 Loading... | 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)
School Library Journal (+) (07/25/25)
Booklist (+) (00/04/25)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/05/25)
The Hornbook (00/03/25)
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
School Library Journal - 07/25/2025 Gr 3–8—White seventh-grader Finn Connelly has started his summer off on the wrong foot. In danger of failing his ELA and physical education classes, being caught vandalizing an old woman's gravestone— Finn knows that grief has gotten the best of him. Now he must make restitution to the woman's family by climbing the Adirondack 46 mountain ranges, bringing along her dog Seymour. The assignments and the mountain trekking must be completed by Labor Day. But how does a middle schooler do all this with a broken heart? Messner's middle grade novel is artfully crafted in first person, giving readers a front row seat into Finn's poetry and letters detailing his thoughts on his father's life and death, while grappling with big emotions amid adolescent angst. Beautiful, factual descriptions of each mountain are moving and inspiring. These mountain hikes prove to be the right recipe for Finn to begin the difficult process of healing: "I'm starting to understand why people climb mountains on purpose. The view goes on forever, all white-cloud perfect sky, pine-tree greens and purple-mountain blue." Messner includes a note at the end describing her own journey with the Adirondack 46. VERDICT This is a must-purchase for all libraries. Finn's journey from loss to gain is both breathtaking and deeply satisfying.—Tracy Cronce - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
