MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW : A Boy Called Hero by Marie Miranda Cruz
ABOUT THE BOOK
A time-travel adventure story about finding ways to make a difference, connect with others, and be true to yourself no matter where (or when) you are.
Twelve-year-old Hero Del Rosario isn’t happy about staying with his grandfather in the Philippines while the rest of his family takes a trip back to the States. He’s always been the overlooked one, the one who gets left behind, the one who—despite his name—is nothing special. But when he’s transported more than a century into the past, he suddenly has bigger problems.
It’s 1892, and the Philippines is controlled by Spain. Hero doesn’t know how he got here or how to get home. Luckily, he meets two kids his age—his great-great-grandfather, Teo, and Teo’s twin sister, Olivia—who take Hero under their wing.
Hero’s ancestors are secretly resisting the oppressive colonial government and working for Philippine independence. Their current distributing copies of a banned book that promotes revolutionary ideas. Soon, Hero is drawn into this work . . . and discovers that he may be able to live up to his name after all.
As the Spanish authorities close in, Hero must act fast to save his family and the seeds of revolution―without losing his chance to return to his own time.
REVIEW
Hero's not happy to be left behind when his parents leave the Philippines with his brother to visit doctors in the United States. While exploring the large tree in his grandfather's backyard, Hero finds himself transported into the past. He meets his great great grandfather as a child and gets pulled into the fight against the colonial government. His and his family's efforts to share the book written by a local hero puts them at odds not only with the government but also the local priest. As Hero risks not only his freedom but his ability to return to his own time, he may have the chance to live up to his name. Not only does the book provide an interesting family story, it would be interesting to meet one's own ancestors after all, but it provides a look at the history of the Philippines and their fight for freedom from their colonial oppressors. Other issues raised in the story revolve around women's rights and the power of literacy. Hero is a likeable character who discovers the sacrifices that real heroes are willing to make for what they believe. I really enjoyed getting to know Hero and his family as well as learn more about Philippine history. Highly recommended.
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