Heroes for My Son

by Brad Meltzer

Overview

When Brad Meltzer's first son was born eight years ago, the bestselling writer and new father started compiling a list of heroes whose virtues and talents he wanted to share with his son: Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Jim Henson, Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali . . . and so many more, each one an ordinary person who was able to achieve the extraordinary. The list grew to include the fifty-two amazing people now gathered in Heroes for My Son, a book that parents and their children—sons and daughters alike—can now enjoy together as they choose heroes of their own.

From the Wright Brothers, who brought extra building materials to every test flight, planning ahead for failure, to Miep Gies, who risked her life to protect Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis during World War II, Heroes for My Son brings well-known figures together with less famous ones, telling the inspiring, behind-the-scenes stories of the moment that made them great. They are a miraculous group with one thing in common: each is an example of the spectacular potential that can be found in all of us.

Heroes for My Son is an unforgettable book of timeless wisdom, one that families everywhere can share again and again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061905285
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/11/2010
Pages:	111
Sales rank:	739,729
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate, as well as the bestsellers The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, and The Book of Lies. His newest thriller, The Inner Circle, will be released in January 2011. He lives in Florida with his wife, Cori, and coaches lots of Little League for their three children, Jonas, Lila, and Theo.

Hometown:

Florida

Date of Birth:

1970

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Education:

B.A., University of Michigan; J.D., Columbia University

Website:

http://www.bradmeltzer.com

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2016
Gr 5–7-What makes a person a hero? Meltzer's book offers 52 uplifting life stories as examples of everyday heroes. Featuring a host of famous and lesser-known people, each mini-biography explores the drive and inner motivation of these true role models. Tales of selfless acts and personal struggles are told in short snippets; each is accompanied by a picture and quote. A theme of resilience emerges when all of the accounts are read together. The book features figures such as Bella Abzug, a social equality activist and U.S. congresswoman; Officer Frank Shankwitz, cofounder of the Make-a-Wish Foundation; and Dan West, founder of Heifer International. The individuals who appear in these pages are remembered for the honorable acts they performed rather than the offices they held or the popularity they gained. Meltzer also includes stories about his mother and grandfather, both of whom had a profound impact on his life. Space is allotted for readers to chronicle their personal heroes. VERDICT A browsable addition to libraries with large budgets.-Jocelyn Charpentier, Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, MA

School Library Journal

[Editors' Note: The following is a combined review of HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER and HEROES FOR MY SON.]--The author of suspense novels, TV shows, and comic books offers two collections of heroes to guide the lives of boys (52 profiles) and girls (55 profiles). The snapshots give a thumbnail of each person and what traits or accomplishments made each one great. Though the profiles are brief enough to not challenge young attention spans, they offer enough information to inspire some curiosity. Throughout this production, Meltzer sounds like he’s talking to children, and there are brief segments when his own children respond to his questions, all of which may work for the targeted audience. T.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

JANUARY 2014 - AudioFile