I adore this story about Finn and empathize with the troubles he is experiencing at the beginning of the book. He has had a complex relationship with his father, a hockey star, and firefighter/paramedic hero. Although he was a hero to many people, he was often absent in Finn's life. And that's the trouble with heroes - you don't always hear the negative stuff about them. Finn's anger issues cause him to do something he immediately regrets, and he fears juvie is in his future, but instead, he is offered reparations. If he can climb all 46 of the Adirondack mountain peaks, his legal problems will disappear. Finn takes the deal (who wouldn't) and his reaction to the climbs, the people who supervise him (they're called trail nannies) and reflections are quite humorous.

Novels in verse are my favourite format, but this book is so much more than that. There are poems (many), but also articles, letters, recipes, text messages and more. I enjoyed the story so much, and I know adventure-loving kids will too. Highly recommend for kids Gr. 5-8.

The format did not translate well as an e-book, and though I know that shouldn’t reflect on the story itself, I was taken out of the reading experience quite often because of it. Overall I think it’s a decent read, but not something I will be seeking out to add to my library orders. If I happen to see it recommended on my vendor lists and am reminded of it, I’ll likely purchase it for my library.

As a hiker, I have a soft spot for books set on hiking trails, and Messner's THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES is one of the best! Finn Connelly is forced to become a hiker as he must complete the Adirondacks' 46 peaks in one summer as community service after kicking over the gravestone of a legendary local hiker, trail grandma to the 46er community. As Finn hikes with his 3 "trail nannies" he discovers the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing hard things. He also deals with his grief over the death of his father during Covid, so his growth is both physical and emotional. Finn's story has more layers, and it is this peeling back of the layers of his life that makes Messner's characters so intriguing. Many of my students are hikers here in the PNW, but I know that many more than the outdoor enthusiasts will identify with Finn and fall in love with his journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC given only in exchange for my honest opinion. I will enthusiastically add this one to our grades 5 to 8 library.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

I've always enjoyed Kate Messner's middle grade books, but this one is a true standout. I've already pre-ordered it for a sixth grade reader and her family who are working their way through NH's 48 4000 footers. This story is everything I wanted it to be from the first page, and I think readers (young and old) will love it. It's making it onto my top reads in 2024 list, even though it doesn't release for everyone else until the end of April 2025.

This book was absolutely fantastic. A middle grade novel in verse, THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES tells the story of a boy dealing with grief after losing his father and the healing journey he goes on while hiking. A beautiful story that so accurately captured what it feels like to lose a parent. Highly, highly recommend.

This was a heart-felt story about a boy whose punishment for kicking over a headstone is to hike the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. His story is told through free verse, poetry, text messages, etc. This was an enjoyable and fast paced read. I loved the varied formats used to tell the story.

This middle grade novel is told in a series of poems that starts as a make-up assignment for a 7th grade ELA assignment, but becomes much more.

Finn is in trouble for vandalizing a gravestone, skipping PE, and not finishing a poetry project with a hero theme. In return for not going to court over his cemetery misdeeds, he is to hike 46 mountains. He learns a lot about himself during this journey that includes many adults helping him, and a dog that he must take on most of the hikes.

I will purchase this for my library when it comes out in the spring. This would make an excellent book group book.

I can't wait to share this book with my readers. Finn is an endearing, relatable character who overcomes grief and anger. Seymour the dog is also so loveable. Will definitely be purchasing this book as a book group read and anticipate it will be on state book award lists.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214868940-the-trouble-with-heroes

When I began reading The Trouble with Heroes, by Kate Messner, I expected an encouraging, coming-of-age story about a young boy who got off on the wrong foot and spent a summer making reparations for his misdeeds while learning about himself in the process. What I did not expect was that a middle grades story told almost exclusively through poems written by aforementioned troublemaker would be so unputdownable that I’d have to finish it in one sitting or that I’d be sobbing by the end of it. This story is powerful and deeply moving.

Finn Connelly is struggling with the untimely death of his father, and as a result, he’s flunking out of PE and his language arts class. In order to scrape a pass and advance to 8th grade, he has to complete a poems assignment and log PE hours over the summer — and this summer begins with a trip to a cemetery and subsequently with a court date for vandalism of a grave of a mountaineer town hero named Edna. Kelly, the surviving daughter of Edna, decides to make a deal with Finn— summit all 46 of the Adirondack mountains over the summer and Kelly would agree to drop all charges. Finn navigates mountains as he works through the reality that his father was both a hero and a haunted soul who struggled with PTSD and addiction in the aftermath of 9/11 and then the pandemic. Additionally, Finn had to work through the idea that the image his father had of him was not an accurate representation of who he was and that was okay. Noah was a hockey star of the town while Finn loves baking. This is such a normal struggle in a coming of age book but it’s made more difficult because Finn no longer has his father to work through the struggle with. This book masterfully deals with grief and all related emotions- it was poignant and tender - and the poetry throughout was so thought provoking. I loved this beautiful book. Some of the themes might be better grappled with on the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade audiences, but this book is absolutely a masterpiece.

I would like to thank Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel in verse is a wonderful story of grief, anger, and self discovery. The verse format adds to the story and it is sure to be a great addition to any middle grade classroom or library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

My 5th grade son and I read this one together and it was a great adventure story but also a great opportunity for us to talk about decisions and consequences and being truthful.

The Trouble With Heroes tells the tale of Finn Connelly, a boy who is angry with the world. After taking out his emotions on a gravestone, which toppled under the force of his repeated kicks, he finds himself having to either pay thousands of dollars to the relative of the deceased or, in penance, he can hike all 46 of the Adirondack mountain peaks throughout the coming summer. He chooses the mountains. Over the course of the hikes, he learns a lot about himself, his father and the people who are ready and willing to be his friends.

This is an easy read, as the novel is in verse. The writing is engaging, funny and poignant. I laughed and I cried. I would recommend this book to middle grades on up. There is mention of death, the pandemic, grief and anger issues.

Finn is struggling after his dad's death. He is caught vandalizing in a cemetery and the daughter of the headstone he kicked down decides to offer him a unique way to pay off his vandalism. She tells him he can climb all 46 Adirondack peaks that summer and then he won't have to pay for a new headstone. Finn reluctantly agrees, but as the summer goes on he learns a lot about himself, his dad, and grief. This heartwarming story is great for middle grade readers!

This novel in verse had all the feels. It reminded me of a Dan Gemeinhart or K. A. Holt book, which guarantees it will be a winner.

Finn is struggling with losing his father and is having trouble at school and home. In a fit of rage, he kicks over a Edna’s gravestone. In order to pass 7th grade, he must make up all of his missed PE classes and complete a poetry project about a hero. Edna’s daughter insists that for reparation he must climb all 46 peaks of the Adirondacks like her mother did, along with her mom’s dog.
Readers will hike along with Finn as he hikes each peak and works through his grief and anger by writing poetry along the way.

“You carry it into the woods and some stays inside you, solid and unchanged. But some of it you breathe out into the trees. The wind lifts it, carries it off into hazy layers of hillsides, trees, and sky. So when you come down the mountain it’s not quite as it was before.”

This book is sure to be a hit in our library. My students are always looking for good stories and a NIV is a great way to tell Finn’s story. I would love to climb the 46’ers.

Thank you Bloomsbury Children's Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: Finn Connelly, a troubled seventh grader who’s struggling to live up to his late father’s legacy, embarks on a life-changing journey to climb 46 Adirondack peaks with the daughter of a legendary mountain climber, learning about courage, loss, and his own identity along the way.

My review: The Trouble with Heroes is a captivating novel-in-verse that creatively blends poetry, articles, and recipes. This book is packed with so much that it holds the reader’s attention from start to finish. I love the inclusion of "choose-your-own-disaster" moments and pictures adds a delightful touch. The book definitely needs to be read in print as I feel like the digital copy lost some of the shape/form of the poetry.

This is a versatile addition to any middle school library. The engaging verse, varied writing formats, and deeply relatable themes make it a perfect tool for sparking a variety of learning experiences. The poetry itself is both heartbreaking and beautiful, capturing the full spectrum of human emotion—from the wonders of nature to feelings of sadness, anger, and loss. It touches on love and the process of healing as well, all while hitting on to two significant moments in American history: the tragedy of 9/11 and the impact of the Covid pandemic.

Juvenile Fiction / Family - General (see also headings under Social Themes) / Social Themes - Death, Grief, Bereavement / Sports & Recreation - Camping & Outdoor Activities

The Trouble with Heroes is scheduled for publication on April 29, 2025, by Bloomsbury Children's Books.

While grappling with his father’s death, Finn Connelly gets himself in a situation in which he is required to hike the 46 Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and finish an incomplete poetry anthology for school over the summer. Just what every kids wants to do on their summer break. Messner’s novel in verse combines the beauty and wonder of nature, feelings of sadness, anger, loss and love into an amazing middle grade novel that kids and teachers everywhere will remember long after they read it.

I love an angry main character, and I love that angry main character going on a journey to find what he needs to feel more at peace with the world and people around him. Recommended!

While dealing with grief and anger over the loss of his father (an NYC paramedic who served on September 11, 2001 and during the Covid pandemic), Finn kicks over a headstone in the cemetery. The family offers him an option to avoid going to court-hike the 46 peaks of the Adirondacks and become a 46er-a passion of the deceased. Finn also has to make up for some poor attendance and poor grades at school. He will need to complete a poetry project in order to pass seventh grade.

The hikes, the poetry, and the companionship of his fellow hikers help Finn learn about his father, himself, and the hard truth about being a hero. This story written as Finn's poetry was heartbreaking and beautiful. It will make kids consider other perspectives, and connect to two historically tragic events in our American history, 9-11 and the Covid pandemic.

This is an amazing book. I love that it is written in prose, the prose is so good!
I liked watching Finn make peace with his anger as he does the 46 climbs.
He is still sad and is dealing with his grief over his father. But he is learning more about him and about himself as he takes these hikes.
I liked seeing the connection between these people that also knew his dad and how they help him through all this.
This makes me want to go and do the 46 hikes myself. It sounds and looks from the pictures throughout the book, beautiful.
This is a book that will touch so many hearts. And is great for any kid who has lost a parent.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I love Kate Messner’s middle grade novels. This novel-in-verse, filled with poems, articles and even some recipes was so fun. There are lots of hard themes that are well written. This novel is about grief, anger, and self-discovery.