My Brother's Hero

by Adrian Fogelin

An unexpected turn of events pushes Ben Floyd out of his normal small neighborhood routine, and into an unexpected appreciation for his old life.

Ben Floyd has a lot on his mind. In only eighteen months he will be old enough to get a learner's permit to drive, but that seems like a lifetime away. Ben enjoys the close-knit group of friends in his small neighborhood, but lately he has been longing for a taste of adventure. Keeping an eye on his younger brother Cody is getting to be a big responsibility. And he is confused by complicated feelings he has for his lifelong friend, Cass.

When the Floyd family ends up in the Florida Keys over Christmas vacation, Ben gains a welcome opportunity to escape his routines. He meets Mica, an independent, strong-willed girl who lives a nomadic life aboard a boat with her marine biologist father.

Together Ben, Cody, and Mica explore the interior canals and coastal waterways, but Ben soon realizes that adventure sometimes brings danger, and that at the center of Mica's seemingly charmed life lies a mysterious loneliness.

Young readers will relate to Ben's conflicting feelings and growing restlessness as they experience this realistic, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous portrait of adolescence by award-winning author Adrian Fogelin.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2002

About the author

Adrian Fogelin is the author of several novels for middle readers and young adults, including Crossing Jordan and The Real Question. She lives in Florida.

Reviews

[Hagan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 3rd in a series ("Crossing Jordan", "Anna Casey's Place in the World", and "My Brother's Hero") about some kids from a North Florida neighborhood. They get a chance to spend time in the Florida Keys. The characters are very realistic. The story has things any 4th grade through early high school has experienced: The excitement and risks of adventure, the first dawnings of girl-boy relationships as well as the fun and anxiety of growing up. To them, it will be a great adventure story set in the colorful Florida Keys full of exotic ocean life! It has a great climax that will keep them riveted.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I've been waiting to read about Ben since "Crossing Jordan."

I wasn't a huge fan of how they took the sweet budding romance between Cass and Ben and cheapened it by having Ben discover that Cass had developed "boobs." Perhaps this is actually how boys' brains operate, but since the first two books seemed aimed toward girls, the whole scene was somewhat off-putting. It wasn't inappropriate, I just found it rather crass.

There were a couple of cuss words, just as a parental warning.

But overall, it's a really sweet story. I didn't feel like the title really fit though, since other than Ben being somewhat annoyed with his younger brother's adoration, him being the "hero" never really came into play. It was more of a story about him trying to find his independence, dealing with a younger girl's attention and deciphering his feelings for his best friend.

I could certainly empathize with Ben regarding Mica and how she somehow had all of the adults wrapped around her finger. Kids often find it hard when they're told they should act one way, but another child can act contrary. Kids aren't told the whole story, just that they should be nice and play with the other child. They aren't told the tragedies of their home life.

This book does deal with alcoholism and parental neglect, as well.

Overall, great book, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it to the targeted audience. Maybe high school.

[Mrs. M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was great for a 4th through 6th grader I think, an interesting story and not bad, but as I read young adult books, this was a bit too young.

[Sophia Barsuhn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to a four than a two, but still a three. I really loved the dynamic between Mica and Ben, but I never quite got a sense of being in the Keys or of sailing in a Zodiac, which is a problem when most of the book hinges on being somewhere new and having adventures. Still, I’m excited to see if Mica and Anna will ever meet in a future book, and I really do love the budding romance between Ben and Cass.

[Judy Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me how much I love the keys.

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un roman tout simple, mignon, attendrissant, très doux et qui procure un bien fou. Un roman au rythme nonchalant, bercé par le bruit de l'océan et des jeux d'enfance. Dix jours de vacances en famille, avec une rencontre qui donne le poids aux sentiments qu'on nourrit pour ses proches, ses amis et ses amoureux. Un roman d'apprentissage très calme, sans trame particulière, et qui se contente d'étaler l'insouciance derrière les non-dits.

[Trae Maeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really good. It is based on a Florida family, and takes place around Christmas time. I highly recomend this book to anyone who likes books that are down to earth, and that they feel they can relate to.

[Angel]

I like the descriptions of the Florida Keys. I vacation in the same area every Christmas.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to meet and spend the day with author, Adrian Fogelin. What a wonderful, creative, inspirational woman!

[Austinratliff]

I liked this book because it can relate to anybody who has a little sibling. I hope people read this and other of Adrian Fogelins books.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) I was quite surprised though at some of the language used! I guess I don't really know much about Adrian Fogelin's writing at all!! Bothersome-_0

[Annelise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book forever ago but I just want to point out the best line of the whole book that I just remembered and use daily, "you are SO lactose-intolerant"

[Dione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent character development and story line. Especially enjoyed the Florida setting.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a little brother like Cody can be very exasperating at times. Especially when he follows you everywhere and Mom and Dad tell you that it's your responsibility to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. Yeah, right. Here's an example of what I mean (read pg 24 "Me and Cody lay on our bellies ... and end with pg 25 "disappearing pea trick.") And so our adventure to Bert's Marina began and you're never going to believe who turned out to be my brother's hero!

[Ava Dato]

The book My Brother's hero is about this kid that can his permit in 18 months but is so stressed cause he has so much on his mind. His lifelong friend are responsible for watching his little brother Cody. But then some random events happened out of no where so an unexpected events happened over christmas break were someone offers ben a welcome opportunity to escape the neighborhood. Him and his friends meet up to aboard a boat with one of his friends father. But after being on the boat of the flordia keys he realized that the adventures of hanging out with her and friends was dangerous and very adventurous And in those moments he put his courage to test. In this book the main subject is about feelings and finding what he thinks is fun and cool to do and what he would like to do in stead of being in a boring neighborhood and do the same routine over and over again every night.

[Terry]

This is an exceptional novel for pre-teens and teens alike. Adrian Fogelin has mastered the art of capturing tweeners with terrific stories, believable characters, and a keen sense of humor.
Read the full review at the Reading Tub.