Tag: superheroes

We Could Be Heroes

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Jamie and Zoe both have no memory prior to two years ago… when they both woke up in separate apartments, with mysterious notes indicating that they might have extraordinary powers. Now, Jamie is the Mind Robber, stealing money from banks to furnish his dream of retiring to a remote island to read memoirs and play with his cat. Zoe is a fast food delivery person, and also low-key does vigilante work as the Throwing Star. Their paths cross at a memory-loss support group, where they realize the similarities of their memory loss and abilities can’t be a coincidence. We Could Be Heroes comes out in January, and I’m going to call it in advance as one of 2021’s best reads. Make sure you grab a copy when it’s available!

What I loved most:

I heard Mike Chen speak at a virtual library conference, and I was intrigued the moment I heard the concept of his book. There are countless superhero/villain plots out there, but We Can Be Heroes stands out for its unique plot. I loved that the female character was the one with strength and speed powers, whereas the male character had mental powers. I loved the witty banter between Zoe and Jamie. I loved that the two main characters were a male and a female, and that there wasn’t a romantic relationship between them. Basically, I loved everything about this book.

Read this book if you like:

Marvel movies, superheroes, adventures, origin stories

Things to be aware of:

This book is intended for adults, but I think it would also have tons of crossover appeal for kids in high school. There is some swearing, but there isn’t sexual content that would make it inappropriate for a younger audience.

Book details:

Renegades

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Review:

Renegades is one of those books that has been on my TBR list for approximately forever. It got so much hype when it came out, and I’ve heard so much positivity around the book… but I just never seemed to get around to reading it. Then a few months ago, two of my dear friends told me they had read it and loved it (shoutout to Natalie and Adah!), and it seemed like time to pull the trigger. And I’m so glad I finally did!

Renegades takes place in a world of people who have superhuman abilities (prodigies), superheroes (the Renegades), and villains (the Anarchists). That seems like it should be cut and dry – but one of the protagonists, Nova, is an Anarchist bent on destroying the Renegades. And the other is Adrian, whose parents are currently on the ruling Renegade council. Honestly, I don’t want to say much more about the plot than that, because there are so many delicious twists and turns in this book that I don’t want to spoil anything. Just trust me, and trust the seeminly-millions of other people who have read and loved this book, and read it. Renegades didn’t hook me right away… but I finished reading it this morning, and am definitely heading to the library to pick up the second book right after I finish writing this review because UGH SO GOOD.

Favorite Passage:

“Nova shut her eyes and thought, if she were a villain worthy of the name, she would be with them right now. Celebrating, or mourning.
And if she were a hero, she would be hurting to help any Renegades who might be trapped and hurt beneath the rubble.
Instead, she listened to the sounds of a city in distress, and did nothing.”
— Chapter Twenty-Eight

What I Loved Most:

Adrian never knew his father, and when he was a child, his birth mother (one of the original Renegades) was pushed off of a building – presumably by a villain. Adrian was adopted by Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden (two more of the original renegades). And his adoption is treated matter-of-factly… and isn’t the focus of the story. So much of the fiction about adopted kids focuses on the actual adoption – we see them getting placed with their adoptive family, hear about the struggles of adjusting, and then end the story with the adoption ceremony and assume everything is wrapped up with a big, shiny, red bow. Renegades features a main character who low-key was adopted… and it doesn’t define every aspect of this story or of his life. I am HERE for stories about adopted kids just living their lives.

Read this book if you like:

Superheroes, redemption arcs, seeing the good in all people, plot twists, a slow release of information that leaves you craving more

Book Details:

  • Author: Marissa Meyer
  • Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
  • Date of Publication: November 7, 2017
  • Series: Renegades #1
  • Age Recommendation: 7th – 12th grade
  • Check out Renegades on Worldcat to find it at a library near you!