Supergifted

Noah Youkilis is the only true “genius” Donovan Curtis knows, with an IQ of more than 200. Noah used to attend the Academy for Scholastic Distinction, which he did not find challenging enough. He therefore left it for Hardcastle. Noah’s unusually small stature and his excitement to be at Hardcastle set him apart from the rest of the students. Nevertheless, he is enjoying every minute of being “average.” He tells Donovan that being brilliant is difficult because everything seems predictable and boring: YouTube is a rare exception. Noah also finds his first “D” grade “empowering.”

Donovan assumes the job of protecting Noah from bullies at Hardcastle. He recruits Daniel Sanderson and Daniel Nussbaum to help him protect Noah. Meanwhile, Noah and Donovan go to the robotics class at the Academy three days a week. Their latest robot, Heavy Metal, is operated via a joystick, and the robotics coat (Mr. Osbourne, or “Oz”) ensures that everyone takes care of it: Chloe oils its wheels, Jacey maintains its hydraulic system, Abigail and Noah handle the codes of its operating system, and Latrell polishes the body with Windex.