Chapter 1 Reading of Becoming Hero by Jen Finelli

Performed by Val Cole

Get to know the winning writer:

What is your novel about?

Skye’s an Asian-American comic book superhero with a gun in his hand and a gripe against his author. Every girl Skye’s ever dated is either dead or trying to take over the world, and in the series finale, Skye’s best friend kills him. Or so he thinks. The weapon meant to disintegrate Skye lands him in his author’s universe. With a shot at revenge.

Skye, meet Jace. Jacen Howard’s a brilliant black teen math whiz, but at his West Baltimore high school that’s a bad thing. Black kids aren’t “supposed” to be good at math, and if the bullying isn’t bad enough, Jace’s cop-father regularly pisses off the local gang recruiters. Jace doesn’t see himself as a hero; he’s just trying to survive. He might be just the hero Skye needs.

But Skye won’t open…