A Boy Called Hero, by Marie Miranda Cruz

     The second book by author Marie Miranda Cruz, but the first I have read. A sort of twist on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis in one sense as the main character of A Boy Called Hero enters a portal and when he comes out of it he is 200 years in the past! The portal is not a wardrobe in this story, it is under the roots of a giant tree, but once he unknowingly walks into the past, he cannot figure out how to return to his own time.

    In addition, the past he enters isn't just any random past...he exits the portal in the same spot he entered it, just two centuries earlier. He is still at the tree, in his yard, only in the past he didn't live in this house, his great-great-grandfather did. But why had he landed here? Soon he is caught up in the struggle of his ancestors as they try to overcome unfair treatment by the Spanish occupiers and the Catholic Church. This part of the story is true, which makes this a historical fiction book (one of my favorite genres!). Hero, the protagonists' name, is Filipino, and this story takes place in the Philippines. 

    Because of the setting of this story, I'm not sure how many casual browsers would be intrigued enough by this storyline to check this book out. Perhaps if you have ties to the Philippines, or just cannot get enough history, this will become a favorite of yours! I admit it took about one third of the book before I was invested in the setting and characters enough to want to finish the book. But by the end, I was glad I had! Cruz writes a good story, and I enjoy learning new things about the world, even if this world isn't my world directly. Hero is trying to discover whether he can live up to his name, and I think avid readers will be okay with the slowish start and be happy with this new release. If you are a pickier reader, maybe keep looking for your next great read. I give this 4 paws for the unique setting and the engaging adventure, especially after the halfway mark!