The document summarizes the plot of Mike Lupica's book "Hero". It begins by describing how Zach Harriman's father is killed in a plane crash after capturing the leader of a criminal organization called the "Bads". Zach starts to experience strange powers and encounters a mysterious man named Mr. Herbert. He investigates his father's death with his friend Kate and suspects his family friend Uncle John or Mr. Herbert were involved. The climax involves Zach saving a senator from assassination and learning Mr. Herbert is his grandfather. In the end, Zach confronts Uncle John about killing his father and decides to pursue the "Bads" organization.

1. HERO
By: Mike Lupica
Mike McCabe
Reading-Miss Roche
Period 5
4/8/12

2. Biography
Mike Lupica was born on May 11, 1952 in Oneida, New
York. His young life was not very exciting even though it
had its ups and downs. Mike started his career as a sports
columnist at age 23, for the New York Post covering the
New York Knicks. He was New Yorks youngest news
reporter. Mike has written about 16 books and has co-
written about 5. Almost all of his books have reached the
New York Times Best seller list. Columnist and author is
not enough for Mike he also is a co-host for ESPN and has
his own show called the Mike Lupica Show on ESPN 2. He
now lives in New Canaan, Connecticut with his wife, 3
sons, and a daughter.
http://www.mikelupicabooks.com/mikelupica.html

3. Summary
My book HERO starts out with Zach Harriman’s dad tom
Harriman about to break into the “Bads” secret building.
He captures the leader and escapes to his plane. After
that Zach is walking home from school in New York City
when he gets this tingling feeling. When he gets home he
sees everyone crying and knows his dad has died. They
tell him he died in a accidental plane crash but Zach
knows it was on accident. The story continues with Zach
going back to school and he gets bullied by someone
named Spencer. Once while he was getting bullied he did
something he has never done before, fight back. A few
days later Zach and his best friend Kate are going to a
Celtics game when Zach decides he is going to the crash
site while Kate stays he goes to the crash site 3 hours by
bus and there he sees the crash he is about to leave
when an old man named Mr. Herbert comes and starts
talking to Zach. When Zach starts running after him he
ends up at the Celtics stadium. Several things start
happening to Zach such as fighting adults, seeing the old
man and getting that strange feeling. As the story
continues he gets suspicions about Mr. Herbert and a
very close family friend he calls Uncle John that one of
them had something to do with his dad’s death . Does
Zach find out who killed his dad and does he get powers?
Read the book to find out.

4. Characters
•Main Characters
Zach Harriman- 14 years old , swift, agile, not to smart, small, Kate’s
best friend, son to Tom and Elizabeth Harriman, is the one who receives
his dad’s powers.
Mr. Herbert- Surprises Zach at the crash site, mysterious man who
keeps showing up in Zach’s life, Uncle John’s enemy, Zach’s unknown
grandpa.
Kate- Tall, smart, kind, helpful, best friend to Zach, daughter to Alba.
Uncle John- Zach’s family lawyer, Tom’s old best friend, very close
family friend.
•Supporting Characters
Tom Harriman- Zach’s dad, worked for president, John’s old best friend,
had special powers.
Elizabeth Harriman- Zach’s mom, and Senator Kerrigan’s campaign
leader.
Senator Kerrigan- family friend, New York’s senator, and is running for
president.
Alba- The Harriman’s house keeper and mother of Kate
Spencer- A school bully that enjoys picking on Zach especially.

5. Plot Diagram
Introduction
 Tom Harriman fights the “Bads” and captures their leader
 Zach comes home and finds out his dad has died
 When he was supposed to go to a Celtics game with Kate
he goes to the crash site of his dad.
Rising Action
 That is were Zach meets Mr. Herbert and is told about his
powers.
 Zach runs after Mr. Herbert but finds himself back at the
Celtics stadium.
Zach stands up for himself and that makes Spencer bully
him less
Mr. Herbert keeps appearing and has his men train Zach
Zach’s mom is with Zach less because she is helping with
Senator Kerrigan’s campaign
 Zach is told by a voice in his head to look up and sees a
sniper about to shoot Senator Kerrigan

6. Plot Diagram (continued)
Climax
Zach pushes Senator Kerrigan out of the way of the bullet
and Mr. Herbert appears out of no where and pushes Zach
out of the way of another bullet.
Falling Action
Mr. Herbert tells Zach that he is his grandfather
 Zach confronts Uncle John for killing his dad
Conclusion
Zach is thanked very sincerely for saving Senator
Kerrigan’s life
Zach decides he is going to chase the “Bads”
Falling Action
Mr. Herbert tells Zach that he is his grandfather
 Zach confronts Uncle John for killing his dad

7. Definitions
Thug – N. A cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murder.
There were four thugs in front of the house with their rifles and their
night-vision goggles Pg. #1
Slaughtered – N. the brutal or violent killing of a person.
He was known to governments around the world and decent people
everywhere as Vlad the Bad because of all the innocent people he’d
slaughtered when he was in power, before he was on the run. Pg. #3
Splayed – V. to spread out, expand, or extend.
It was over quickly, the four of them laid out in the snow, arms splayed
like snow angels. Pg. #6
Kevlar – N. A brand of aramid fiber. I pulled him in front of me, like one
of those Kevlar vests you see on cop shows. Pg. #8
Shimmying – N. excessive wobbling in the front wheels of a motor
vehicle. The plane was already bumping down the runway, shimmying
on the ice and snow. Pg. #11

8. Actors
Zach Harriman played by: Kate Played By:
Colin Ford Elle Fanning

9. Actors (continued)
Mr. Herbert played by: Uncle John played by:
Morgan Freeman Ben Stiller

10. Actors (continued)
Tom Harriman played by:
Elizabeth Harriman played by:
Nicolas Cage
Megan Fox

11. Actors (continued)
Senator Kerrigan played by:
Alba played by: Spencer played by:
George Clooney
Betty White Leonardo DiCaprio

12. Song
If I were to make a movie the song I would
choose is Heaven got Another Angel by
Gorden Garner. This song would be good for
when Zach finds out his dad died in a plane
crash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppGPzQOnrpY

13. Rating
My rating for this book is:
4 and a half stars
I rated Hero 4 and a half stars because it
was a great book. It had lots of action and
was very intense. This is the types of
books that I enjoy and I think many others
would too.