We Can Be Brave: How We Learn To Be Brave In Life's Decisive Moments

81+x-lXI1sL
Co-Authors / Illustrators
Age Range
10+
Release Date
October 21, 2025
ISBN
979-8217113828
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The decisive moments in life—even in the life of a young person—are those pivot points when we’re called on to push past our fears and act courageously in the face of injustice and bullying. In How We Learn to Be Brave, Bishop Mariann Budde shows readers examples of how to respond even in the toughest times. Bravery is not a singular occurrence; it’s a journey that we can choose to undertake every day and it begins when we're young.

Budde explores the range of decisive moments people of all ages encounter, from the most visible and dramatic (the decision to go), to the internal and personal (the decision to stay), to brave choices made with an eye toward the future (the decision to start), those born of suffering (the decision to accept that which we did not choose), and those that come as surprises (the decision to step up to the plate). Drawing on examples relevant to young readers ranging from Harry Potter to Martin Luther King Jr., she weaves together personal experiences with stories from scripture, history, and pop culture of how adults and kids throughout history have faced these moments and heeded the call to be brave in challenging times.

Editor review

1 review
We Can Be Brave
(Updated: June 12, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Learning Value
 
4.0
What worked: Insightful introspection on how to be brave during life's intense moments. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde's words resonated with me. Her voice is calming as she shares her own personal experiences, like the one when she gave a sermon at the Service of Prayer for the Nation. Her words were just what our nation needed at this time.

She shares not only her own decisive moments but other numerous stories of bravery from a historical perspective.

There are side notes labeled ' learn about it' that dig deeper with examples on leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and others. There's a mention of Queen Esther from the Bible on the courage it took for her to stand up to save the Jewish people. There are also scripture quotes that don't come across as preachy.

One of my favorite quotes is how she responded to someone who wondered if they should leave the country during this divisive time. Her reply, "In crucible moments, everyone must make difficult decisions...
But this country needs leaders now, and citizens who can face things as they are, work to change what can be change, and not give up hope for the future..."

Hope. That is a key message that resonates throughout this insightful work. I also love Bishop Budde stand on racial and social equality.

Finally, there is the full text of her sermon, which she gave at the inauguration, where she spoke about praying for unity as a nation. Her words include mentions of humility, honesty, and having mercy toward those who fear for their lives.

Recommend for those who want a book that is thoughtful and has a message of how to rise to the challenge of being brave in troubling times.
Good Points
1. Insightful introspection on how to be brave during life's moments
2. Not preachy
3. Woven throughout are examples of the bishop's own decisive moments and other historical leaders
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