
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
It's pouring with rain and there's nothing to do. Until Toby, Pete, Emily and Lorn log on to the internet. Toby's about to click on his favourite website when lightning hits the telegraph pole outside. 'HERO.COM' flashes on screen. What sort of site is this? Impatient to find out, Toby clickson a strange icon. Suddenly his hands are stuck to the desk.It doesn't take Pete - comic fan extraordinaire - long to work out what has happened. But the others don't believe him... until he persuades Toby to climb up the wall, and then scuttle across the ceiling... just like a spider!Soon the kids are downloading all sorts of superhero powers - flying, telepathy, who knows what each one will be. But the exhilaration ends when they realise that they've been given these powers for a purpose. There are fiends and villains to hunt down and overcome, and one of the worst - DocTempest - is in town right now, developing a heinous plan to conquer the world.What the superheroes don't realise till they are in the eye of Doc Tempest's storm is that their powers are temporary and temperamental. So when the superhero powers run out (just when they need them most), who will save the earth from domination?!
A group of friends discovers a mysterious website that grants them temporary, unpredictable superhero abilities, thrusting them into a conflict against a global threat. Toby, Pete, Emily, and Lorn stumble upon 'HERO.COM' during a storm, inadvertently downloading powers that allow them to perform extraordinary feats like wall-crawling. As they navigate the physical limitations of their newfound gifts, they realize these abilities are unstable and fleeting. The narrative follows their struggle to confront the villainous Doc Tempest while managing the erratic nature of their powers, framed through a fast-paced, third-person perspective.
Readers frequently highlight the accessible pacing and the imaginative premise of digital-based superpowers. Discussion often centers on the balance between the lighthearted discovery of abilities and the mounting tension of the conflict with Doc Tempest. Critics note that the story effectively captures the appeal of superhero tropes for a younger audience without becoming overly complex. The narrative is often praised for its focus on teamwork and the inherent risks of relying on unstable technology to save the world. Many readers appreciate how the author maintains a sense of urgency as the characters realize their powers are not permanent.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
2008-06-05
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192755439
ISBN-13:
9780192755438
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!