Hero

Fourteen-year-old Billy Harriman knew his life would be turned upside down when his father died, but what Billy didn't know was that there was more to his dad's life than anyone really knew. Everyone called his father a hero for working as a presidential adviser, but soon Billy finds out just how appropriate the moniker is - and that superhero is an even more accurate description. Eventually Billy discovers that he's inherited his dad's special talents, but alongside that birthright comes a host of enemies too.

Hero was a fantastic book. Mike Lupica does a great job of creating believable young adult characters - filling their vocabulary with sports analogies and pop culture references and populating their lives with schoolwork, bullies, concerned parents, and caring friends. Though Billy turns out to be far from ordinary, he and his friend Kate are everyday teenagers and young readers will instantly connect with and invest in them.

Filled with excitement, action, and suspense Hero is a novel that is as much about growing up as it is about saving the world. Lupica invaluably fills a niche market in literature writing books geared towards young boys. Though adolescent males interested in sports will happily devour his earlier works (such as Heat and Travel Team) Hero will likely draw new fans to Lupica, perhaps from fantasy or graphic novel markets. Yet, regardless of age, gender, and typical genre preference, Hero is an enjoyable work. The book tells a complete story but readers may be left with crossed fingers - or gripping a lucky coin - in hopes that Lupica has more adventures in store for Billy Harriman, the new fourteen-year-old superhero.

This review was written for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program; a copy of this book was provided in exchange for a review.  This review represents my honest and unbiased opinions.  Hero is on sale November 2, 2010. 

5 Response to "Hero"

  1. Margaret Duarte says:
    November 1, 2010 at 8:00 PM

    It's good to know there is such good young adult fiction available, especially the literary kind. Thanks for sharing. Now you've got me wondering what Library Thing's Early Reviewer Progarm is. Will have to look into it.

  2. Bailey says:
    November 1, 2010 at 11:18 PM

    It's neat that you got this one through Library Thing! You've made it sound really good; I'll have to remember this one. :)

  3. Peep says:
    November 10, 2010 at 9:58 PM

    Hey that's good to know!! I've had this one on my wish list for a while. I think the cover works well with the premise. Nothing too flashy like most covers these days. Or, dark. Cool, I can't wait to read it!

  4. lisa :) says:
    November 12, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    Hero was a really fun story, (and I agree, the cover is brilliant) but truthfully I like Heat by Lupica even more. It's a sports story so a lot of people will pass it by just because it's about baseball, but it's also a wonderful book about friendship, family, and immigration. I keep meaning to blog about it...

  5. Casey (The Bookish Type) says:
    November 16, 2010 at 10:25 PM

    Wow! Fabulous, insightful review! I really enjoyed reading it and now I definitely want to read this book!

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