 | Trouble with heroes Author: Messner, Kate | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Finn Connelly's dad was a hero. A firefighter who saved lives on 9/11. In both his life and when he died two years ago, he scored big goals and made headlines people. Finn is no hero. He's failing seventh grade, he'd rather bake cookies than play sports, and has never made headlines until he's caught kicking down an old lady's headstone. But the woman's daughter makes Finn a deal: climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks this summer with her dog, and she won't press charges.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.10 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 553087 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (03/01/25)
Booklist (+) (00/04/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/05/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 01/20/2025 After sullen seventh grader Finn Connelly is detained for damaging the headstone of late local hero Edna Grace Thomas, who once corresponded with and encouraged climbers of the 46 Adirondack peaks, Finn sees the event as further proof that he exists in stark contrast to his deceased fireman father, whose heroism on 9/11 was captured in an iconic photograph. Rather than press charges for the damage, Edna’s daughter offers Finn the opportunity to make amends by summiting every peak by Labor Day with Edna’s dog, Seymour. Despite feeling bitter and uncooperative, Finn begins the effort alongside experienced volunteers while simultaneously completing an overdue English class poetry assignment about heroes. As Finn contends with dog drool, mud, and red slime, he gains a new understanding of the impact his father (who "carried things heavier/ than the lady he lifted/ out of the smoke") had on his life. Messner (Chirp), an experienced Adirondack 46er, mixes moving and profoundly funny verse and prose informed by postpandemic loss to craft a timely meditation on grief, anger, and the solace offered by nature. Main characters cue as white. Ages 9-14. Agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (Apr.) - Copyright 2025
