Supergifted

Noah Youkilis is a “genius” and the story’s deuteragonist—a “nerd, outcast, robotics whiz” who failed to find even the rigorous Academy challenging (93). Noah consequently likes things that are unpredictable, be it YouTube, Baby Tina, or Hardcastle Middle School, where he strives to get average grades and learn typical social dynamics.

These goals reflect both his desire to fit in and the obstacles he faces in doing so. His analytical thinking and exceptional knowledge make him a prodigy, but they prove alienating when he applies them to interpersonal relationships. Taking everything and every word literally, he struggles with comprehending social cues and sarcasm—a source of ironic humor in the book, as Noah’s assessment of interactions is frequently at odds with reality. Noah’s physical appearance also makes him a target for bullying early in the novel. He is a small boy with the slightly bent posture of an “oversize praying mantis” (7).

Noah’s character arc illustrates the importance of embracing one’s uniqueness and individuality, including one’s strengths and differences. Throughout his struggles, Noah’s naivete contributes to his optimism: When everyone at the gym laughs at him, he thinks they’re “really nice” people and feels happy around them (17). When he fails at something, he reacts with elation, as this is an experience he rarely had before coming to Hardcastle. He knows nothing about cheerleading but embraces it wholeheartedly.

Noah is also an enthusiastic friend to Donovan, although his social difficulties often result in misunderstandings. When Noah takes credit for being the superkid, for example, he is “1000 percent serious—and 1000 percent convinced” that he is doing Donovan a favor (74). In his role as the superkid, Noah begins to neglect his friendship with Donovan and even loses some of his idiosyncrasies as the fame makes him stray from his roots. However, he eventually apologizes and reconciles with Noah, his character arc developing Dynamics of Identity, Growth, and Self-Acceptance.

Megan Mercury is the head cheerleader at Hardcastle Middle School and one of the novel’s narrators. Her character harkens to the stereotypical popular girl who conforms to and worries about social expectations. She prioritizes her status and throws grand parties to maintain her image.

She embodies the image of a cheerleader: She is social, confident, and admired by people at school. She handles all the cheerleading team’s business, including recruiting students, writing the cheers, and choreographing the routines. She is always at the top of their human pyramid and “at the center of things” (23). She cites cheerleading’s positivity as a reason for her interest in it—“you cheer for something, not against it” (22)—and constantly drills herself to keep a smile on her face. However, this positivity is largely a veneer, and as Noah first gains a place on the squad and then is renowned as the superkid, she struggles increasingly not to let her anxiety and frustration show through.

However, Megan’s discomfort with Noah’s celebrity status is not merely disdain. Rather, she is one of only a few people who instinctively sense that something isn’t right; though she dismisses the suggestion that Noah might have lied about being the superkid, her inability to muster any feelings of “gratitude” or “admiration” suggests that she does not fully believe him. Ultimately, she proves smart enough to connect the dots and find the real superkid.