Books Like...

Hero by Mike Lupica is a young adult novel that follows the story of Billy Harriman, a 14-year-old boy who discovers he has inherited superpowers from his father after his untimely death. As Billy navigates life without his dad, he sets out on a mission to uncover the truth behind his father's mysterious death and the secrets he kept. With the help of his best friend, Kate, Billy must learn to control his newfound abilities and decide who to trust as he delves deeper into his father's past and the world of superheroes.

The book is filled with action, mystery, and intrigue as Billy grapples with his powers and the responsibilities that come with them. The writing style keeps readers engaged as they follow Billy's journey of self-discovery and adventure, making it a compelling read for young adults interested in stories about superpowers and coming-of-age.

'Ghost Squad' by Claribel A. Ortega is a middle-grade fantasy novel centered around twelve-year-old Lucely Luna who lives in St. Augustine, Florida with her father. The story follows Lucely's adventures as she navigates a world filled with family spirits, spooky mysteries, and the bonds of friendship. The writing style is engaging, perfectly paced, and seamlessly weaves in Lucely's Dominican culture and traditions with elements of ghost hunting, chunky cats, and fireflies. The plot involves a ghost tour business, a spell to awaken the dead, and an unexpected turn of events that lead to a thrilling and heartwarming adventure.

Decades ago, an accident in a research lab led to a whole cohort of people getting superpowers. Some became villains, some became heroes, but altogether, they changed Commerce City. The sequel to After the Golden Age focuses on Celia, the daughter of the superhero husband and wife team who did not have superpowers, and her teenage daughters. Anna, the eldest daughter at sixteen, and some of her friends have realized that they have powers and are trying to figure out how to use them to fight crime while maintaining their secret identities and not telling their parents. The book alternates between Celia and Anna's point of view so we get to see how mother and daughter are thinking. Like the first book, this one isn't really a superhero book but one about growing up and being a mother in extraordinary situations. The first book had much more action in it but it was still fun to revisit Commerce City, see some new faces and some old familiar ones. The ending did leave things open for another book and I would gladly pick it up.