Review: Fun and engaging preview of YA superhero novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 22, 2013
This "book" is the first thirteen chapters ofWearing the Cape.  Given how much is currently being charged for that book ($7.99, high for a self-published novel), I appreciate the author giving readers a chance to read a lengthy sample before deciding to buy.Set in a world where a small portion of multiple people developed superpowers after a worldwide "event," this book somehow combines the familiar and fun elements of superhero stories and delivers a fresh take on them.  The powers vary widely -- some people have super strength and the ability to fly, while others are very flexible or have mental powers.  Hope, a young girl about to go to college, suddenly comes into her powers and has to decide how to use them.Once you take the powers as a given, the world is very easy to sink into.  There are organized groups of superheros and, of course, super baddies.  There are people who use their super-strength as sort of emergency responders, the president is a super hero, and there are even people using their powers for entertainment (there is a description of a rap group that made me think of Insane Clown Posse if a frontman had super powers).This is a YA book that manages to not feel sanitized, probably because we're reading the story from the POV of Hope, who is naturally a "good girl."  It will be interesting to see how the author manages to maintain this tone as the story progresses, but it feels very natural at this point.Despite the high price tag, I did buy the full version of the novel.  The author has a clear and enjoyable style and I love his take on this common theme.  Even though Hope decides to join the "good guys," there are hints that not everything is as it seems in this world and I am interested in seeing the plot develop.