The Trouble with Heroes bookcover

The Trouble with Heroes

This title will be released on

calendar iconApril 29, 2025

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Description

Bestselling and award-winning author Kate Messner takes readers on a heart-filling journey as a boy finds his path to healing.

One summer.
46 mountain peaks.
A second chance to make things right.

Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger until he died two years ago. Finn is about to fail seventh grade and has never made headlines . . . until now.

Caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he's in big trouble for knocking down some dead old lady's headstone. Turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer: she'll drop all the charges if he agrees to climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. And there's just one more thing--he has to bring along the dead woman's dog.

In a wild three months of misadventures, mountain mud, and unexpected mentors, Finn begins to find his way on the trails. At the top of each peak, he can see for miles and slowly begins to understand more about himself and his dad. But the mountains don't care about any of that, and as the clock ticks down to September, they have more surprises in store. Finn's final summit challenge may be more than even a hero can face.

Product Details

PublisherBloomsbury Children's Books
Publish DateApril 29, 2025
Pages288
LanguageEnglish
TypeBook iconHardback
EAN/UPC9781547616398
Dimensions8.3 X 5.5 X 1.0 inches | 1.0 pounds
BISAC Categories: Kids, Kids, Kids

About the Author

Kate Messner is a former middle-school English teacher and the author of E. B. White Read Aloud Award winner The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. and its companion, The Exact Location of Home; Sugar and Ice; Eye of the Storm; Wake Up Missing; All the Answers; The Seventh Wish; Capture the Flag; Hide and Seek; the Marty McGuire chapter book series; the Ranger in Time chapter book series; and several picture books. She lives on Lake Champlain with her husband and two kids. When she's not reading or writing, she loves hiking, kayaking, biking, and watching thunderstorms over the lake. www.katemessner.com
@KateMessner

Reviews

“Take one drooling dog, add one pretty desperate kid, mix in mountains-a lot of mountains-sprinkle with unexpected cookie recipes and hard-nosed quirkiness, and let rise. You'll know it's finished when the generosity and hope and truth of this novel run over. Let it.” —Newbery Honor–winning and bestselling author Gary D. Schmidt

“With astute intention and invention, each verse touches your soul and puts tears in your eyes--the kind of tears that comfort and heal.” —Renée Watson, New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning author

“Split this story like a log, and you'll find concentric circles of metaphor and meaning on every page. There are passages that will gut you, and others that will leave you laughing out loud.” —Nikki Grimes, award-winning author of ORDINARY HAZARDS

“Equal parts suspenseful adventure and heartrending emotion, this beautiful book will capture your heart.” —Jasmine Warga, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A ROVER'S STORY and Newbery Honor-winning OTHER WORDS FOR HOME

The Trouble with Heroes is a heartfelt, moving page-turner that tackles grief, loss, anger and redemption. Another Kate Messner triumph!” —Dan Gemeinhart, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THE MIDNIGHT CHILDREN and THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE

“The pitch-perfect tween voice spills out of the poetry with raw authenticity. Any tween who's ever lost someone, made bad choices, or felt unworthy of love will identify with Finn.” —Kip Wilson, award-winning author of WHITE ROSE

“As always, Kate Messner writes with an acute understanding of the emotional lives of today's kids, and her respect for readers shines on every page. Messner is the Judy Blume of a new generation.” —Anne Ursu, author of NOT QUITE A GHOST

“Pack your tissues and hold onto your hearts as Finn sweeps you into a tale that traverses the peaks and valleys of adolescence, of life, of grief, of growth.” —K. A. Holt, award-winning author of HOUSE ARREST

“A masterpiece. . . . Part funny, part fascinating, and fully rooted in a deep emotional soul, readers of all kinds will be rooting for Finn Connelly with everything they've got.” —Ann Braden, award-winning author of FLIGHT OF THE PUFFIN

“Finn's journey will speak to every kid who's felt the weight of the world on their shoulders.” —Laura Shovan, award-winning author of TAKEDOWN

“Magnificent and moving. The Trouble with Heroes is a triumph-as healing and inspiring as the view
from a mountain peak.” —Julie Berry, New York Times bestselling author of LOVELY WAR

“An adventurous work whose authentic voice celebrates the outdoors and everyday heroism.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A timely meditation on grief, anger, and the solace offered by nature.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This verse novel covers a lot of ground, literally and metaphorically, and thoughtfully grapples with the big ideas of life.” —Horn Book

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