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Annotated Award-Winning Titles

		Alberta Children's Book of the Year (Book Publishers Association of Alberta) For the best children's or young adult book, including fiction, non-fiction and picture books Heck, Superhero Martine Leavitt Calgary: Red Deer Press, 2004. 144 p. (Northern Lights Young Novels) ISBN 0889953007 Ages 10 to 12
Heck, Superhero Source

Set in a big Metropolis-type city, this intense novel for young adults, written with honesty and insight, looks at an early teen's heroic and tragic superhero life. Faced with unacceptable circumstances and impossible choices, 13-year-old Heck (Hector) makes the only decisions he can, given his view of himself and the world. He must be a hero for his mom, who has retreated from the real world once again. He tries to face everything alone, in true superhero fashion, but learns in the end to trust others to help him. He also discovers that although he is not actually a superhero, he can maintain his "Good Deed" behaviour and "helping others" attitude. Heck's feelings are wide open to the reader.

Through the author's clever style, we are able to share what it feels like to be this compassionate young man who believes, despite everything that life throws at him, in his friends, in his mom's love, and in his own artistic talent — especially, in the good that exists in the world.

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