Follow Finn on his journey to hike the Adirondack mountains. He just might find more than beautiful scenery as he grapples with his father's death and the concept of what it means to be a hero. The different poem forms kept me engaged and I can't wait to try out Finn's cookie recipes!

An Angry boy, a drooling dog and unexpected mentors. The Trouble with Heroes provides a journey up mountains literally and metaphorically, explores childhood grief and finding ones self in the face of a devastating loss. Finn's feelings are palpable and the progression of the character changes the tone of the book as you progress though his summer journey to make amends. With an unexpected connection to his family, The Trouble with Heroes provides insight into childhood grief and anger and how sometimes connecting with nature can help you see the bigger picture.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I'm not sure how Kate Messner managed to tie something different ideas into one amazing book all while making it a novel in verse. It was incredible. I loved this book and I know my students will fall in love with it too!

I received an ARC for this book through NetGalley and it did not disappoint. I loved the idea from the blurb!

Finn is a boy who struggles with grief and Kate did a lovely job of taking us on the hiking journey to healing. Finn reminds me of those kids who have a chip on their shoulder from life throwing them and their family a curveball. Being an Upstate New Yorker myself who frequently goes to the Adirondacks, this just hits closer to home for me. Even though I will never be a 46r - I loved reading references to trails and mountains I know.

Highly recommend for enjoyment and for classrooms. I think there is a lot of potential to use this in a poetry unit or exploring nature in story. I have already preordered my own copy for myself and my school library.

From a personal standpoint - this book would have helped me with my own grief of losing my dad which was around the same age as Finn.

I kept thinking this was by Gary D. Schmidt, and I mean that as the highest compliment possible. So, so well done. I usually don't like (or remember) novels in verse, but this one is so well-crafted that I didn't even notice it. What can't Kate Messner do? Heartbreaking, but ultimately reads like a big hug.

I liked this book but didn't love it. But, I'm also not the intended audience. Though I sympathized with everything main character went through, he was also a gigantic whiny, surly, snarky, pain in the behind.
I also wasn't a fan of the chosen narrative style.
Loved the messages in the book.
So....overall, I recognize I was not the target audience, and I do a book project at the end of the school year. I will add this to the list kids can choose from.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This story is incredible. A novel in verse, with a sprinkling of other forms of writing to enhance the brilliance of this piece. So so good.

I really enjoyed this poignant novel in verse that was full of humor, heart and full circle moments. I love any book that features an adorable dog and great multigenerational relationships while also commenting on grief, the importance of healing, and the value of the outdoors. I loved the pictures that were throughout the book and learned so much about these mountains through this loveable kid character. A book I would definitely recommend to kids looking for an emotional, heartwarming story.

This excellent novel in verse follows a 7th-grade boy dealing with the death of his father just after the Covid-19 pandemic. After some poor decisions to finish the school year, Finn finds himself required to climb all the peaks in the Adirondacks as part of his community service. Through deep reflection, Finn learns a ton about himself and grieves his father. This is beautifully written and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

So many middle schoolers have anger issues. Kate Messner’s latest novel in verse is a path that one boy is compelled to take to deal with his anger (and grief).

I have read many of Messner’s books. This has to be one of the best! It is deep and heart wrenching. It gets to the heart of so many important issues facing our young people growing up, but anger is at the heart of this book. I want all the middle schoolers to read this. Many will come to realize they don’t have it as bad as they think. Be prepared with tissues.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It's no secret that I love novels in verse; I love how fast paced they are, but are still able to pack even more of an emotional punch than a traditional novel.

Messner's story focuses on Finn, a troubled 13-year-old who gets caught kicking over a gravestone, and is then required to hike 46 Adirondack peaks as reparations.

Finn is not only dealing with the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic that we all experienced and can relate to, but is also in the epicenter of grief over the death of his father, who was a firefighter and a hero during the September 11th tragedy.

As he begins to hike each trail, with the help of a group of 46ers, his pain, anger, and confusion begin to melt away in the nature and wildness that surrounds him. He grows stronger both physically, mentally, and emotionally, and works through his resentment and pain in a way that is unique to him.

I loved how the 46ers are supportive of Finn, but never give him the option to use his grief as an excuse to give up.

This is such a wonderful story of hope after tragedy, and the healing powers that nature and the earth offer all of us. We just have to be willing to open ourselves up to it.

Favorite quotes:
"It must be nice to know you can put your foot down
and find something solid
even when it looks like there's nothing there to hold you, nothing to catch you when you fall."

"Sometimes people don't know why they're climbing.
They only know it's better than hurting standing still."

4.5 stars!!
I'm so thankful I got the chance to get to know Finn Connelly.
Kate Messner captured my attention from the beginning and kept it until the final page.
This book will stay with me for a long time.
A must read for middle grade students and their teachers.

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner is a brilliant and thought-provoking story that masterfully blends mythology, adventure, and real-world emotions. Messner crafts a compelling tale that challenges traditional ideas of heroism, making readers question what it truly means to be a hero. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is engaging, and the writing is both heartfelt and insightful. With a perfect mix of action, depth, and emotion, this book captivates from start to finish. Ideal for readers who love mythology with a fresh, modern twist. An inspiring and unforgettable read that deserves five stars! The students in my middle school libraries are going to love it!

Finn is struggling internally with the loss of his father. He begins lashing out when he stops caring: his grades begin to slip, he doesn't work hard, and he is caught after vandalizing a gravestone. This isn't just any gravestone. The burial site is the resting place of Adirondack hiking legend, Edna Grace Thomas, the first female 46er. Finn goes to court, and Edna's daughter, Kelly, challenges Finn to hike all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in one summer with Edna's dog, Seymour--or face bigger, more serious punishment for his vandalism. As Finn begrudgingly begins his journey, he is struck by the grief of losing his father, a New York City fireman who served during 9/11. Through his grief, Finn starts to process his feelings and begins a new chapter in his life.

Although I am an adult reader, I truly resonated with the novel, especially that of Finn's grief. I live in the Adirondacks and am also an aspiring 46er. I recently lost my uncle (#839) who finished his 46 when he was just 8 years old. Reading this novel unleashed some of my feelings that I have been suppressing due to my life needing to continue. I understand how the mountains are freeing and a place to remember, which is how I feel anytime I go hiking. This book is so important for children who may be struggling with these intense feelings, along with showing the importance of being outside and letting nature heal.

"The Trouble with Heroes" may be one of Kate Messner's best books, as you will not want to put the novel in verse down.

This is a story in verse about a boy who lost his father in two different ways, but finds a way of connecting with him through mandatory mountain climbs, while exploring his own growing love of poetry and baking.

The beginning drew me in with the author's quick and easy style which gradually developed into a more poignant narrative with all the feels (I was full out weeping through the final pages).

An enjoyable read with a solid mix of heartbreak and healing, humour, and unexpected friendships.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own​​.

This is such as fantastic verse novel. Finn's voice feels grounded and honest, and I think many kids will identify with his perspective. Messner brings the trail to life in such a vivid way, and presents a unique take on working through grief. She also offers a subtle alternative to toxic masculinity. I loved the side plot of Finn's baking and the cookie recipes throughout the novel.

I absolutely loved this book for middle grade readers. I think that the story is very relevant for young readers. It follows a young boy who has lost his father, and how he works through that grief. As a nature lover, I loved that this was the avenue for Finn to work through his grief. It really shows the power of nature. I also loved the side characters who hiked with Finn- they all had their own stories and personalities that added to the story. Middle grade readers novels in verse and this one does not disappoint. I will definitely recommend this book for students in my middle school classroom.

What is a hero? That's the question Finn has been asking himself ever since he got busted kicking over a gravestone and almost failing 8th grade. Everyone tells Finn his dad was definitely a hero, of course they do, he was a firefighter in NYC on September 11. But since then Covid started and his dad passed away. Climbing all 49 peeks in the Adirondacks seems better than jail, until Finn realizes he isn't just climbing, he's figuring out himself. Highly recommend this verse novel for middle grades!

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Twelve-year-old Finn Connelly is struggling. He and his mom are living with Finn’s grandmother in upstate New York since his father died. One day, full of anger, Finn kicks over a gravestone at the local cemetery and is in big trouble. The headstone belonged to a well-known mountaineer and her daughter makes a deal with Finn – he must summit all 46 of the Adirondack High Peaks by the end of summer and he must do it with her mother’s dog, Seymour. In addition, Finn has classes to make up – PE and a poetry project for English class. The hiking will fulfill the PE requirement and the poetry in what makes this a novel in verse. Finn will have “trail nannies” verifying and looking out for him on the trails. Finn’s grandma owns a chocolate shop and Finn uses the rejects to make original cookie recipes for each of hike summits. As the summer progresses, Finn learns to let go of the anger and learns more about his dad up in the mountains.
I really enjoyed this book! Verse novels tend to go faster – great for reluctant readers. Unfortunately, with this DRC, the pictures didn’t come through but they are not essential to the story. I will have to check out the print version when it comes out. Definitely recommend for readers in grade 4 and up.
#TheTroubleWithHeroes #NetGalley

Finn Connelly finds himself in trouble after being caught kicking over the headstone of a late (but famous) mountaineer. Facing the potential of criminal charges, and unable to pay the replacement cost for the headstone, Finn is given an unusual proposition: climb 46 mountains with the dead old lady's dog, and all charges will be dropped. Add to that Finn's failing grades in Gym and English (and the mounds of extra work he will have to complete to earn those credits) and his summer vacation is veritably packed to the hilt before it even begins. Finn has some interests of his own, which he still finds time for: his talent for concocting playfully creative baked goods (hey, climbing mountains is hungry work!). Underlying the whole story (told in the first person) is the loss of Finn's father and Finn's ruminations about who his father was, as well as the heavy grief left in the wake of his loss.

Messner's talent as a writer is evident right from the opening chapters. Especially for anybody interested in poetry/ language arts, there is much to savour. I was not aware that the story was to be told through any sort of poetry (I've tended to avoid books that make that stylistic choice), but, unexpectedly, I found that the narrative flowed well, and the story unfolded with clarity.

I don't personally believe that mountains themselves have healing powers: that mountains are the source. The book mentions God but sort of brushes him aside, expressing that the prayer card carried by Finn's father's coach is much too weak to handle the weight of so much grief. The sentiment seems to be that the mountains themselves are to thank for any improvement in Finn's despondency.

The book ends with a couple of elements that fit very neatly into place, like the last few pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle. As each of the final pieces are slotted in, the whole thing feels sensible and complete. There are some real soaring moments, poetically. Messner has a knack for poetic comparisons. The book is an accomplishment, to be sure: evidently the work of an expert wordsmith.