“I never thought I’d have a story worth telling, at least not one about me. I always knew I was different, but until I discovered I had my own story, I never thought I was anything special. My destiny began to unfurl during my very last game at school.” (p. 1)
Moore, Perry. Hero. New York: Hyperion. 2007.
Genre: Fantasy
Review:
Thom Creed’s life had never exactly been ordinary. His mother disappeared years ago and his father is a disgraced superhero. But now it seems that everything is changing and that everyone has their own secrets. Thom himself is keeping two secrets that he fears will devastate his father: that he is gay and that he has been asked to join the League (the same organization that his father was kicked out of). Thom is a healer and is ecstatic to be asked to join the heroes. Unfortunately, his probationary team wasn’t exactly what he expected—a guy who makes people sick, an old lady who can see the future, and an irritating girl who controls fire all led by a someone who hates his guts. To make matters worse, a man in black is following him around and he uncovers a conspiracy within the League.
This remarkable novel will capture reader’s interest until the very last page. The plot is interesting and contains many surprises. Thom is portrayed in a realistic manner and the story is told from his wry point of view. The text itself is well-written, dealing with issues such as identity, love, friendship, grief, and redemption while also providing a hero that the GLBTQ community can be proud of. Fans of comics and the superhero genre will enjoy this book.