The Trouble With Heroes by Kate Messner

Magic is alive.

Snowfall real and not contrived.

2025.

So much to tell you

about 2025 so far,

but not just yet.

Instead, a book review

for anyone who wants

a YA blockbuster that's bound

to climb into your soul

and stay there, simmering, 

for some time.

Cleverly written in verse 

(you'll find out why early in the book) 

by best-selling author Kate Messner,

with pictures 

and recipes 

and text messages

(I giggled at every DM!)

interspersed, 

this gem

is a 

mountain-top experience.

Meet Finn, a grieving young teen

in desperate need of a second chance,

to right a wrong after callously kicking over

the gravestone of a prominent mountain climber.

Meet the deceased lady's daughter,

who shows up to court with a

plea bargain option for Finn.

It's either pay a fine of a substantial amount

of money that neither he nor his mom has

or ... spend his summer in the creative

restorative practice of scaling 

the forty-six mountains 

that Edna knew 

and loved 

intimately.

In her boots.

With her drool-face dog, Seymour.

Unsurprisingly, Finn doesn't care

for either consequence, 

but he opts for 

the latter 

(Thank you, Finn!), and

takes us along on his climb upward

toward restitution and reparation.

I laughed and I cried and

I held my breath as

the pages turned themselves.

And I didn't want 

the story

to end.

Because endings can be hard.

And are often very painful.

And sorrowful.

And sad.

It didn't hurt that I, myself,

had just lost three moms

in a five-month period,

but that's another post

for another day.

Expect lots of twists and turns

over some very rocky terrain

and lots of mud and drool

as you feel with Finn 

on his journey.

Sometimes quite lonely, 

but never alone.

Alongside some very wise mentors,

through the messy fog 

of anger and grief, 

will Finn finally find 

the gift of a peace 

that he wasn't sure

he'd ever feel again?

When you check out 

The Trouble With Heroes,

let me know how 

this heartfelt masterpiece

landed with you.

I predict inspiring things ahead 

for this April 2025 newcomer.