Heroes for My Son

3.3

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Author(s)

Brad Meltzer

Publisher

Harper Collins

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

October 25, 2016

ISBN

978-0062439314

Buy This Book

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer brings together a remarkable group of heroes with one thing in common: they were ordinary people who became extraordinary.

Brad was inspired by the birth of his first son to curate this collection, but you don’t need to be a parent to treasure it—Heroes for My Son is perfect for children, parents, teachers, and anyone looking for inspiration. The fifty-two featured figures represent the spectacular potential we all have within us to change the world. The format allows for reading straight through or at your own pace, and includes photos, quotes, brief biographies, and vignettes that highlight the single moment that made each person great. The wonderfully diverse heroes included in the book are men, women, historical, contemporary, athletes, actors, inventors, politicians, and so many more. Heroes for My Son is a book to be read again and again, as the simple question of what makes a hero remains a vital part of today’s conversation.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer brings together a remarkable group of heroes with one thing in common: they were ordinary people who became extraordinary.

Editor review

1 review

A Heroic Collection

March 02, 2017

Overall rating

3.3

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

3.0

Learning Value

4.0

True-to-life heroes--real people who've accomplished attainable yet noteworthy things. This book holds a timeless and intriguing premise. (Particularly in a youth market so thoroughly saturated with fictitious super heroes.)

While the title led me to expect said heroes would be derived from the male sex, sixteen women actually make an appearance within this book; including Mother Theresa, Harper Lee, and Harriet Tubman. The diversity is vast--as are the eras these chosen figures were born into. Said "Heroes" range from politicians and religious figures to athletes, entertainers, and activists. The author even indulges in a bit of sentimentality by including a section for both his own mother and grandfather.

Coming in at a total of 52 two-page spreads, this work presents a wide range of individuals (and two team duos) who have left an indelible mark on the world. The layout consists of a black & white picture of said hero or hero team, a tribute explanation, and a quote. Three blank, lined pages at the back encourage readers to write down their own personal hero's story, and leaves a designated place for said hero's picture. (I'm guessing this book must have preceded 'Heroes For My Daughter,' as that one has seven pages dedicated to this, along with a higher number of hero bios.)

The book is very closely tied to its counterpart, Heroes For My Daughter. Perhaps a little too closely--as there is exact cut-and-paste overlap in several of the hero bios between them. Mahatma Gandhi, Lucille Ball, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln, and Teri Meltzer at the very least. Although, it is difficult to tell if there are more, as the heroes are listed in no readily discernible order and there is no appendix at the end to aid in searching for them. (And yes, you will note this paragraph of my review is essentially a cut-and-pasted replica of one I used in the aforementioned related book. It seemed only fair.)

The general layout and excessive smallness of font on the right-sided sections tends to give it a more coffee table book feel than children's book. Information provided is fairly brief and superficial, making minimal use of white space in some cases (i.e. the bio on the Wright brothers only amounts to a handful of sentences.) But there is definitely enough potential here to pique one's interest into further research.