For teens grappling with fitting in while feeling uniquely different, this story explores finding your place and identity amidst extraordinary secrets.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen feels like an outsider, burdened by a secret or a difference that makes them feel isolated and anxious. Hero-Type is about Kevin, a high schooler with an uncontrollable telepathic ability that feels more like a curse than a superpower. Forced to wear a lead-lined hat to dull the constant psychic noise, he just wants to be normal and invisible. But when a new friend encourages him to explore his powers, Kevin must confront his fears about who he is and what he's capable of. This funny, poignant, and highly relatable novel uses a superhero lens to explore deep themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the courage it takes to embrace what makes you unique. It's a perfect read for any teen struggling to find their place.
Includes scenes of bullying and a tense, physically threatening climax.
LanguageMild
Some teen-appropriate profanity is used (e.g., ass, hell).
Sensitive Topics
The core theme is identity and feeling profoundly different, presented through the sci-fi metaphor of telepathy. The protagonist's power functions like a disability or a severe social anxiety disorder, causing isolation and self-loathing. The approach is entirely secular. The resolution is hopeful but realistic: Kevin takes the first steps toward self-acceptance and using his ability, but his struggles are not magically solved. It's a story about the beginning of a journey, not the end.
Ideal Reader
A teen, 13-16, who feels like a misfit, burdened by a secret, or is struggling with social anxiety. This reader feels like everyone is judging them and wishes they could just be normal. They appreciate sharp, witty narration and character-driven stories over action-packed plots.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. The superhero metaphor is accessible. No specific scenes require previewing, but parents should be prepared for conversations about what it means to be different, the pressure to conform, and the nature of friendship. There is some mild profanity and bullying. A parent hears their teen say, "I wish I were normal," or, "No one understands me." They notice their teen withdrawing from social situations or expressing intense anxiety about what other people think of them.
Age Experience
Younger teens (13-14) will likely connect with the humor, the unique superpower concept, and the high school friendship and romance elements. Older teens (15-18) will likely resonate more deeply with the existential themes of identity, the metaphor of the power as a disability, and the complex journey of self-acceptance.
What Makes It Special
Unlike most superhero novels, this is an intensely internal, character-driven story. The superpower is treated not as a gift but as a chronic, isolating condition. The novel's strength is its authentic, funny, and painfully relatable narration, which makes the sci-fi premise a powerful metaphor for the universal teen experience of feeling like a freak.
Read plot summary
Kevin Ross is a telepath, but not in a cool, superhero way. He uncontrollably knows intimate and mundane details about everyone he sees, an ability he considers a curse. To survive high school, he wears a special hat and tries to be as unnoticeable as possible. His life of quiet desperation is upended by Patrick, a new friend who is fascinated by his ability, and his crush on a girl named Robin. Patrick encourages Kevin to test his limits, which draws the attention of another person with a similar, but more sinister, ability. The story follows Kevin's internal struggle to accept his identity and decide whether to hide from his power or use it for good.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Kevin initially sees his telepathy as a curse that ruins his life. By the end, has his view changed? What specific events cause him to see his ability differently?
2
Patrick is the first person to call Kevin's ability a 'gift.' Do you think Patrick is a good friend to Kevin? Why or why not?
3
The title is 'Hero-Type.' In what ways is Kevin a 'hero type' by the end of the story? Does being a hero require a costume and a secret identity?
4
Kevin works very hard to seem 'normal.' What does 'normal' mean to him? Do you think the book argues that being normal is a worthwhile goal?
