Hero Type

By all accounts, Kevin is a hero. He saved a classmate, Leah, from what turned out to be a serial killer, a doctor who injects victims and brutalizes them. And for a time, he was a hero. There were signs congratulating him. There were ceremonies and a key to the town. There were reporters and photographers and TV shows and rewards. People talked about him when he passed by. Things were good.

Then, things turned bad. The car he got such a great deal on from the mayor, because of his heroism, came with magnetic strips saying Support the Troops. Kevins father, a decorated veteran who hates to talk about his military service, told him to remove them from the car. As luck would have it, a reporter saw him throw the strips away and the next headlines accused Kevin of lacking patriotism. Kevin has fallen from hero to villain in seconds.

Things get worse as Kevin starts to think about what the magnetic strips mean&they certainly dont go to support the troops. He realizes that theyre merely symbols as are so many things we all do on a daily basis, like say the Pledge of Allegiance. Kevin, shy and withdrawn, ultimately gets into a debate with one of the most popular kids at school about freedom of speech&a debate there is no way he can win. Yet he keeps pursuing the cause of freedom of speech and thought.

Underlying the theme of Kevins patriotism is his overwhelming crush on Leah, the breakup of his family and a heavy secret that he has been keeping. Kevin has a group of friends who love playing pranks with a purpose and throughout Kevins ordeal, they make their presence felt, if not known. They are an interesting bunch of kids.

The truth is, Hero Type is a good book, but does not live up to Lygas amazing The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl and Boy Toy. Youll like Kevin and his friends. Their pranks are funny. The subject matter is interesting and thought provoking. The writing is good, although a little preachy towards the end. The depiction of high school life is right on target. You can visualize Kevin getting pushed around in the halls.

So, my recommendation: Read Hero Type first, followed by Boy Toy and then, saving the best for last, read The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl.