Powerless

Explore Plunkett’s justification for removing powers when kids turn 13. Is his approach justified as a preventive measure? What alternative methods to prevent potential misuse of powers as children grow older could be established?

Rank the superpowers present in Powerless from most powerful to least. How does the characters’ use of powers influence their powers’ strength? Would the ranking change if powers were assigned to different characters, and what criteria inform this hierarchy? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Louisa feels trapped by the powers, Mollie is desperate to keep them, and Rohan is willing to accept his fate. Compare and contrast the various ways the supers view their powers and the threat of losing them at age 13. What do their perspectives have in common, and how are they different? Which perspective resonates the most and why?

Using the ideas discussed in The Meaning of Heroism, who is the most heroic character in Powerless, and why? Who is the least heroic, and why? Where is the line between hero and villain drawn, and does this line move depending on the situation and the people involved?

Powerless grapples with how power changes people and the effect of extraordinary abilities on how we view ourselves. How does Powerless portray the relatability of super-powered characters? How do the supers exhibit qualities similar to "normal" kids, and how does this contribute to their relatability? Would these qualities persist if the characters lost their powers? 

A classic theme of superhero fiction is that power comes with the responsibility to use it well. Choose three supers from Powerless and discuss how they take or don’t take responsibility for their powers. How does their acceptance or denial of responsibility influence their actions and characterization?

Powerless draws an invisible line between ages 12 and 13—where 12 is childhood and 13 is adulthood. Is there a clear-cut difference between these two stages, or is the transition to adulthood more gradual? How do characters in Powerless exhibit both mature and childish qualities, and what does that reveal about the nature of the distinction between childhood and adulthood?

Reflect on the inclusion of Michael’s perspective in the Prologue. What does this perspective add to the story? Does his perspective enhance the narrative or not, and why? Explore your answer in terms of effective storytelling and what different perspectives can offer a tale that a single perspective might lack.