Hero

Let me start by saying that I am not Mike Lupica's target audience. It may be that the problems I found with this book might all be chalked up to the fact that I am not a twelve-year-old male. Or, there could be issues yet to be cleaned up, since I was reading an ARC. Honestly, though, I don't think either of those will really erase the problems that this start-of-series YA novel has.

Lupica's journalistic writing style has all the charm of a Tweet -- he writes as if sentences came with legal length limits in the 25-character range. Some may find this style blunt, modern, even Hemingway-esque, but for experienced readers, it comes across as hurried and choppy. For all its hurry, however, it took quite a while for me to read this, largely show more because the novel glosses over details that would help the reader care about the main character.

This is an especially grievous sin, given the fact that we are reading a superhero novel, one of many that uses the "special male child loses parent and finds destiny" plot, so the level of detail is really all there is to distinguish any participant in such an overstuffed tradition. Lupica falls short in that -- the reader neither cares about the main character nor his friends or family, despite obvious attempts to provide quick hooks (the female "sidekick" figure, for example, is smart and sassy, though not in any original way). There are some inconsistencies -- for instance, the main character reflecting on something that was supposedly said in a previous conversation, though it wasn't actually said in the dialogue -- that also interfere with the investment of a reader's belief. Overall, though, the big block is simply how fast and trite everything here is. Every character is a post-modern archetype -- other than the main character himself, who is a common cookie-cutter image, we also meet a Kennedy-esque character, an Alice-the-housekeeper, a classic football captain bully for our misunderstood and rebellious hero to foil, a mysterious-old-man who speaks in riddles, etc. -- but none of these figures transcend the models set for them. Unlike other authors, Lupica seems content to stitch together patterns, rather than build them up into something more.

There's not much that redeems here, but I will give Lupica this -- if he had constructed this as a graphic novel, I think it would have worked just fine. His terse, minimalist style would have been complimented and expanded by a visual story, perhaps by a classic comic book artist. This should be a comic book, bottom line, but without a visual element, it's left feeling half-written. show less

Mike Lupica's style of writing kept the momentum flowing in a way that made me keep turning the pages and I enjoyed aspects of it, but certain things did not ring true. First, we learn that his father has died and also that he is being bullied by Spencer. The outcome of his scene in the park with Spencer does not make sense as it does not showcase any of Billy's powers. Since the book is about the discovery of Billy's powers, what then is the point of adding Spencer as a character unless we see those powers emerge in a scene with Spencer? Also, after this scene with Spencer, we never hear about Spencer again. We learn about Billy going back to school, but it is portrayed like an aside. If Spencer was to ring true as a character, why did show more he fade into the distance? If a bully succeeds in beating up someone he has been tormenting, he is not going to suddenly stop bullying them yet after this scene. Second, I was expecting the lead-up to be to something unique, but instead it was like a scene from "The Bodyguard" movie so his powers did not seem in any way remarkable. It does read like a movie too so I could not help wondering if Mike Lupica has had experience writing scripts. Third, although I liked the part where we learned about the identity of the old man, his death shortly thereafter fell flat. The old man's reasons for being ready to go did not ring true since we, the readers, and Billy had learned so little about him and his purpose in regard to the baddies. As such, I felt no emotion for this character at all so his death seemed pointless.

While the ending created an opening to a series, I was left feeling that I had not really learned anything by the book's ending. I still was not sure what Billy's powers were or why he had them, who the baddies were and why they were there, and why Spencer was in the story. What I expected was a big revelation about Billy's powers and why his father died, a more solid purpose in regard to Spencer's role in his life, and a more solid connection between the old man and Billy. Also, Kate seemed to serve no purpose other than to get Billy to open up, act as a shoulder in need so he felt listened to and accompany him on excursions. When the baddies arrived, all she did was stand on the sidelines and watch so to speak. The characters need to be fleshed out more in order to create a strong purpose and connection with readers. I feel there is potential for a second book in the series if these matters are addressed in the sequel. Otherwise, I feel readers may again end up with more questions by the book's end than a feeling of resolve. show less

I felt like this book was a long introduction to a series. I really enjoyed the setting as Zach roamed around Central Park and Manhattan.
14 year old, Zach Harriman has just received the worst news any kid could get… his dad was killed in an airplane crash. Knowing his father’s dangerous line of work, Zach is determined it was no accident. He sets out with his best friend, Kate, to find out how it happened. Along the way, Zach finds out more information about his dad and himself. Apparently, Zach and his dad are not like everyone else. They have special powers and Zach plans to put them to use in order to find out who killed his father. As time passes, he finds himself between his “Uncle” that he loves and an old man, Mr. show more Herbert. He doesn’t know which one is telling him the truth and wishes his father was here to help him. show less

Hero taps into the dream that almost every kid has - the desire to have special powers. Zach is an ordinary boy living an ordinary life... and then his dad dies in a mysterious accident. Almost immediately, Zach feels the changes start happening. The mystery of his dad's death, combined with curiosity over his new powers, makes him start looking into the accident. He soon discovers that his dad also had powers, and used them as a real-life superhero. No tights or capes involved, just one man standing against the 'Bads'.

Now, it's Zach's turn. With the help of his friend, Kate, and a mysterious old man who might be more than he appears to be, Zach has to find out if he has what it takes to be a hero.

I'll admit it. I'm a former comics show more geek, and the concept of this story immediately got my attention. At the beginning of the story, Zach is a typical fourteen-year-old with typical fourteen-year-old problems. The realism of him makes the story work. Even when he gets his powers, his attitude is portrayed in a realistic manner, and it's easy to feel his anguish as he tries to unravel the mystery of his dad's death.

Zach's partner in crime is Kate. She's a feisty and smart girl who wants to help, even though she's a little scared of this new and slightly darker version of her best friend. Another form of 'help' comes in the form of an old man who appears out of nowhere, seeming to know everything there is to know about both Zach and his father. Is the old man truly a friend or a wolf in sheep's clothing, and exactly why is there so much animosity between the old man and the family friend that Zach knows as Uncle John? The puzzle of this relationship keeps you guessing until the very end, and I think my jaw actually dropped when certain revelations were made.

Hero is a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon, providing a story that makes superheros believable. show less

I have never been one to read comic books or even enjoy the movie renditions of them, but as soon as I began reading Hero, I was hooked! Lupica uses many references to today's popular culture that would draw kids in even quicker. The suspense will stop any reader from putting the book down and creates a tidal wave of a climax! I loved the tug-of-war between good and bad, along with main character Zach's battle with who to really trust when solving the mystery of his father's death. This book would be a great mentor text to get students thinking about writing science fiction and a perfect choice for reluctant readers (especially middle schoolers). I couldn't find the grade level but I think that it is probably around 6th and the interest show more level is anywhere from 5th to 9th grade. show less

Bourne movie-like action kept me reading this thoughtful and thrilling adventure. Lupica puts us inside the head of his hero, Zach Harriman, as he struggles with who to trust, including himself. We feels Zach's feelings of both devastation as he loses his beloved father and excitement as he comes into his powers. The twists and turns were many: I wanted to know as much as Zach who Mr. Herbert really was. I loved his relationship with best friend, daughter of the live-in help, Kate. She always gives Zach the truth and is there for him, even when he thinks he doesn't need her. I look forward to further adventures of Zach Harriman and hope Kate continues to be his "right-hand woman."

I received an ARC of this through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I had never read a Mike Lupica book before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was delighted. This is a fast and compelling read. It has action but it also has tension between good and evil--and unknown. Neither the reader nor the main character knows who to trust, perhaps not even at the end of the book. It would work fine as a stand-alone if it had a more fleshed-out ending, but I can see that this has the potential for an exciting new series. I can't wait for my library to get a copy of this so I can suggest it to the kids. I wish it had been published before the Summer Reading Program started! This is a great book for reluctant readers as well as eager readers.