Hero

By Mike Lupica
Rating: 3 3/4 stars


You might know Mike Lupica from his many heart-tugging sports stories, but here he breaks genre and goes for a superhero adventure story.  Zach Harriman's life is a wreck.  His father just died in a mysterious plane crash--his father, the one that seemed invincible, the one that fought the "Bads" for the President of the United States.  As Zach tries to grieve for his father, he feels like he is missing something.  The plane crash couldn't have been an accident, his dad was too good a pilot.  But how can he find something that the officials can't?  As his anger burns inside of him, Zach starts to realize that he can do things he never could before--that he is faster and stronger and heals quickly.  Then a visit from the mysterious Mr. Herbert lets Zach know that his father was actually a superhero--minus the cape--who really DID fight the Bads in the world.  There can be only one at a time and now it is Zach's turn.  As Zach struggles with this revelation, telling only his best friend Kate, he discovers his father's best friend, Uncle John, also knows about his powers.  Uncle John tells Zach not to trust Mr. Herbert, that he is actually one of the Bads.  Who should Zach believe?  Can he trust anyone? And is a 14 year old ready to be a hero for the whole world?  Although this book doesn't break any new ground in the superhero genre, fans of superhero stories will enjoy it nonetheless.