Let's Hear it for the Boys - The Vindico by Wesley King

Published: June 14th, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Pages: 272

Copy: Library

Summary: Goodreads

The Vindico are a group of supervillains who have been fighting the League of Heroes for as long as anyone can remember. Realizing they’re not as young as they used to be, they devise a plan to kidnap a group of teenagers to take over for them when they retire—after all, how hard can it be to teach a bunch of angsty teens to be evil?

Held captive in a remote mansion, five teens train with their mentors and receive superpowers beyond their wildest dreams. Struggling to uncover the motives of the Vindico, the teens have to trust each other to plot their escape. But they quickly learn that the differences between good and evil are not as black and white as they seem, and they are left wondering whose side they should be fighting on after all . . .

With fast-paced action, punchy dialogue, and sarcastic humor, this high-stakes adventure from a talented new YA voice pulls you in from the first page.

The Vindico is an irreverant look at an alternate universe where superheroes are real and the villains are recruiting to enlarge their ranks.  Of course in typical antihero fashion, the villains decide to kidnap the proteges and that's when the fun starts.

James, Emily, Lana, Sam and Hayden are actually having fun while learning the ins and outs of the evil villain trade and I found their voices to be  both real and amusing.  Let's face it - how many teenagers would pass up the opportunity to gain super strength, or mind powers if given the chance.  I wouldn't have. 

What I found refreshing about The Vindico is that it is written from the bad guys' perspective.  We get a glimpse into the minds of the villains and we see how they become twisted and yet convinced that they are in the right.  Mr King has written a book that can easily be read and enjoyed by both younger and older teens.  It reads a little bit like a movie plot and I can easily see this on screen - in the same vein as Sky High (remember that one?), or perhaps Zoom.  It looks like there is a follow-up to come in July next year called The Feros and I look forward to reading it.

On a side note,  Mr King is practically a neighbour of mine, he's from the next town over - way to go Wesley! I love it when local authors get published.