The Trouble with Heroes follows Finn on a journey to heal from the loss of his dad as he discovers, for better or worse, who his dad really was. All while climbing 46 mountain peaks as reparations for a bit of graveyard vandalism. Messner works her magic in this heartfelt story of family and coming of age in a time just post-COVID, which is still all too real. I fell in love with Finn and his K9 hiking companion! Having lost my dad at a young age, I truly felt Finn’s anger, confusion, and need to find out more about his dad. As a fun bonus recipes are sprinkled throughout the book as Finn bakes up cookies inspired by the peaks he climbs.
The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner, (List Price: $17.99, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 9781547616398, April 2025)
Reviewed by Rayna Nielsen, Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans, Louisiana