HERO-TYPE

Author Barry Lyga offers an interesting look at the irony of patriotism and celebrity in America. Kevin Ross is a hero one minute—for coming to the rescue of a girl he's actually been stalking—and a villain the next—for removing a "Support Our Troops" magnet from his car on orders from his dysfunctional dad. Narrator Jonathan Ross presents Kevin's first-person account with utterly believable snarky teenage melodrama. Teenagers will undoubtedly relate to this story of bullying, unresponsive and uncaring adults, and loneliness. Underneath the angst an interesting civics lesson is revealed as Ross deftly plumbs the emotional roller coaster of a teen’s life. He delivers a performance that is sure to hook young listeners. D.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]