The Trouble with Heroes

New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner crafts a poignant novel-in-verse about a boy and the summer that changes everything.



Finn Connelly’s dad was a hero. A firefighter who saved lives on 9/11. He scored big goals and made headlines. Although he died two years ago, people will never forget him.



Finn is no hero. He’s failing seventh grade, he’d rather bake cookies than play sports, and has never made headlines. . . until he’s caught kicking down an old lady’s headstone.



Turns out that grave belongs to one of the first women to climb all the Adirondack High Peaks. But the woman’s daughter makes Finn a deal: climb all 46 peaks this summer with her dog, and she won’t press charges.



Miles on the trails means lots of time to think: About how being a hero troubled his dad. And how it’s tough to miss someone you didn’t totally understand. As Finn climbs each peak, he begins to see more about himself than he ever expected.