Like many great finds
of my generations, I discovered this book through social media as I was simply
browsing the Internet one day. What drew me in was the fact that the novel
features a gay protagonist/main character, which is not something that pops up
everyday. On top of that and superheroes, the book definitely grabbed my
attention. With my interest peaked, I decided to purchase the book on Amazon
and begin reading.
Hero follows the life
of Thom Creed, a teen boy who is full of secrets, which he tries to keep from
his single ex-superhero father, ranging from superhuman abilities to his sexual
orientation. We take this adventure with Thom as he maneuvers 2 jobs, League
tryouts, a crush, and a family full of secrets. Along the way he meets
Scarlett, Typhoid Larry, and Ruth; all of whom have their own storylines that
enhance the plot and keep the reader engaged.
I liked the book a
lot. In addition to being entertaining, it addresses a lot of issues that gay
teens experience and a lot of real life experiences that they struggle with
such as coming out, bullying, first trips to the ‘gay clubs’, and crushes
(which I’m sure is something that all teenagers can relate to). When reading,
if you’re a superhero fan like I am, it’s impossible not to see the parallels
between popular heroes and heroines like Superman, Wonder Woman, and Flash.
Personally, I would have loved to see a little more creativity in backgrounds
of supporting characters, but it in no way hindered the story. I also found
myself confused in the flow of the story. It was sometimes hard to follow where
the story was headed and how it sometimes jumped around. As I said, however,
despite my criticism, I loved the book and it is one that I’m happy to have on
my shelf.
One of my favorite
things about this book was that I was not expecting the end. It was a twist, or
rather a few twists, that caught me by surprise and I love when books take me
by surprise and make the ride a little more exciting.
I definitely think
this is one you’ll want to check out! It isn’t too hard of a read and it’s a
fun one. Feel free to leave comments, thoughts, questions to discuss, etc. in
the comments section below.
Happy Reading!
