Failing seventh grade isn't the only thing filling Finn Connelly with anger. He needs to make up 14 days of gym class, and he needs to complete a poetry project for his ELA teacher. The theme of the project is heroes. That really stokes Finn's anger since his father was supposedly a real, true hero. Unfortunately, his father worked every day to rescue people from burning buildings, accidents, and even the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster, but to Finn, it seemed like everyone else was more important than his own family.
One day his father headed off to his rescue job and never came back. His death has left an unbelievable hole. Finn's mother has tried to explain things to him, but he doesn't really believe the story she's telling. A trip to the cemetery to visit his father's grave turns into a real mess. Finn kicks over the wrong gravestone and ends up charged with destruction of property. Maybe his anger is getting out of control.
When he appears in court, the daughter of the woman whose grave marker he damaged, declares that she wants reparations. Finn can "fix" things if he promises to hike the 46 peaks of the Adirondacks over the summer. The woman buried in the grave was known for hiking the peaks and encouraging others to do the same over the years. Well, hiking seems better than being sent to juvie and paying for the grave marker which he and his mother can't afford.
Author Kate Messner takes readers on an incredible journey with Finn. THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES is written in verse and highlights the famous 46 peaks. Finn learns about the wilderness, the lives of those who have hiked in the past and present, and the true meaning of hero and what it meant to his father. This is an awesome read for teens and adults.
No comments:
Post a Comment