Book Review: Hero Type by Barry Lyga

WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I just recently finished reading the book Hero Type by Barry Lyga and, I have to say, I was quite impressed. I had heard about this book at the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) conference last semester, but hadn't really paid too much attention at the time. I bought the book immediately, but it sat on my shelf for several months before I picked it up.

Anyway - this book is about a boy name Kross who, while following a girl he has a crush on, just happens to save this girl's life. He is made out to be a local hero, with the news asking for interviews and the mayor giving him the key to the city, but only he knows the truth. He knows that he was only in the right place at the right time because he was doing the wrong thing. And this is a secret he must live with.

This is not the only struggle in young Kross's life, however. When he gets a new car, the mayor slaps on a couple of "support our troops" magnets. This really upsets his veteran father, who demands that he throw them away immediately. Kross does just that, but the local news crew, unfortunately, takes a picture of him doing it. He immediately becomes the most hated person in town, the boy who doesn't believe in America.

Thus Kross takes up the battle to "educate" those around him. Taking a magnet off of your car does not mean you are not patriotic. The magnet is only a symbol, just as is the flag of our country.

What follows is a battle of epic proportions...

So guess what? I am not going to tell you any more about this story. If you wish to find out exactly what happens to Kross, you will have to obtain your own copy of the book and read it for yourself! :-)