THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES

Mack Gordon embraces the anger and frustration of seventh-grader Finn, whose father, a 9/11 hero, died during the Covid pandemic. Gordon reserves especially intense sarcasm for Finn's overdue poetry assignments and his attitude toward the reparation he must perform for vandalizing a notable hiking trail: In one summer he must hike 46 Adirondack High Peaks. Gordon's narration captures the many poetic and visual elements of the text, along with the accompanying photographs. He makes sure his tone communicates the changes in Finn's attitude, which ranges from sulkiness to vulnerability and grief, and finally to memories of his father and a recognition of his own connection to nature. S.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]