Supergifted

“He was the person who first showed me YouTube and opened my eyes to a whole world that couldn’t be predicted by mathematical equations or scientific formulas—not even by me.”

These lines highlight the theme of Friendship and Loyalty. Noah admits that he owes a lot to Donovan, who introduced him to one of his favorite things in the world: YouTube. The unpredictable nature of YouTube content makes it interesting enough to hold Noah’s attention, as he cannot understand it at a glance.

“Those strengths were our strengths. He might have been the hero, but his triumph counted for all of us. You bet we were proud of him!”

The above lines develop the theme of Friendship and Loyalty. When Noah becomes the superkid, the robotics team celebrates it as a joint victory. The phrase “those strengths were our strengths” emphasizes the unity and camaraderie among the members of the robotics team, conveying a sense of collective pride and joy.

“The more famous you are, the fewer original body parts you have.”

Trussman has “the perfect teeth,” “the perfect tan,” “the store-bought nose,” and “the perfect hair” (83). Chloe’s statement is a satirical commentary on the correlation between fame and physical alteration: As one’s fame increases, one is more inclined to undergo cosmetic procedures and enhancements. They literally lose their “original body parts,” but they also lose originality and natural authenticity as they conform to superficial and homogenous beauty standards. Although Noah did not undergo any such procedure, he loses his true self after becoming the superkid.

“Sometimes a gut feeling carries more weight than the so-called facts.”

Chloe can feel that Noah might not be the superkid as all “the so-called facts” and people suggest. The above line illustrates the significance of intuition over empirical evidence. The phrase “gut feeling carries more weight” suggests that subjective intuition can hold greater importance than apparent fact, highlighting the importance of Embracing Differences: The analytical thinking that characters like Noah excel at is not the only valuable trait.

“[We] rode with Donovan to the emergency room. We missed it when he tried to adopt the raccoon that had moved into the school’s dumpster, but we got to go to the doctor’s appointments for the rabies shots. Judging by the hollering, it was pretty painful.”

These lines show Donovan’s compassionate and helpful nature. The Daniels witnessed him end up in trouble while trying to do something good. One time, Donovan wanted a rescue a raccoon from “the school’s dumpster.” In keeping with his fatal flaw of disregarding the consequences, he ended up in the emergency room for rabies shots.

“You didn’t meet a lot of people who were a genius and an idiot at the same time.”

Noah has a 200-plus IQ, but he has a hard time navigating social interactions and cues. The line suggests a paradoxical combination of exceptional intellect and significant shortcomings. It underscores the complexity of human nature and challenges the notion of intelligence as a single trait while also serving as a reminder that individuals can possess unique and contradictory qualities.

“It proved that people would believe anything. And not just kids—the principal, the superintendent, the chief of police, the mayor.”

The Daniels, who know who the real superkid is, witness the whole town embracing Noah Youkilis as the hero. They reflect on the gullibility of people, emphasizing that even authority figures like the principal, superintendent, chief of police, and mayor are susceptible. Their critique of the intellect of those in positions of power underscores the potential for wide-scale societal manipulation and the importance of critical thinking.

“I saw this YouTube video once called ‘America’s Celebrity Culture.’ According to the guy, at a certain point, you stop being famous for something, and from then on, you’re famous just for being famous!”

Since becoming the superkid, Noah is unrecognizable. Being famous is his entire identity. He justifies this by referring to a YouTube video that discusses the phenomenon of fame and suggests that fame inevitably becomes detached from any particular talent or achievement. This observation highlights the pervasive nature of celebrity culture and the emphasis on fame itself rather than the real talent, accomplishments, or skills that brought someone into the public eye. The statement critiques the superficiality and allure of fame in contemporary society.

“And as I started for the cafeteria with my new friends, Donovan just stood there in the hall, staring at me with his mouth hanging open. I guess I gave him a lot to think about.”

When Noah makes new friends, he starts avoiding his old friends. He tells Donovan that since he is popular now, he cannot make time for him. Upon hearing this, Donovan is shocked, “his mouth hanging open” in disbelief. Noah’s lack of social and emotional intelligence makes him think that he has helped Donovan see the new reality, when in reality fame has skewed his own thinking.

“I forgave him for that, because it was just the jealousy talking. I could see, though, that it was the beginning of the end for our friendship.”

These lines highlight the destructive power of misunderstanding. Noah believes that Donovan is jealous of his popularity and success. However, Donovan is only trying to protect Noah. The statement explores the complex dynamics of friendship, the impact of negative emotions, and the potential consequences of unresolved conflicts.

“Hashtag kept asking me if I was sure I was fine. I don’t think Donovan was ever this concerned about my welfare.”

These lines employ irony, though the speaker, Noah, is unaware of it. Noah cannot see who his true friends are. Donovan was there when everyone made fun of Noah, protecting him and standing up for him against bullies. By contrast, Hashtag was mean to Noah. He tried to bully him into quitting cheerleading and attacked him outside the school. Hashtag only noticed and started hanging out with Noah when the latter became the superkid.

“Hey, you saved me just like I saved you! Isn’t it amazing how life comes full circle!”

This line employs foreshadowing. When Noah tells Megan’s father that he saved the Mercurys, he is aware that it was Donovan who saved the Mercurys. The remark that “life comes full circle” forebodes that life has a funny way of revealing the truth.

“He would be branded a con artist, a liar, and a joke. And his biggest fans would become his worst enemies of all, because he would have made them look so stupid.”

These lines highlight the theme of Friendship and Loyalty. Chloe is concerned about Noah’s lie. She thinks of the negative labels that could attach to him and imagines people turning against him due to feeling foolish and deceived. This highlights the danger of deception, which undermines trust and loyalty and carries the potential for public humiliation and backlash.

“Noah of all people should be smart enough to know that he can’t get away with this.”

Noah, despite his brilliance, cannot see that his lie about being the superkid will not work. The fact that he does not speaks to both his social awkwardness and the way in which celebrity is clouding his judgment.

“This problem calls for a supermind, not a superkid. And right when we need him most, he’s lost planning his next big interview.”

Abigail, who handles the coding and operational systems of Heavy Metal with Noah, complains that a complex problem requires intellect rather than popularity. The phrase “right when we need him most” emphasizes the urgency of the situation. However, Noah is preoccupied with being the superkid and planning his next interview, highlighting his lack of focus.

“It can take someone ordinary to perform the extraordinary.”

Chloe’s insistence that ordinary individuals can accomplish extraordinary things challenges the notion that greatness is reserved solely for the exceptional: Paradoxically, those who are average may have even greater potential than those who excel. Her words celebrate human resilience, determination, and the ability to rise above perceived limitations.

“Hash: I’d been noticing a lot of kids, boys and girls, looking like that—round-shouldered, kind of stooped. It had to be Youk—.”

Hashtag, who considered Noah “an alien,” befriends him when he becomes the superkid. Other people’s perception of and behavior toward Noah change drastically as well. The same Noah everyone bullied becomes a fashion icon and a “celebrity.” They start following his style, “stooping” in what Hash calls “the Youki-look” (141).

“I didn’t owe the guy any loyalty after the way he’d been treating me lately. But for all his brains, he could be like a newborn baby. How could I let him be hated by an entire town that needed someone to blame because they felt stupid for worshipping the wrong hero?”

Donovan is not obligated to protect Noah given how the latter has been treating him. However, being a good friend, he recognizes Noah’s vulnerability and naivety. This suggests Donovan’s complex mix of emotions, including empathy and protectiveness. Donovan’s reluctance to let Noah be hated stems from the understanding that people will want someone to blame due to their sense of inadequacy. This analysis shows Donovan’s ability to empathize and understand the complexities of human relationships.

“Some people can be guilty and innocent at the same time.”

This refers to Noah’s paradoxical situation as well as the broader complexity of human nature. Individuals can exhibit both positive and negative traits, which suggests that moral judgment may not always be straightforward.

“Calm often precedes the most violent storm.”

Just before the big assembly arranged for the governor, Heavy Metal stops performing. Everyone panics, whereas Oz maintains “a deathly calm” (155). However, his calm turns into wild anger when he learns about Noah being the culprit. The passage juxtaposes the tranquility of calmness with the impending intensity of a violent storm to figuratively suggest this shift. It suggests that appearances can be deceiving and that a seemingly peaceful situation has the potential for upheaval.

“It wasn’t so much that everyone forgave me. It was more like nobody seemed to care about the whole superkid thing the way they used to. One minute, it was the biggest story in the world, and the next it just wasn’t anymore.”

Noah reflects on a shift in public perception and interest regarding his status as a superkid. He notes that the public’s interest in the superkid phenomenon has diminished over time. This highlights the transient nature of public attention and the fickle nature of fame. The novel suggests that this fleeting popularity can impact one’s sense of identity and self-worth, developing the theme of Dynamics of Identity, Growth, and Self-Acceptance.

“I didn’t need luck. I had a genius-plus IQ. I had YouTube. And I had friends—more than ever before, in fact. That was all that mattered.”

Once the truth about the superkid is revealed, Noah feels surprisingly satisfied. He has everything and everyone he values and holds: his IQ, YouTube, and his friends. He learns that fame might not last forever but that true friendships do.

“You may not be a superkid, but you’re a superfriend.”

At the end of the book, Noah admits that he mistreated Donovan. His use of the term “superfriend” implies a deep level of friendship and support. This highlights the importance of genuine connections and emotional support over exceptional talents or abilities. It celebrates the power of friendship in providing comfort, understanding, and loyalty.