Description

Hero

The last thing in the world Thom Creed wants is to add to his father’s pain, so he keeps secrets. Like that he has special powers. And that he’s been asked to join the League - the very organization of superheroes that spurned his dad. But the most painful secret of all is one Thom can barely face himself: he’s gay.

But becoming a member of the League opens up a new world to Thom. There, he connects with a misfit group of aspiring heroes, including Scarlett, who can control fire but not her anger; Typhoid Larry, who can make anyone sick with his touch; and Ruth, a wise old broad who can see the future. Like Thom, these heroes have things to hide; but they will have to learn to trust one another when they uncover a deadly conspiracy within the League.

To survive, Thom will face challenges he never imagined. To find happiness, he’ll have to come to terms with his father’s past and discover the kind of hero he really wants to be.

This is a brilliant book with superb characterisation and some fun satire on existing superheroes. I’m 34 and loved the book so don’t feel this is a book just for young adults. However I do think that it should be made available to every gay teen in the UK as it perfectly captures the boiling point of feelings I myself had as a young man coming to terms with my sexuality and I think it would be a great help to anyone who is coming to terms with their own gayness to know that others feel the same way… It is one of those books that you don’t want to put down. I finished it the other night and am missing Perry Moore’s brilliant world already, so I hope he has some sequels in the pipeline!

• Paperback: 432 pages
• by Perry Moore
• Publisher: Corgi Childrens (1 May 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-0552555869