A seventh grader grieving the death of his father gets offered an unusual deal in the redemptive, cathartic outdoor adventure novel-in-verse The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner (Chirp).
Finn Connelly's father, a New York City firefighter turned paramedic, had struggled with PTSD and alcoholism following his experiences on 9/11. He died on the job during the Covid-19 pandemic. The boy's last memory of his dad is a moment during the pandemic when he came home "eyes tired and wild, ambulance double-parked on the street, just for a minute" to see his family. Now Finn has gone viral for the unheroic act of kicking over a headstone--that of a woman nicknamed "Queen of the High Peaks" for her time spent hiking in the Adirondack Mountains and encouraging thousands of others to do so as well. Her daughter offers to waive the vandalism charges if Finn agrees to spend his summer finishing her mother's goal: hiking the 46 High Peaks, this time with her exuberant dog, Seymour. Finn--who isn't even a dog person--faces his task reluctantly, but what starts as a chore turns into a summer of amazing vistas, unexpected mentors, and personal discovery.
Messner blends free verse, haiku, photos from Adirondack overlooks, and cookie recipes in this unforgettable hike through a boy's struggle with grief and the dark side of heroism. Tween and young teen readers who appreciate contemporary fiction or mixed media novels should find plenty to ponder in this emotionally potent narrative that contains more heart-wrenching moments than the Adirondacks have high peaks. --Jaclyn Fulwood, youth services manager, Allen County Public Library