Supergifted

Donovan Curtis is the protagonist of Supergifted and narrates many of its chapters. He has wit, mischievousness, charm, and an often sarcastic sense of humor. His penchant for adventure, along with his insatiable curiosity, often leads him into comical predicaments. If he often finds himself in trouble, however, he is equally adept at getting out of it: He is always coming up with ingenious and daring solutions.

Despite Donovan’s talents, he grapples with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt that stem partly from his home life. Donovan lives with his parents, his sister (Katie Patterson), his brother-in-law (Bradley Patterson), Brad’s dog (Beatrice), and a puppy named Kandahar. Brad comes from a military background and is very strict, and Donovan often runs afoul of his rules and schedules. At home, Donovan feels he is blamed for almost everything: “Brad’s dog + Brad and Katie’s daughter + our sprinklers = [Donovan’s] fault” (34). He envies Heavy Metal because everyone on the robotics team cares for the robot. His sense of being neglected and unappreciated only intensifies after Noah identifies himself as the superkid, as Donovan watches his family and peers praise his friend for something Donovan actually did.