We Can Be Heroes
Kyrie McCauley, author of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award winner If These Wings Could Fly, delivers a powerful contemporary YA novel about the lasting bonds of friendship and three girls fighting for each other in the aftermath of a school shooting. Perfect for fans of Laura Ruby and Mindy McGinnis.
Beck and Vivian never could stand each other, but they always tried their best for their mutual friend, Cassie. After the town moves on from Cassie's murder too fast, Beck and Vivian finally find common ground: vengeance.
They memorialize Cassie by secretly painting murals of her around town, a message to the world that Cassie won't be forgotten. But Beck and Vivian are keeping secrets, like the third passenger riding in Beck's VW bus with them--Cassie's ghost.
When their murals catch the attention of a podcaster covering Cassie's case, they become the catalyst for a debate that Bell Firearms can no longer ignore. With law enforcement closing in on them, Beck and Vivian hurry to give Cassie the closure she needs--by delivering justice to those responsible for her death.
* Parade's Best YA Books of the Year * Rise: A Feminist Book Project Book of the Year * Banks Street Best Children's Books of the Year *
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Kyrie McCauley is the author of If These Wings Could Fly, winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award; We Can Be Heroes; and All the Dead Lie Down. She has also been a waitress, nanny, singer in a band, ACLU intern, rally organizer, Truman Scholar, and, most recently, a mother and a writer. She holds a master of science in social policy from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives near Philadelphia with her husband, children, and several ill-mannered but beloved cats. You can visit Kyrie at kyriemccauley.com.
"Powerful and unflinching, We Can Be Heroes is as fierce as the girls it portrays--and as unforgettable." -- Marieke Nijkamp, New York Times bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends
"McCauley has penned a lyrically gorgeous and hauntingly beautiful story about love, loss, and the power of standing together to deliver justice." -- Kim Johnson, author of This Is My America
"We Could Be Heroes is a vivid, striking novel about all-too-common violence in America, and the ways it shapes lives in a small town. Vivian, Beck, and Cassie's grief, rage, tenacity and vengeance give us the strength to fight back against the gun violence and violence against women that we as society have come to see as unstoppable and inevitable. May this book be an awakening for many, and a call to action for all of us." -- Katherine Locke, award-winning author of The Girl with the Red Balloon
Praise for If These Wings Could Fly: "A hauntingly intense tale thrumming with hope! A stunning, powerful debut."
-- Tiffany D. Jackson, award-winning author of Monday's Not Coming
"A deep dive to illustrate the quiet strength of those in the darkest situations, If These Wings Could Fly is atmospheric, brilliantly drawn, and ultimately hopeful." -- Mindy McGinnis, author of The Female of the Species
"Heartbreaking, important, and layered with so much hope, this book breathes magic into every chapter."
-- Akemi Dawn Bowman, Morris Award Finalist and author of Starfish
"McCauley expertly blends the devastation of family with the invincibility of first love and sisterhood. This debut marks the start of a bold new talent!" -- Justin A. Reynolds, author of Opposite of Always
"[A] lyrical novel [with] authentic, intimate first-person narration... Strong writing that features some dreamily lovely turns of phrase... A powerful, thoughtful, and ultimately hopeful debut." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Poignant and powerful, this novel uses magical realism to examine choice in a difficult world. There are titles for teens that address the realities of dating violence, but it's more difficult to find stories of family violence; in her debut, McCauley traverses the tender ground with grace." -- Booklist
"McCauley offers just a touch of magical realism here, layering a painfully honest exploration of domestic violence with a subtle eeriness... Her narration is elegant and thoughtful... a refreshing portrayal of two teens who negotiate their own challenges while acknowledging those of others." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A beautiful, powerful, and emotional story that tugs at your heartstrings as it empathetically and honestly steers you through the pain of domestic violence." -- Farrah Penn, author of Twelve Steps to Normal
"If These Wings Could Fly is a tense and emotional story that will in turns break your heart, make you swoon, and leave you feeling hopeful." -- Elizabeth Eulberg, author of Past Perfect Life
"A careful, sharp exploration of rage, love, and what it means to balance on the knife edge between them."
-- Rebecca Barrow, author of This Is What It Feels Like
"McCauley makes a moving debut with this hard-hitting novel set in a small, tightly knit town." -- Publishers Weekly
