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We Can Be Heroes
A moving, funny, explosive debut, and a truly memorable voice. Includes the protagonist's eight-page manga comic at the end.
My dad was killed in the 9/11 attacks. But the stuff in this book isn't about that. It's about the summer my mom went away. The summer that me and Jed and Priti tried to catch a suicide bomber and prevent an honor killing. There's stuff about how we built a tree house and joined the bomb squad; how I found my dad and Jed lost his; and how we both lost our moms then found them again. So it's not really about 9/11 but, then again, none of those things would have happened if it hadn't been for that day. So I guess it's all back to front, sort of.
My dad was killed in the 9/11 attacks. But the stuff in this book isn't about that. It's about the summer my mom went away. The summer that me and Jed and Priti tried to catch a suicide bomber and prevent an honor killing. There's stuff about how we built a tree house and joined the bomb squad; how I found my dad and Jed lost his; and how we both lost our moms then found them again. So it's not really about 9/11 but, then again, none of those things would have happened if it hadn't been for that day. So I guess it's all back to front, sort of.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2011
9 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bruton
17 books49 followersI live just outside Bath with my husband, Jonny, and my two children (plus two toy monkeys, six goldfish and we’re hoping to get some chickens!). I teach English two days a week at a local secondary school. I also write articles for newspapers and magazines. Oh, and I write novels too!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 16, 2011
3 3/4 stars.
"Priti looks at me and raises her eyebrows. “If you don’t understand the vast cultural difference between the Disney anti-feminist-merchandising machine crap and an Anne Hathaway classic, you’re not going to make it far in the world of animation,” she says."
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
In your FACE. But yay Granny.
High Points.
Ben… aww. Cutie. Priti. Imagination. Childhood innocence. Tree houses. Binoculars. Cartoons (sorry.. Manga. I’m not even going to pretend to know about Manga, the only experience I have in things like that is when the TV got stuck on a Pokemon marathon.) Doodling. Wheelie shoes. Girls in bunches. Cornershop sweets. Lists. Memory boxes. Biscuits. Grannies. Street parties. Curries. Honour killing by Jane Austen. Racially sensitive topics. Pointing out the absurdity of political correctness out of control … No one cares that Baa Baa was a black sheep. He could be grey or he could be white or he could be fuscia (amazing)… he’s a nursery rhyme character and he just wants to give bags of wool to the master and the dame and the little boy who lives down the lane. Stop fuelling the hatred and driving wedges between people! This book isn’t difficult to follow and I loved how Ms Bruton never tried to keep the reader in the dark over anything. It was fun to read a book where I knew what was going on when the characters didn’t (Well… at least intentionally). A lot of the laughs from this book stemmed from Ben, Priti and Jed letting their imaginations run completely wild (maybe a little bit too wild at some points) in the boredom of Summer.
Low Points.
Uncle Ian. NEVER HAVE I WANTED TO THROTTLE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER MORE THAN THIS JOKE. Seriously… he really reminded me of the twonk I saw on the news recently who was being interviewed about the riots in Manchester. He stated that his twelve year old child was ‘within his rights’ to smash up businesses and steal things because of ‘all the Polish people’.
Oh yeah, you’re totally right! That makes complete sense.
Dick.
Bruton did an all too great job at creating a character that was so frustrating (especially in the way he spoke to Ben and Jed) and, unfortunately, extremely realistic. Every time he was on the page I was left with a really bad taste in my mouth.
I wanted more pictures! I think this book would have been great with the addition of more of Ben’s drawings (Like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ). Just the descriptions alone were gorgeous and vivid and I would have loved to see more of them.
A lot happened in the last few pages of the book and I couldn’t help but think that this book would have been better if the action had been spread out a bit.
Hero(es…potentially)/Heroine.
Oh my gosh, Ben. I just wanted to cuddle him and tell him that everything will be OK and then drink fizzy pop with him and read Manga comics with him and pretend I have an idea of what is going on in them. It broke my heart how Ben was almost afraid to grieve for both of his parents and ask questions (he creates lists of questions he wants to ask but doesn’t show them anyone) because he feels that his feelings don’t matter or that he wasn’t supposed to ask them because everyone will think he’s being dramatic. I have to admit there were many a-time where I got a bit misty eyed in this book. Ben was just a little sweetheart.
And he’s also a brilliant doodler… so yeah.
And Priti. Oh I loved this girl. She was so over the top and mouthy and exactly like most 11 year olds you see scooting around on those blimmin’ annoying wheelie shoes.
And her outfits sounded exactly like something I would wearnow when I was 11. *shifty look*
Which brings me to Jed, Ben’s cousin. You see, I really wanted to like Jed and he did make me laugh on numerous occasions. But Jed, mate, the reasons why I didn’t like you as much as the others weren’t because of you. I promise. It’s just your Dad did a real number on you, didn’t he?
It angered me so much because his father’s prejudice ways (his father is Uncle Ian, by the way) had seeped into him and how you see it all the time. There is this hatred and ignorance passed on from generation to generation and it makes me so frustrated.
But… I like to think that Jed will break this chain. And he will if this next lady has anything to do with it…
Granny
Best. Granny. EVER. She really reminded me of my grandma (The giddiest 88 year old dodgem car extraordinaire who still makes A MILLION puddings because ‘She doesn’t know what we all like’. Hmm. It’s been 22 years, Grandma. I swear she has an agenda because she is of firm belief that girls should be ‘pleasingly plump’…. ) and I just loved her.
I would love to spend the summer with her looking at old pictures with her and playing chess (or… um, learning how to play chess) and munching on Garibaldi biscuits.
Theme Tune.
Race You - Elizabeth & the Catapult.
I want to be a kid again. Well… actually, I just want to wear my hair in bunches again.
Angst Level.
9/10. It’s funny that I read this book just now because it was only recently that I was discussing the depiction of mental illness in YA books with Catie and Cassi. We came to the conclusion that the best books about depression were written for 9-12 year old readers (of course, there are exceptions) and ‘We Can Be Heroes’ definitely fits within this category. It was clear that Bruton knew exactly what she was talking about when it came to talking about all aspects of mental illness and she addressed all the difficult emotions that come hand in hand with it.
I’m only touching the tip of the ice berg with the issues that are covered in this book but to mention them would give too much away.
Recommended For.
People who like books that explore the grittier subjects. People who miss being a kid. People who like biscuits. People who talk like a gangsta rapper when they get excited. People who wish they were superheroes and the star of their own comic book. People who know what Manga is and wouldn’t get confused when you realised you were reading it back to front even though the author states you need to start from the back. People who like to make up stories about their neighbours even if they have never spoken to them (We call the man who lives opposite us Poirot because he… well, looks like 'ercule.) People who want to build tree houses. People who wish a van full of delicious Indian snacks would come round their street on a regular occasion. People who like to use Jane Austen books to punish their kids.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting stuff on my blog here.
"Priti looks at me and raises her eyebrows. “If you don’t understand the vast cultural difference between the Disney anti-feminist-merchandising machine crap and an Anne Hathaway classic, you’re not going to make it far in the world of animation,” she says."
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
In your FACE. But yay Granny.
High Points.
Ben… aww. Cutie. Priti. Imagination. Childhood innocence. Tree houses. Binoculars. Cartoons (sorry.. Manga. I’m not even going to pretend to know about Manga, the only experience I have in things like that is when the TV got stuck on a Pokemon marathon.) Doodling. Wheelie shoes. Girls in bunches. Cornershop sweets. Lists. Memory boxes. Biscuits. Grannies. Street parties. Curries. Honour killing by Jane Austen. Racially sensitive topics. Pointing out the absurdity of political correctness out of control … No one cares that Baa Baa was a black sheep. He could be grey or he could be white or he could be fuscia (amazing)… he’s a nursery rhyme character and he just wants to give bags of wool to the master and the dame and the little boy who lives down the lane. Stop fuelling the hatred and driving wedges between people! This book isn’t difficult to follow and I loved how Ms Bruton never tried to keep the reader in the dark over anything. It was fun to read a book where I knew what was going on when the characters didn’t (Well… at least intentionally). A lot of the laughs from this book stemmed from Ben, Priti and Jed letting their imaginations run completely wild (maybe a little bit too wild at some points) in the boredom of Summer.
Low Points.
Uncle Ian. NEVER HAVE I WANTED TO THROTTLE A FICTIONAL CHARACTER MORE THAN THIS JOKE. Seriously… he really reminded me of the twonk I saw on the news recently who was being interviewed about the riots in Manchester. He stated that his twelve year old child was ‘within his rights’ to smash up businesses and steal things because of ‘all the Polish people’.
Oh yeah, you’re totally right! That makes complete sense.
Dick.
Bruton did an all too great job at creating a character that was so frustrating (especially in the way he spoke to Ben and Jed) and, unfortunately, extremely realistic. Every time he was on the page I was left with a really bad taste in my mouth.
I wanted more pictures! I think this book would have been great with the addition of more of Ben’s drawings (Like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ). Just the descriptions alone were gorgeous and vivid and I would have loved to see more of them.
A lot happened in the last few pages of the book and I couldn’t help but think that this book would have been better if the action had been spread out a bit.
Hero(es…potentially)/Heroine.
Oh my gosh, Ben. I just wanted to cuddle him and tell him that everything will be OK and then drink fizzy pop with him and read Manga comics with him and pretend I have an idea of what is going on in them. It broke my heart how Ben was almost afraid to grieve for both of his parents and ask questions (he creates lists of questions he wants to ask but doesn’t show them anyone) because he feels that his feelings don’t matter or that he wasn’t supposed to ask them because everyone will think he’s being dramatic. I have to admit there were many a-time where I got a bit misty eyed in this book. Ben was just a little sweetheart.
And he’s also a brilliant doodler… so yeah.
And Priti. Oh I loved this girl. She was so over the top and mouthy and exactly like most 11 year olds you see scooting around on those blimmin’ annoying wheelie shoes.
And her outfits sounded exactly like something I would wear
Which brings me to Jed, Ben’s cousin. You see, I really wanted to like Jed and he did make me laugh on numerous occasions. But Jed, mate, the reasons why I didn’t like you as much as the others weren’t because of you. I promise. It’s just your Dad did a real number on you, didn’t he?
It angered me so much because his father’s prejudice ways (his father is Uncle Ian, by the way) had seeped into him and how you see it all the time. There is this hatred and ignorance passed on from generation to generation and it makes me so frustrated.
But… I like to think that Jed will break this chain. And he will if this next lady has anything to do with it…
Granny
Best. Granny. EVER. She really reminded me of my grandma (The giddiest 88 year old dodgem car extraordinaire who still makes A MILLION puddings because ‘She doesn’t know what we all like’. Hmm. It’s been 22 years, Grandma. I swear she has an agenda because she is of firm belief that girls should be ‘pleasingly plump’…. ) and I just loved her.
I would love to spend the summer with her looking at old pictures with her and playing chess (or… um, learning how to play chess) and munching on Garibaldi biscuits.
Theme Tune.
Race You - Elizabeth & the Catapult.
I want to be a kid again. Well… actually, I just want to wear my hair in bunches again.
Angst Level.
9/10. It’s funny that I read this book just now because it was only recently that I was discussing the depiction of mental illness in YA books with Catie and Cassi. We came to the conclusion that the best books about depression were written for 9-12 year old readers (of course, there are exceptions) and ‘We Can Be Heroes’ definitely fits within this category. It was clear that Bruton knew exactly what she was talking about when it came to talking about all aspects of mental illness and she addressed all the difficult emotions that come hand in hand with it.
I’m only touching the tip of the ice berg with the issues that are covered in this book but to mention them would give too much away.
Recommended For.
People who like books that explore the grittier subjects. People who miss being a kid. People who like biscuits. People who talk like a gangsta rapper when they get excited. People who wish they were superheroes and the star of their own comic book. People who know what Manga is and wouldn’t get confused when you realised you were reading it back to front even though the author states you need to start from the back. People who like to make up stories about their neighbours even if they have never spoken to them (We call the man who lives opposite us Poirot because he… well, looks like 'ercule.) People who want to build tree houses. People who wish a van full of delicious Indian snacks would come round their street on a regular occasion. People who like to use Jane Austen books to punish their kids.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting stuff on my blog here.
August 28, 2011
Review posted at
Amaterasu Reads
I still remember that night when I woke up and my mom was staring at the TV in shock. That was September 11, the day of the 9/11 bombing in the U.S. I think that will be forever etched in my mind, so a book written inspired by the 9/11 events will never go unnoticed by me.
A lot of families lost their loved ones that day of the terrorist attack, like 12 year old Ben. True to the summary, this book isn't just about that, but of Ben and his friends Preeti and Jed and what happened to them that summer.
Ben is a kid you would just like to hug, a kid you couldn't help but love. He was afraid to grieve for his parents because people will think he's being overly dramatic. And for a 12 year old to think of that just breaks my heart. And the hardships he has faced dealing with his mom's eating habits, that's a lot for a 12 year old who has also lost a father to take. Also, Preeti is so funny! She sounds very intelligent for an 11 year old, and I love how she always babbles, saying she's just trying to help cousins get rid of their emotional baggages. How can an 11 year old say that?
I loved this book for a number of reason. I was first skeptical when I first read that this is appeals to younger audiences, but I am glad I gave this a chance. Even with the MG feel of the book, readers will be able to relate to it in some ways. I feel like I'm seeing a younger version of myself through Ben, Jed and Preeti. How I had fun when I was young, with a very active imagination! Also, I love how hilarious this is. I've had quite a good laugh while I was reading this book. As if that isn't enough, there's also a very cute carton illustration in the end, which made the book more enjoyable than it already is.
We Can Be Heroes is not just all about fun. It also tackles issues like racism, through the eyes of children like Ben, Jed and Preeti. It's also about family, dealing with loss and grief, done in a very entertaining way. It was evident that Catherine Bruton knew what she was writing about with the way she presented sensitive issues and topics in this book. It tackled stereotypes, races, terrorism in a very good way.
We Can Be Heroes made me feel like a kid again, made me look back at those times and reflect on how good those times were. It also made me appreciate my family in a lot of ways, and seeing the friendship formed between all three children was so heart warming, that even when times were difficult they can still have fun. Set aside a few hours of your time and give this book a chance, will you?
I still remember that night when I woke up and my mom was staring at the TV in shock. That was September 11, the day of the 9/11 bombing in the U.S. I think that will be forever etched in my mind, so a book written inspired by the 9/11 events will never go unnoticed by me.
A lot of families lost their loved ones that day of the terrorist attack, like 12 year old Ben. True to the summary, this book isn't just about that, but of Ben and his friends Preeti and Jed and what happened to them that summer.
Ben is a kid you would just like to hug, a kid you couldn't help but love. He was afraid to grieve for his parents because people will think he's being overly dramatic. And for a 12 year old to think of that just breaks my heart. And the hardships he has faced dealing with his mom's eating habits, that's a lot for a 12 year old who has also lost a father to take. Also, Preeti is so funny! She sounds very intelligent for an 11 year old, and I love how she always babbles, saying she's just trying to help cousins get rid of their emotional baggages. How can an 11 year old say that?
I loved this book for a number of reason. I was first skeptical when I first read that this is appeals to younger audiences, but I am glad I gave this a chance. Even with the MG feel of the book, readers will be able to relate to it in some ways. I feel like I'm seeing a younger version of myself through Ben, Jed and Preeti. How I had fun when I was young, with a very active imagination! Also, I love how hilarious this is. I've had quite a good laugh while I was reading this book. As if that isn't enough, there's also a very cute carton illustration in the end, which made the book more enjoyable than it already is.
We Can Be Heroes is not just all about fun. It also tackles issues like racism, through the eyes of children like Ben, Jed and Preeti. It's also about family, dealing with loss and grief, done in a very entertaining way. It was evident that Catherine Bruton knew what she was writing about with the way she presented sensitive issues and topics in this book. It tackled stereotypes, races, terrorism in a very good way.
We Can Be Heroes made me feel like a kid again, made me look back at those times and reflect on how good those times were. It also made me appreciate my family in a lot of ways, and seeing the friendship formed between all three children was so heart warming, that even when times were difficult they can still have fun. Set aside a few hours of your time and give this book a chance, will you?
March 13, 2012
Review by Beth
This is a novel which I’ve seen reviewed on other blogs and liked the sound of so when it turned up on my doorstep I was really pleased. It’s not a small book, in fact I think it’s nearly 500 pages if my memory serves me right but the tone and style given to the narrator make it seem manageable and extremely enjoyable.
Now the story is quite intricate but at no point feels complicated. Our narrator is Ben, he’s twelve years old and his dad was killed in 9/11. He’s found himself staying with his grandparents over summer, joined unhappily by his 14 year old cousin Jed and they soon make friends with the street’s new resident Priti Mohammed. Ben is an avid cartoonist and often turns harsh reality into comic strips, which seems to be his way of handling things.
The summer days are whiled away by their extremely active and evidently childish imaginations. As the story begins to unfold it is possible to see all the pitfalls as a reader but equally possible to imagine a pre-teen thinking in this way. From suspicions that Jed is terminally ill to even more sinister assumptions about Priti’s Muslim family it is easy to see how their imaginations get carried away and lead to more serious consequences.
It’s hard to talk about this novel without giving too much away but I think it can definitely be described as a coming of age story with the three main characters learning new things about themselves and their environments. It deals with race issues, family breakups and some very hard-hitting stuff without taking it out of context. Ben’s ability to turn any situation into a comic strip is particularly powerful as it reaffirms age of the protagonist despite the seriousness of the situations they end up in.
My favourite character by a mile is Priti, she’s absolutely hilarious, witty and a perfect complement to Ben’s quiet nature and Jed’s switching between silent brooding and hyperactive destruction. The character I disliked from their first appearance was Uncle Ian, for reasons which will become clear when you give this book a read.
This is a fantastic story which brings together issues of multiculturalism, terrorism and blame. The back story behind many of the events is just as powerful as the plot and this should really be a book which schools should stick on the curriculum.
This is a novel which I’ve seen reviewed on other blogs and liked the sound of so when it turned up on my doorstep I was really pleased. It’s not a small book, in fact I think it’s nearly 500 pages if my memory serves me right but the tone and style given to the narrator make it seem manageable and extremely enjoyable.
Now the story is quite intricate but at no point feels complicated. Our narrator is Ben, he’s twelve years old and his dad was killed in 9/11. He’s found himself staying with his grandparents over summer, joined unhappily by his 14 year old cousin Jed and they soon make friends with the street’s new resident Priti Mohammed. Ben is an avid cartoonist and often turns harsh reality into comic strips, which seems to be his way of handling things.
The summer days are whiled away by their extremely active and evidently childish imaginations. As the story begins to unfold it is possible to see all the pitfalls as a reader but equally possible to imagine a pre-teen thinking in this way. From suspicions that Jed is terminally ill to even more sinister assumptions about Priti’s Muslim family it is easy to see how their imaginations get carried away and lead to more serious consequences.
It’s hard to talk about this novel without giving too much away but I think it can definitely be described as a coming of age story with the three main characters learning new things about themselves and their environments. It deals with race issues, family breakups and some very hard-hitting stuff without taking it out of context. Ben’s ability to turn any situation into a comic strip is particularly powerful as it reaffirms age of the protagonist despite the seriousness of the situations they end up in.
My favourite character by a mile is Priti, she’s absolutely hilarious, witty and a perfect complement to Ben’s quiet nature and Jed’s switching between silent brooding and hyperactive destruction. The character I disliked from their first appearance was Uncle Ian, for reasons which will become clear when you give this book a read.
This is a fantastic story which brings together issues of multiculturalism, terrorism and blame. The back story behind many of the events is just as powerful as the plot and this should really be a book which schools should stick on the curriculum.
July 29, 2011
‘We Can Be Heroes’ is Catherine Bruton’s debut novel. From the first few pages we learn that the main character Ben, lost his Dad in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in America. This sets the tone for a book which doesn’t hold back from exploring and confronting difficult subjects.
Ben is staying with his grandparents for the summer. The reason for his mother’s absence is hinted at but never explicitly explained. He soon makes friends with Priti, a young Muslim girl in the neighbourhood and they are joined by his cousin Jed who has also come to stay. Over the course of the summer, they learn to tackle family issues, grief and bereavement, whilst also learning about the people around them.
One of the main themes of the book is racial intolerance and prejudice. Some of the characters in the story are very quick to judge others by the way they dress, the colour of their skin or their religion. This causes disharmony between them and illustrates the irrational way in which people make snap judgements or assessments about each other or discriminate wrongly on the basis of race.
The topic of 9/11 is also predominant throughout. This is a tough issue to write about but I felt that Catherine Bruton tackled it bravely and in such a way that it was handled sensitively and with great insight. It wasn’t written about in a gratuitous way but explored the impact and aftermath of this event on the relatives of the people that died that day.
One of my favourite things about the book was the way in which Ben is forever drawing pictures and comics and envisions speech bubbles and weird and wonderful outfits for the people in the story. There is a short manga comic at the back of the book which is the culmination of Ben’s work and which is awesome!
Although not normally the sort of book I would pick up and read, I found 'We Can Be Heroes' an interesting, engaging and thought provoking read which delivers a powerful message about today's society.
Ben is staying with his grandparents for the summer. The reason for his mother’s absence is hinted at but never explicitly explained. He soon makes friends with Priti, a young Muslim girl in the neighbourhood and they are joined by his cousin Jed who has also come to stay. Over the course of the summer, they learn to tackle family issues, grief and bereavement, whilst also learning about the people around them.
One of the main themes of the book is racial intolerance and prejudice. Some of the characters in the story are very quick to judge others by the way they dress, the colour of their skin or their religion. This causes disharmony between them and illustrates the irrational way in which people make snap judgements or assessments about each other or discriminate wrongly on the basis of race.
The topic of 9/11 is also predominant throughout. This is a tough issue to write about but I felt that Catherine Bruton tackled it bravely and in such a way that it was handled sensitively and with great insight. It wasn’t written about in a gratuitous way but explored the impact and aftermath of this event on the relatives of the people that died that day.
One of my favourite things about the book was the way in which Ben is forever drawing pictures and comics and envisions speech bubbles and weird and wonderful outfits for the people in the story. There is a short manga comic at the back of the book which is the culmination of Ben’s work and which is awesome!
Although not normally the sort of book I would pick up and read, I found 'We Can Be Heroes' an interesting, engaging and thought provoking read which delivers a powerful message about today's society.
February 5, 2012
Also reviewed on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.com/201...
This is a book I instantly fell in love with from the first page.
The narrative is so different and I was sucked straight into the story which really surprised me.
We Can Be Heroes deals with a lot of issues that are normally quite hard to read about. Racism, mental health, bereavements, separations and gangs; they are all a big part of the story from the eyes of a 12 year old boy.
Reading the story from the person of a 12 year old boy named Ben was pretty amazing and really clever. It had this innocence to it that was funny and adorable at times. Parts of the book would take me back to when I was that age and parts made me laugh because of the situations the young characters would get themselves into.
It was really great that the book was about serious topics but at the same time made me laugh. That's really rare in a book I think because it doesn't always work. We Can Be Heroes deals with stereotypes such as Muslims being terrorists because of 9/11 and although it was such a tragic day, tackling the subject by having a little Muslim girl trying to get evidence of her brother being a terrorist was pure genius in my opinion. Being a Muslim myself these stereotypes are quite hard to deal with but this book looked at it in such a new light that it couldn't do anything but open my mind to different ways of thinking about all sorts of stereotypes not just in relation to 9/11. It really makes you think hard.
In my opinion, this book is seriously underrated and I would love to see what other people think about it. I strongly urge you to have a go at it because you won't be disappointed!
This is a book I instantly fell in love with from the first page.
The narrative is so different and I was sucked straight into the story which really surprised me.
We Can Be Heroes deals with a lot of issues that are normally quite hard to read about. Racism, mental health, bereavements, separations and gangs; they are all a big part of the story from the eyes of a 12 year old boy.
Reading the story from the person of a 12 year old boy named Ben was pretty amazing and really clever. It had this innocence to it that was funny and adorable at times. Parts of the book would take me back to when I was that age and parts made me laugh because of the situations the young characters would get themselves into.
It was really great that the book was about serious topics but at the same time made me laugh. That's really rare in a book I think because it doesn't always work. We Can Be Heroes deals with stereotypes such as Muslims being terrorists because of 9/11 and although it was such a tragic day, tackling the subject by having a little Muslim girl trying to get evidence of her brother being a terrorist was pure genius in my opinion. Being a Muslim myself these stereotypes are quite hard to deal with but this book looked at it in such a new light that it couldn't do anything but open my mind to different ways of thinking about all sorts of stereotypes not just in relation to 9/11. It really makes you think hard.
In my opinion, this book is seriously underrated and I would love to see what other people think about it. I strongly urge you to have a go at it because you won't be disappointed!
July 23, 2011
Clarification: 4.5 stars
Review originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com
Ever since 12 year old Ben’s dad died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his mum has been acting strange. They’ve coped with it- her OCD eating habits, the way she hides in herself- but now it’s just too much. She’s being looked after by doctors now, and Ben is with his grandparents in the Midlands, living a summer of tree houses, bomb threats, and crazy parents…
For anyone afraid that We Can Be Heroes is ‘just for kids’- as I mistakenly thought as I accepted a copy from Egmont- don’t worry. We Can Be Heroes may be centred around Ben’s broken family, but Catherine Bruton has ensured that it has something in it for everyone, of any age. Parents will see their kids in the characters; grandparents their grandchildren. I saw myself and my friends when we were young and had overactive imaginations. Because that’s what We Can Be Heroes is all about- childhood dreaming. And anyone can relate to that.
What surprised me about We Can Be Heroes is the sheer hilarity of it all, particularly the first half of the novel. Ben, Jed, and Priti’s crazy ideas serve for some amusement but the most comes from Priti, an over-intelligent 11-and-a-quarter year old who, in her own words, is helping Ben and Jed to “let go of their emotional baggage”. Her constant stream of intelligent babble had me smiling, in similar ways to the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, except it’s less philosophical and more diagnostic. read more...
Review originally posted on ThirstforFiction.com
Ever since 12 year old Ben’s dad died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his mum has been acting strange. They’ve coped with it- her OCD eating habits, the way she hides in herself- but now it’s just too much. She’s being looked after by doctors now, and Ben is with his grandparents in the Midlands, living a summer of tree houses, bomb threats, and crazy parents…
For anyone afraid that We Can Be Heroes is ‘just for kids’- as I mistakenly thought as I accepted a copy from Egmont- don’t worry. We Can Be Heroes may be centred around Ben’s broken family, but Catherine Bruton has ensured that it has something in it for everyone, of any age. Parents will see their kids in the characters; grandparents their grandchildren. I saw myself and my friends when we were young and had overactive imaginations. Because that’s what We Can Be Heroes is all about- childhood dreaming. And anyone can relate to that.
What surprised me about We Can Be Heroes is the sheer hilarity of it all, particularly the first half of the novel. Ben, Jed, and Priti’s crazy ideas serve for some amusement but the most comes from Priti, an over-intelligent 11-and-a-quarter year old who, in her own words, is helping Ben and Jed to “let go of their emotional baggage”. Her constant stream of intelligent babble had me smiling, in similar ways to the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, except it’s less philosophical and more diagnostic. read more...
August 25, 2016
I found this book a little bit slow in the beginning, as all the various storylines are set up. But things soon get going and the characters are so well drawn, that I warmed to them very quickly. Ben is the narrator, and has been sent to live with his grandparents while his mother is recovering from an illness. His dad died in 9/11 and Ben does not remember him. Also at his grandparents for the summer is his cousin Jed. A boy who hangs on every word his bitter father says, which has led him to cut his mother out of his life. Jed's father Ian is an angry man who blames all Muslims for what happened to his brother. Across the street lives Priti, an Asian girl, with a very vivid imagination. She believes her older sister Zara is at risk of being a victim of an honour killing, due to her involvement with local white thug Tyreese. When her, Jed and Ben join forces, their pasts, uncertainties and imaginations create even more drama, as they begin to suspect Priti's older brother Shakeel of being a suicide bomber. There is a lot going on, and several storylines to follow, all of which culminate in a very dramatic and explosive ending. I couldn't put the book down towards the end and felt increasingly sorry for the three mixed up children. I bought this for my daughter and I think she is going to love it! Lots of difficult issues tackled in a sensitive and witty manner.
August 16, 2011
I read We Can Be Heroes in one day, it's definitely 'unputdownable'.
It follows the story of Ben, whose dad died in the September 11th attacks. He is staying with is grandparents for the Summer because his Mum is unwell, having suffered some kind of breakdown. His cousin Jed is also staying, as his Dad has stopped him seeing his own Mum, following the breakdown of their marriage. They meet their new neighbour, Preeti, and become involved in a number of situations involving honour killings, suicide bombers and a missing child - some of their own imagination and some that are very real.
The book raises a number of issues including race relations, bereavement and family breakdown but it does it in a humourous and moving way that will appeal to 11 - 13 year olds. Ben thinks in cartoons and the comic strip at the end of the book gives an added dimension. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more titles from the author.
It follows the story of Ben, whose dad died in the September 11th attacks. He is staying with is grandparents for the Summer because his Mum is unwell, having suffered some kind of breakdown. His cousin Jed is also staying, as his Dad has stopped him seeing his own Mum, following the breakdown of their marriage. They meet their new neighbour, Preeti, and become involved in a number of situations involving honour killings, suicide bombers and a missing child - some of their own imagination and some that are very real.
The book raises a number of issues including race relations, bereavement and family breakdown but it does it in a humourous and moving way that will appeal to 11 - 13 year olds. Ben thinks in cartoons and the comic strip at the end of the book gives an added dimension. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more titles from the author.
January 25, 2016
this book was interesting n the dynamic between the main kids was believable!!! all the characters were interesting and just that little bit frustrating
December 11, 2020
This audiobook has an amazingly talented narrator who completely brought to life these characters. The story was so poignant, with its insights into familial relationships of all kinds: cousins, older & younger siblings of both sexes, grandparents & grandchildren, divorcing parents, etc. The author handled these complex issues so deftly and lightly, it was a delight to listen to.
March 17, 2020
It was okay, but it wasn’t very enthralling to me. I get the message though. And the interaction with the cousins is sad and then heartwarming and then sad again.
November 30, 2024
I read it as a teenager and I remember saying awake until like 4 am until I finished it because I couldn’t put it down.
September 12, 2011
I read this in the build up to the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and it did everything to remind me how I should feel about those terrible events, how I need to fight intolerance with tolerance, hatred with friendship and prejudice with open mindedness. I know I’m sounding a bit preachy now but this is honestly how I felt after reading this book, it’s a real affirmation.
Some authors are just so adept at getting inside the head of a kid and talking through their mouths and Catherine Bruton has definitely earned that accolade, it’s almost as if she taped 11-13 year olds and transcribed their dialogue, it is that pitch perfect. Ben makes a really endearing character to walk through this story with and I love the way his imagination mostly takes place in the form of doodles and cartoon strips. I think my favourite character, however, has to be Priti with her verbal diarrhoea and lack of restraint in what she says. She’s a real say-as-you-find character that both Ben and his cousin Jed really need to work through their problems. Boys tend to bottle up their feelings but with Priti around this is just not allowed so she is really an undercover therapist for the other characters.
Perhaps the most effective aspect of the book is the way that on the surface there’s a real sense of pre-teen adventure but simmering below are a lot of pretty hardcore and relevant issues, most notably hostility towards Muslims. I really appreciate the sharp contrast between the explicit racism of the older characters (Ben’s uncle and grandfather) and the unabashed acceptance of the younger characters. Ben never comments on Priti’s background, he gets to know her and her family as he would any other person and accepts them as his friends without any judgement. His uncle and grandfather, however, immediately dig a racist trench to wage a war of prejudice before they have even made the effort to know their neighbours. The mad thing is, Ben is the one that of all of them should be prejudiced but is exactly the opposite. It’s awful to think that this goes on in Britain but you know it does and Catherine Bruton really smacks you round the face with it. Better to confront it in a book for teens than do the British thing and ignore it.
We Can Be Heroes is such an effective and enjoyable book written incredibly well in a style that completely avoids forcing an opinion on the reader. Catherine Bruton simply puts the situation out there for you to react to it in your own way, although she’ll make you squirm with shame along the way. She has so successfully captured the realities of these issues that it’s hard not to worry but makes me grateful that I was brought up to be like Ben. There are so many different reactions to racism in the book – violence, dismissal, encouragement – but I have to say I like Priti’s reaction the best: to outwit it. She definitely has the most mature attitude despite the fact that she’s the youngest character!
Lyrical Reviews
@LyricalReviews
Goodreads Group: No Dark Romance Allowed
Some authors are just so adept at getting inside the head of a kid and talking through their mouths and Catherine Bruton has definitely earned that accolade, it’s almost as if she taped 11-13 year olds and transcribed their dialogue, it is that pitch perfect. Ben makes a really endearing character to walk through this story with and I love the way his imagination mostly takes place in the form of doodles and cartoon strips. I think my favourite character, however, has to be Priti with her verbal diarrhoea and lack of restraint in what she says. She’s a real say-as-you-find character that both Ben and his cousin Jed really need to work through their problems. Boys tend to bottle up their feelings but with Priti around this is just not allowed so she is really an undercover therapist for the other characters.
Perhaps the most effective aspect of the book is the way that on the surface there’s a real sense of pre-teen adventure but simmering below are a lot of pretty hardcore and relevant issues, most notably hostility towards Muslims. I really appreciate the sharp contrast between the explicit racism of the older characters (Ben’s uncle and grandfather) and the unabashed acceptance of the younger characters. Ben never comments on Priti’s background, he gets to know her and her family as he would any other person and accepts them as his friends without any judgement. His uncle and grandfather, however, immediately dig a racist trench to wage a war of prejudice before they have even made the effort to know their neighbours. The mad thing is, Ben is the one that of all of them should be prejudiced but is exactly the opposite. It’s awful to think that this goes on in Britain but you know it does and Catherine Bruton really smacks you round the face with it. Better to confront it in a book for teens than do the British thing and ignore it.
We Can Be Heroes is such an effective and enjoyable book written incredibly well in a style that completely avoids forcing an opinion on the reader. Catherine Bruton simply puts the situation out there for you to react to it in your own way, although she’ll make you squirm with shame along the way. She has so successfully captured the realities of these issues that it’s hard not to worry but makes me grateful that I was brought up to be like Ben. There are so many different reactions to racism in the book – violence, dismissal, encouragement – but I have to say I like Priti’s reaction the best: to outwit it. She definitely has the most mature attitude despite the fact that she’s the youngest character!
Lyrical Reviews
@LyricalReviews
Goodreads Group: No Dark Romance Allowed
December 8, 2011
We Can Be Heroes is an impressive debut from Catherine Bruton and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next. The story tackles difficult subjects such as racism, gang crime, grief, family separations and mental health issues but it does so in a way that is both humorous and informative.
The story is told through the eyes of 12 year old Ben and he is a great narrator with a fun way of looking at the world - I loved the way he was constantly picturing speech bubbles over people's heads. Ben's father was killed in the 9/11 terror attacks and Ben can barely remember him, his mother has struggled to cope ever since and Ben is sent to live with his grandparents for the summer while his mother is in hospital. Ben's cousin Jed is also staying with his grandparents for the summer while his own parents fight a battle over custody after a messy divorce. Together the two boys befriend their neighbour Priti, a young Muslim girl whose family recently moved to the neighbourhood.
Watching the three friends together will take you back to your own childhood - to the good old days of climbing trees, wheelie shoes (well roller skates in my day!) and making up stories. To happy and carefree summers when you didn't realise how good life was. Although life for Ben, Jed and Priti is far from perfect - they all have their own issues to deal with. You can't help but laugh at their antics though and I read the story surprisingly quickly considering it has nearly 500 pages.
I have to give Catherine Bruton credit for tackling such difficult subjects in a sensitive way and at the same time making it accessible for people of all ages - this story really will have something in it to appeal to everyone from the age of 11 to 111. We Can Be Heroes is a book that will make you think, it gives real insight into racism in the UK today and will hopefully challenge some people's opinions about what is right and wrong. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that is fun but thought provoking.
The story is told through the eyes of 12 year old Ben and he is a great narrator with a fun way of looking at the world - I loved the way he was constantly picturing speech bubbles over people's heads. Ben's father was killed in the 9/11 terror attacks and Ben can barely remember him, his mother has struggled to cope ever since and Ben is sent to live with his grandparents for the summer while his mother is in hospital. Ben's cousin Jed is also staying with his grandparents for the summer while his own parents fight a battle over custody after a messy divorce. Together the two boys befriend their neighbour Priti, a young Muslim girl whose family recently moved to the neighbourhood.
Watching the three friends together will take you back to your own childhood - to the good old days of climbing trees, wheelie shoes (well roller skates in my day!) and making up stories. To happy and carefree summers when you didn't realise how good life was. Although life for Ben, Jed and Priti is far from perfect - they all have their own issues to deal with. You can't help but laugh at their antics though and I read the story surprisingly quickly considering it has nearly 500 pages.
I have to give Catherine Bruton credit for tackling such difficult subjects in a sensitive way and at the same time making it accessible for people of all ages - this story really will have something in it to appeal to everyone from the age of 11 to 111. We Can Be Heroes is a book that will make you think, it gives real insight into racism in the UK today and will hopefully challenge some people's opinions about what is right and wrong. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a book that is fun but thought provoking.
March 3, 2020
This was a brilliant debut book by Catherine Bruton, written in 2011 about an English boy, Ben, whose father died in the twin towers tragedy. He is sent to his paternal grandparents in his 11th summer as his mother has been admitted to hospital because she "stopped eating". There he meets the neighbour's daughter, Priti. Priti is a very engaging character, somewhat precocious, intelligent, imaginative. Ben too is imaginative, and artistic. The cartoons he draws both in his head and on paper are a wonderful detail of this work.
Priti's parents are from Pakistan and are muslims, and before long the two of them are investigating whether Priti's brother might be secretly a suicide bomber. Meanwhile there is Ben's grandfather who holds racist attitudes and loves bad news, but is not a caricatured character -he has depth too. There is also Ben's uncle who is divorced, won't let his son, Ben's cousin Jed, have contact with his mother, and is a more extreme arcist who is clearly involved in a right wing extremist group.
There is also Priti's sister who is seeing a white boy of dubious background, and who will, according to Priti, be honour killed if she is found out.
All this is clearly a bit of a powder keg, with plenty of scope for misunderstanding and conflict, but in the midst of it are three ordinary children leading ordinary, imaginative and fun loving lives.
The book contains a nicely worked humorous counterpoint to what is therefore going to be a hard hitting look at racial hatred, violence, multiculturalism and extremism. It does it very well, not pulling any punches but also not being preachy or onesided.
The character journeys make this a very good read, and I will certainly add this author to my list of those whose books I would read again.
Priti's parents are from Pakistan and are muslims, and before long the two of them are investigating whether Priti's brother might be secretly a suicide bomber. Meanwhile there is Ben's grandfather who holds racist attitudes and loves bad news, but is not a caricatured character -he has depth too. There is also Ben's uncle who is divorced, won't let his son, Ben's cousin Jed, have contact with his mother, and is a more extreme arcist who is clearly involved in a right wing extremist group.
There is also Priti's sister who is seeing a white boy of dubious background, and who will, according to Priti, be honour killed if she is found out.
All this is clearly a bit of a powder keg, with plenty of scope for misunderstanding and conflict, but in the midst of it are three ordinary children leading ordinary, imaginative and fun loving lives.
The book contains a nicely worked humorous counterpoint to what is therefore going to be a hard hitting look at racial hatred, violence, multiculturalism and extremism. It does it very well, not pulling any punches but also not being preachy or onesided.
The character journeys make this a very good read, and I will certainly add this author to my list of those whose books I would read again.
January 27, 2015
I want to preface this review by saying please don't take the length of this review to be any reflection about how I felt about the book. While I don't have reams and reams to say the book itself was one that I really enjoyed and would happily recommend to others.
You will enjoy this book if you read and loved My sister lives on the mantlepiece as I think the message of the story is very similiar. They both feature children who have lost a family member due to a terrorist attack (even though they weren't necessarily affected by that loss as such being so young at the time).
The book was written well and the story flowed nicely meaning it was a quick read despite being a bit of a monster size wise.
The message of the book for me was tackling ignorance surrounding racism which was built up towards people in the UK who are labelled "terrorists" simply because of the faith they choose to follow and this story tried to show both how such stereotypes are wrong and how they grow within a community through theeyes of children. I thought it was done well and I certainly enjoyed reading it.
All in all a lovely debut novel and a book with a good message for teens.
You will enjoy this book if you read and loved My sister lives on the mantlepiece as I think the message of the story is very similiar. They both feature children who have lost a family member due to a terrorist attack (even though they weren't necessarily affected by that loss as such being so young at the time).
The book was written well and the story flowed nicely meaning it was a quick read despite being a bit of a monster size wise.
The message of the book for me was tackling ignorance surrounding racism which was built up towards people in the UK who are labelled "terrorists" simply because of the faith they choose to follow and this story tried to show both how such stereotypes are wrong and how they grow within a community through theeyes of children. I thought it was done well and I certainly enjoyed reading it.
All in all a lovely debut novel and a book with a good message for teens.
January 24, 2012
A slow burner to start with, which seems aimed at younger kids but in the last quarter it changes into something a little more mature.
Countless themes are covered, and covered will from a child's perspective. The characters are well-rounded and complex, not the two-dimensional ones far too often used in literature, both child and adult.
It took a while to get into, and over the first 100 pages or so I really did wonder if I would make it all the way through. The pace accelerates as it goes through, and although the end is a little predictable I like the way it's broken up with lists of questions the central character has about his friends and relatives.
Worth a look if you fancy trying something different.
Countless themes are covered, and covered will from a child's perspective. The characters are well-rounded and complex, not the two-dimensional ones far too often used in literature, both child and adult.
It took a while to get into, and over the first 100 pages or so I really did wonder if I would make it all the way through. The pace accelerates as it goes through, and although the end is a little predictable I like the way it's broken up with lists of questions the central character has about his friends and relatives.
Worth a look if you fancy trying something different.
September 23, 2013
I had a lot to say about this one, but it's been a while since I finished it and as time goes by, it becomes a bit more difficult to articulate all those feelings in blog form. But in short, I loved it. It's so refreshing when a book manages to explore 'issues' without making it obvious that it's exploring the 'issues' - when the story and the characters take precedence over the 'issues' but never belittling their importance in the process. This deals with the after-effects of 9/11 in a bittersweet way - an interesting take on grief and present-day attitudes to race and religion with a authentic and utterly convincing voice. My only criticism is that it was a bit too long, but other than that, highly recommended for slightly younger readers.
August 26, 2014
This is more of a 4.5. When I read the blurb I thought it was probably going to be a bit unrealistic because all these things happen in the span of 2 months. But the author writes it in a way that makes you think 'this could be happening to my neighbour'. I think it dealt with a lot of important issues like racism, 9/11, honour killing and arranged marriages. I enjoyed seeing the way Barry reacted to the Asians moving in because the entire book it is obvious that Rita misses her son where as Barry is harder to understand. I also loved the lists that were randomly added in as I feel it really helped you get into Ben's way of thinking
May 12, 2012
I think this book is good how it explains the life of a grieving child who may not know that they are and how people react when they know that his dad died in 9/11. I also thought it was interesting how Priti dosn't take any insult from the racist comments that are put towards her religion and how strong she is from keeping her emotions she may have about it hidden. When I finished the book I was half surprised about the ending but maybe I expected it to be more exciting so overall I thought it was a really good book :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2013
Not totally realistic, but nevertheless a fascinating insight into the minds and imaginations of children from different cultures, with particular reference to the change in attitude towards Muslims following 9/11.
Definitely a 4 star for lower secondary students, as I think they would relate to the childish machinations more than an adult, though the adult in me was captured by the different roles of the adults (even when I wanted to smack their heads together!).
A believable depiction of how easily the bigoted can blow things out of proportion.
Definitely a 4 star for lower secondary students, as I think they would relate to the childish machinations more than an adult, though the adult in me was captured by the different roles of the adults (even when I wanted to smack their heads together!).
A believable depiction of how easily the bigoted can blow things out of proportion.
August 5, 2013
Ben lost his father in the 9/11 attacks, but lives in Britian. Now his mum has been hospitalised, so he's living with his grandparents. There he meets Priti, a sassy Muslim girl, and gets to know his cousin Jed. The group decide to spy on Priti's brother, who because of his interest in electronics they decide might be a makling bombs. Intersting read, but the mayhew they cause in their community is brushed over very easilt!
August 16, 2019
Literally read this in my Chemistry classes because I was so bored. It kept my interest but I feel like that was only because the other alternative was science. I'm really good at hiding books within textbooks though, so that's good.
December 28, 2013
Really wanted to like this book because of the subject matter (child coping with the loss of parent in 9/11), but just couldn't. Characters just didn't seem authentic. Stereotypes were also an issue. Overall not very believable funny or genuine .... too contrived.
August 22, 2011
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to review my own book. Am I? Hmm! It would feel more modest to give myself only 3 stars but my hubbie is adamant I hve to go for five! I await strict tellings off!
January 14, 2012
What a rare situation for me. I was so bored with the book, what I managed to plough through, that I was grateful for the language and the reason it gave me to put it down and walk away.
January 18, 2013
auf Deutsch: der Nine-Eleven-Junge
ein Schnäppchen aus dem Buchregal meines Sohnes - lesenswert!!
ein Schnäppchen aus dem Buchregal meines Sohnes - lesenswert!!
August 7, 2013
The only thing I didn't enjoy about this was the age gap between the characters and myself, perhaps I left it a little too long on my shelf, a lovely read.
July 2, 2014
Actually quite good in the end.
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March 25, 2015This book is about the summer we built a tree house, joined the bomb squad and both found our mums again.
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