and now that I’m done, I really, really hope the nature of the title means it’s only a first installment. And I’m going looking for more Ben White books. ( )