The Trouble with Heroes

Messner, Kate. The Trouble with Heroes. 2025. 368p. ISBN 9781547616398.

Finn Connelly, a struggling seventh-grader, feels overshadowed by the heroic legacy of his late father, a star athlete and firefighter who died two years prior. Finn's life takes an unexpected turn when he's caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, specifically kicking down the headstone of a legendary local mountain climber. Instead of punishment, the climber's daughter offers Finn an unusual proposition: if he climbs all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks with her deceased mother's dog, his debt will be considered paid.

Over the course of three months, Finn embarks on a journey filled with misadventures, muddy trails, and surprising mentors. As he conquers each peak, the expansive views offer him clarity, slowly helping him understand himself and his father better. However, the mountains hold their own challenges, and with September approaching, Finn faces a final summit that proves to be a formidable test, potentially exceeding even a hero's capabilities.

In the Trouble with Heroes, Finn comes to terms with his father's death, and learns forgiveness and letting go. Fans of redemption stories will love to read about Finn growing up and gaining valuable insights about his own life.

All the Blues in the Sky

Watson, Renée. All the Blues in the Sky. 2025. 208p. ISBN 9781547605897.

The day Sage turned thirteen was a day meant for celebration with her best friend. Instead, it becomes a day of profound loss when her friend unexpectedly dies, hit by a car while crossing the street. This tragedy leaves Sage feeling adrift and alone, struggling to cope with the absence of the one person who shared her secrets and dreams. Seeking support, she joins a counseling group with other girls experiencing similar grief, where she learns that loss manifests in many forms and that the healing process is far from straightforward.

Through her journey in the group and her own internal struggles, Sage navigates the complex emotions of grief: sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and pain, all intertwined with the enduring presence of love. Even amidst her sorrow, new and positive experiences begin to enter her life, offering glimmers of hope and the possibility of healing. 

 Told in a blend of accessible verse and prose, All the Blues in the Sky explores the multifaceted nature of grief and Sage's path toward self-forgiveness and growth, offering a comforting and relatable perspective for anyone who has experienced loss.

The Boy in the Black Suit

Reynolds, Jason. The Boy in the Black Suit. 2015. 255p. 468 mins. ISBN 978-1-44245950-2. Available both as an audiobook from Overdrive and at FIC REY on the library shelves.

Matthew Miller just lost his mother to cancer. She died quickly, and she died young. At 17, Matt is entering his senior year of high school rudderless. His dad started drinking again, leaving Matt to fend for himself, both physically and emotionally. The gap his mother's death left behind is impossible to fill.

With a light school schedule that is done at noon, Matt looks for after school work. The money will come in handy, especially since his father can't seem to regain his senses and drop the bottle long enough to go to his job. He goes to the local fast food restaurant and asks for an application, but then is saved from greasy work by Mr. Ray, the owner of the local funeral home. Mr. Ray provided the funeral service for his mother.

Matt is at first scared of working with dead bodies, but on the first funeral he works he discovers that the experience of attending someone else's funeral can be very cathartic. Plus you can meet extraordinary people in this line of work, including local legends, and even Love. Along the way, Matt will find redemption and healing for others as well as for himself, and will realize that dead people can still teach valuable lessons.

Fans of boy reads will appreciate Matt's depth and the struggles he faces as a half orphan. His friendship with Mr. Ray blossoms into a mentor/mentee relationship, which allows him to grow as an individual and to find peace with the tragedy that affected him.