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The Trouble with Heroes
Bestselling and award-winning author Kate Messner takes readers on a heart-filling journey as a boy finds his path to healing.
One summer.
46 mountain peaks.
A second chance to make things right.
Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger until he died two years ago. Finn's about to fail seventh grade and has never made headlines . . . until now.
Caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he's in big trouble for kicking down some dead old lady's headstone. But it turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer...climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks with her dead mother's dog, and they can call it even.
In a wild three months of misadventures, mountain mud, and unexpected mentors, Finn begins to find his way on the trails. At the top of each peak, he can see for miles and slowly begins to understand more about himself and his dad. But the mountains don't care about any of that, and as the clock ticks down to September, they have more surprises in store. Finn's final summit challenge may be more than even a hero can face.
One summer.
46 mountain peaks.
A second chance to make things right.
Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger until he died two years ago. Finn's about to fail seventh grade and has never made headlines . . . until now.
Caught on camera vandalizing a cemetery, he's in big trouble for kicking down some dead old lady's headstone. But it turns out that grave belongs to a legendary local mountain climber, and her daughter makes Finn an unusual offer...climb all forty-six Adirondack High Peaks with her dead mother's dog, and they can call it even.
In a wild three months of misadventures, mountain mud, and unexpected mentors, Finn begins to find his way on the trails. At the top of each peak, he can see for miles and slowly begins to understand more about himself and his dad. But the mountains don't care about any of that, and as the clock ticks down to September, they have more surprises in store. Finn's final summit challenge may be more than even a hero can face.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2025
144 people are currently reading
7638 people want to read
About the author
Kate Messner
148 books1,693 followersKate Messner is an award-winning author, TED 2012 speaker, and former middle school English teacher. Her books for kids include THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.,SUGAR AND ICE, and EYE OF THE STORM (Walker/Bloomsbury Dec. 2010) the MARTY MCGUIRE series (Scholastic), SEA MONSTER'S FIRST DAY, and OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW (Chronicle, Books). Kate also wrote SPITFIRE and CHAMPLAIN AND THE SILENT ONE, both Lake Champlain historical novels published by North Country Books.
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
Kate lives with her family on Lake Champlain, where she loves to read, write, hike, swing on birch trees, and eat chocolate. She also hangs out in various places online.
Visit Kate's website: http://www.katemessner.com
Find Kate on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/KateMessner
...or follow her on Twitter - @katemessner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 752 reviews
January 9, 2026
(3.5) This was a really touching story and I loved the character development we saw with our main character Finn. I mean.. man was he hard to follow at the start of this book, so it was nice to see him in a different place by the end. While I enjoyed this, there were just several unrealistic pieces that took me out of the story and altered my experience with it.
October 19, 2025
"I am not lost in the woods or being stalked by a panther or getting swatted by a bear." I laughed every time the main character Finn texted this to his mother.
Mack Gordon does such an excellent job with the audio that I felt he brought to life. This book is heartbreaking and so funny I found myself laughing aloud. Such a cute depiction from a child's mind as he navigates life and heartache. Finn is angry with the world after the death of his dad. The book begins with his punishment for vandalizing a headstone. The headstone belonged to the famous Edna Grace who was known for climbing 46 peaks with her dog Seymour. Finn was caught on video and Edna's daughter wants him to pay but not by way of the law, but to have him climb over the summer 46 peaks with Seymour to see her mother's accomplishment firsthand.
Not only was this an important feat, but the loss of his dad hits closer to home. His dad had been photographed saving a girl on September 11 as an EMT/firefighter. Finn knew him as a hero but was also angry at his absence from their home during the COVID 19 outbreak. After his father died, Finn's resentment to his care for others blocked his ability to heal. This was a touching story that most of it was written in verse, as Finn also works on a school poetry assignment. I loved this book so much and found it highly appropriate for this week's September 11th memorial. The author did an excellent job creating the reader and main character connection as if we are there walking Finn through the levels of healing. Kudos to Seymour the dog for being the best canine companion through it all.
Mack Gordon does such an excellent job with the audio that I felt he brought to life. This book is heartbreaking and so funny I found myself laughing aloud. Such a cute depiction from a child's mind as he navigates life and heartache. Finn is angry with the world after the death of his dad. The book begins with his punishment for vandalizing a headstone. The headstone belonged to the famous Edna Grace who was known for climbing 46 peaks with her dog Seymour. Finn was caught on video and Edna's daughter wants him to pay but not by way of the law, but to have him climb over the summer 46 peaks with Seymour to see her mother's accomplishment firsthand.
Not only was this an important feat, but the loss of his dad hits closer to home. His dad had been photographed saving a girl on September 11 as an EMT/firefighter. Finn knew him as a hero but was also angry at his absence from their home during the COVID 19 outbreak. After his father died, Finn's resentment to his care for others blocked his ability to heal. This was a touching story that most of it was written in verse, as Finn also works on a school poetry assignment. I loved this book so much and found it highly appropriate for this week's September 11th memorial. The author did an excellent job creating the reader and main character connection as if we are there walking Finn through the levels of healing. Kudos to Seymour the dog for being the best canine companion through it all.
December 4, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much more than I’d anticipated. I wasn’t even in the mood to read it but the Libby e-book and audiobook both became available for borrowing and I knew it was a short book so I tried it. I thought that the audiobook narration was excellent. I loved this book. Five full stars! It’s an exceptionally well done, brilliant book. It really grabbed me and I read it in a few hours all in one day. I didn’t want to put it down.
I loved 13-year-old Finn. He’s smart and wise and is a good poet. The book’s story is told in verse. The author perfectly captured an angry and grieving kid, one who also has many strengths.
This book tackles very serious topics (loss of a parent, alcoholism, 9/11, the covid pandemic) but there was also plentiful humor and I found myself laughing out loud many times.
Finn (Finley) is a wonderful character and there are several other interesting characters in the book (human & animal, alive & dead) and I admire how as the story goes on you see how they are related and how each is an important part of Finn’s story. I found myself identifying with Finn in many ways, including his opinion about heroes in general.
The story does show the healing power of nature and the outdoors and of a challenge, in this case hiking and climbing, and also, maybe most importantly, the healing power of adults taking a genuine interest in a young person.
Finn bakes cookies and there are some delicious looking (if/when easily veganized) very easy yet very creative cookie recipes in the book. They appear throughout the story; they’re not all listed at the end.
There are also some wonderful photos that appear throughout the book; they’re of the mountain peaks and points of interest on the trails.
There is a superb author’s note that has personal and general information and history. The author (like some of her characters) is an Adirondack 46er.
I’ve often wanted to take a strenuous multi-day hike but I’m scared of heights so trying to climb mountains does not appeal to me. Reading some of the tasks doing these 46 peaks entail I was grateful to be just an armchair traveler. It was fascinating to read about but I was happy to be in the pages of a book when I did.
Highly recommended!!!
I loved 13-year-old Finn. He’s smart and wise and is a good poet. The book’s story is told in verse. The author perfectly captured an angry and grieving kid, one who also has many strengths.
This book tackles very serious topics (loss of a parent, alcoholism, 9/11, the covid pandemic) but there was also plentiful humor and I found myself laughing out loud many times.
Finn (Finley) is a wonderful character and there are several other interesting characters in the book (human & animal, alive & dead) and I admire how as the story goes on you see how they are related and how each is an important part of Finn’s story. I found myself identifying with Finn in many ways, including his opinion about heroes in general.
The story does show the healing power of nature and the outdoors and of a challenge, in this case hiking and climbing, and also, maybe most importantly, the healing power of adults taking a genuine interest in a young person.
Finn bakes cookies and there are some delicious looking (if/when easily veganized) very easy yet very creative cookie recipes in the book. They appear throughout the story; they’re not all listed at the end.
There are also some wonderful photos that appear throughout the book; they’re of the mountain peaks and points of interest on the trails.
There is a superb author’s note that has personal and general information and history. The author (like some of her characters) is an Adirondack 46er.
I’ve often wanted to take a strenuous multi-day hike but I’m scared of heights so trying to climb mountains does not appeal to me. Reading some of the tasks doing these 46 peaks entail I was grateful to be just an armchair traveler. It was fascinating to read about but I was happy to be in the pages of a book when I did.
Highly recommended!!!
July 26, 2025
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
My main issue with why I was not able to click with it more was the ambiguity surrounding Noah, Finn's father's characterization and death. It was revealed to us in tidbits - little glimpses here and there, that I would have had to take notes in order to paint a cohesive image of him to get a better sense of him as the hero his son saw him as. For The trouble with Heroes is that we tend to create a persona of them that we look up to; that we admire their admirable qualities for. 👨🏻🚒
“I remember him gone—
off fighting fires,
rescuing everybody but us.”
As Finn also learned more about his father in these little reveals, it was difficult to really get a sense of what really was the main reason. To shed light on PTSD from the 9/11 attacks was a very strong and powerful touch that deserves to be shown. 😔 'The Towers took something he couldn’t get back.' The pain and heartache of a firefighter captured in time doing a heroic rescue would leave an impact. it's the moments leading up to his death, his commitment and dedication to his role as a firefighter during Covid and his separation from his family that strongly hurt his ten-year-old son. 💔 💔
The delayed reaction to his sudden passing was what led Finn to his vandalism two years after his death - letting sadness in, one teaspoon at a time - one still simmering strongly with unresolved grief and anger. 😞
“But climbing isn’t about
reaching the top.
It’s about pushing past limits
of what you thought you could do.”
I liked the concept behind the 46ers; it's a commitment of great dedication and the pictures included within the text were breathtaking. ⛰️ The idea of having people related to his father serving as nannies along his trek was a nice touch for him to reconnect with the father he never really knew and to also heal the parts of his thirteen-year-old heart that still feels unfinished, too for how he was still unable to grasp the truth of what had happened. 🫂
Seymour was terrific, the best and most loyal dog. 🦮 He really gave Finn the extra courage and boost of spirit he needed accompanying him on his hikes. The cookie creations inspired by the mountains were a clever and unique idea; it's a shame that after their success at the store (as unbelievable as it was) they didn't make an appearance again, after Finn's many delicious recipes... 🍪
It was a novel written in verse with slight inclusions of various multimedia that kept the monotony out; as a middle-grade, I felt it was a bit on the longer side. Some of the coincidental surprises were a bit on the far-reaching side; it had me rolling my eyes, since it didn't quite resonate with his personality. 😮💨 The profound change of closure and self-awareness that Finn was writing towards the end also felt a bit too much. One instance where his father told Finn to stop twirling because he looked like a girl seemed very out of place. 🙁 I'm sorry, I really did not like that bit, and I can't understand the reasoning behind its inclusion.
“None of it was okay—
but I guess it sort of has to be,
so we can figure out
how to go on.”
However, there was one scene that I will forever carry in my heart, a very powerful and emotional one, that delivered exquisitely in its execution - mainly, I suppose because Finn's thoughts were being told in verse.
The moment Finn learns the contents of the third box in the cupboard.... 🥺🥺🥺
That broke me... beautifully done, heart-wrenching, just pure guttural sadness. 😢 That was evocative writing, so quietly impactful, one that just captured the intensity of coming to grips with his loss and taking that momentous next step towards grieving and healing. 🎀 Nature touched Finn by giving him an outlet for his pain and making peace with his death.it takes courage and conviction to accept that though they're gone, the traces of their love still prevails. ❤️🩹
“Sometimes people don’t know why they’re climbing.
They only know it’s better than hurting standing still.”
My main issue with why I was not able to click with it more was the ambiguity surrounding Noah, Finn's father's characterization and death. It was revealed to us in tidbits - little glimpses here and there, that I would have had to take notes in order to paint a cohesive image of him to get a better sense of him as the hero his son saw him as. For The trouble with Heroes is that we tend to create a persona of them that we look up to; that we admire their admirable qualities for. 👨🏻🚒
“I remember him gone—
off fighting fires,
rescuing everybody but us.”
As Finn also learned more about his father in these little reveals, it was difficult to really get a sense of what really was the main reason. To shed light on PTSD from the 9/11 attacks was a very strong and powerful touch that deserves to be shown. 😔 'The Towers took something he couldn’t get back.' The pain and heartache of a firefighter captured in time doing a heroic rescue would leave an impact. it's the moments leading up to his death, his commitment and dedication to his role as a firefighter during Covid and his separation from his family that strongly hurt his ten-year-old son. 💔 💔
The delayed reaction to his sudden passing was what led Finn to his vandalism two years after his death - letting sadness in, one teaspoon at a time - one still simmering strongly with unresolved grief and anger. 😞
“But climbing isn’t about
reaching the top.
It’s about pushing past limits
of what you thought you could do.”
I liked the concept behind the 46ers; it's a commitment of great dedication and the pictures included within the text were breathtaking. ⛰️ The idea of having people related to his father serving as nannies along his trek was a nice touch for him to reconnect with the father he never really knew and to also heal the parts of his thirteen-year-old heart that still feels unfinished, too for how he was still unable to grasp the truth of what had happened. 🫂
Seymour was terrific, the best and most loyal dog. 🦮 He really gave Finn the extra courage and boost of spirit he needed accompanying him on his hikes. The cookie creations inspired by the mountains were a clever and unique idea; it's a shame that after their success at the store (as unbelievable as it was) they didn't make an appearance again, after Finn's many delicious recipes... 🍪
It was a novel written in verse with slight inclusions of various multimedia that kept the monotony out; as a middle-grade, I felt it was a bit on the longer side. Some of the coincidental surprises were a bit on the far-reaching side; it had me rolling my eyes, since it didn't quite resonate with his personality. 😮💨 The profound change of closure and self-awareness that Finn was writing towards the end also felt a bit too much. One instance where his father told Finn to stop twirling because he looked like a girl seemed very out of place. 🙁 I'm sorry, I really did not like that bit, and I can't understand the reasoning behind its inclusion.
“None of it was okay—
but I guess it sort of has to be,
so we can figure out
how to go on.”
However, there was one scene that I will forever carry in my heart, a very powerful and emotional one, that delivered exquisitely in its execution - mainly, I suppose because Finn's thoughts were being told in verse.
The moment Finn learns the contents of the third box in the cupboard.... 🥺🥺🥺
That broke me... beautifully done, heart-wrenching, just pure guttural sadness. 😢 That was evocative writing, so quietly impactful, one that just captured the intensity of coming to grips with his loss and taking that momentous next step towards grieving and healing. 🎀 Nature touched Finn by giving him an outlet for his pain and making peace with his death.it takes courage and conviction to accept that though they're gone, the traces of their love still prevails. ❤️🩹
December 9, 2025
A 2026 Newbery contender for sure!
May 12, 2025
First off the dog lives. Second, I loved this whole thing! Now for the actual review. I saw this cover and thought it would make the perfect middle grade palate cleanser for me as I was in-between audiobooks. What I didn't realize is that it would have me sobbing (in the best way) pretty much the whole time I was reading it! This book is perfect for readers (of any age) who want to explore grief, the outdoors, and community connection. It covers tough topics in the most respectful way. You've got PTSD, 9/11, misuse of alcohol (adult...not the 7th grader), and I'm sure I'm missing a few more. But more importantly this book has growth, forgiveness, and it offers everyone the opportunity to grow an even bigger heart. UGH IT WAS SO GOOD!!! Shoutout to Libro FM for my free ALC!
June 24, 2025
The trouble with a good book
is that you don't always know
when you will find one.
And then the trouble is,
that when you do find one,
like summiting a high peak,
you have to,
eventually,
come back down,
away from the world expanding,
capacious view that has just filled
you with awe and hope.
Maybe
that's why
the journey
to find
good stories
is always
worth the trouble
is that you don't always know
when you will find one.
And then the trouble is,
that when you do find one,
like summiting a high peak,
you have to,
eventually,
come back down,
away from the world expanding,
capacious view that has just filled
you with awe and hope.
Maybe
that's why
the journey
to find
good stories
is always
worth the trouble
September 16, 2025
Finn is grumpy and grieving and taking it out on headstones. As penance for destroying the headstone of a recently deceased woman, her daughter, his mother, and a judge agree to an unusual penance. With the dead woman’s dog he will hike all 46 Adirondack high peaks before the summer is over. He is not enthused.
I love, love, love a task driven plot but that is not why this book got five stars. I love a book with dogs and baking inside, but that is not why this book got five stars. I love a middle-grade book where the kids sounds and act like a kids, and not simply a mouthpiece for the author’s agenda, but not the reason for the 5 stars. I actually tried not to give it five stars, but I ran out of reasons. I enjoyed the whole journey and yes, some will snipe that there were too many contrived connections throughout the book, particularly at the end, but oh, my Lucy Maud Montgomery, they worked for me. This is the book that will be so satisfying to hand to kids.
I love, love, love a task driven plot but that is not why this book got five stars. I love a book with dogs and baking inside, but that is not why this book got five stars. I love a middle-grade book where the kids sounds and act like a kids, and not simply a mouthpiece for the author’s agenda, but not the reason for the 5 stars. I actually tried not to give it five stars, but I ran out of reasons. I enjoyed the whole journey and yes, some will snipe that there were too many contrived connections throughout the book, particularly at the end, but oh, my Lucy Maud Montgomery, they worked for me. This is the book that will be so satisfying to hand to kids.
April 17, 2025
If I could give it 10/5 stars, I would.
March 8, 2026
I don't normally read novels in verse...it's not really my thing. But first, I didn't realize this was a novel in verse, and two, I love hiking so I decided to give it a try. XD And it was actually a good read!
Characters:
Finn is the main character, the one who is writing all the poetry in the book. He was such a grief ridden, angry guy but I loved him. He felt overlooked, misunderstood, and if he had to face a mountain of grief all by himself. This book is his journey of healing and finding closure. It was beautiful on so many levels!
Finn's mom and gran were great!
I loved Seymour, again the dogs get me every time. XD But Seymour was so sweet!
Kelly was so nice! And all the babysitters for the hikes were so fun and nice!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
There are mentions of alcohol and having issues with it, of COVID and the 9/11. There is mentions of blood, injuries, scraps, cuts, mauling by wild animals, etc. Everything is kept clean, but for sensitive readers (or kids who are already afraid of nature) you might want to use some caution.
Overall:
This was a beautiful story of the healing power of nature. I loved that aspect, especially since nature is one of the places where I feel close to God. This isn't a Christian book, but there are some beautiful lessons woven into the pages.
Recommed age 10+
Characters:
Finn is the main character, the one who is writing all the poetry in the book. He was such a grief ridden, angry guy but I loved him. He felt overlooked, misunderstood, and if he had to face a mountain of grief all by himself. This book is his journey of healing and finding closure. It was beautiful on so many levels!
Finn's mom and gran were great!
I loved Seymour, again the dogs get me every time. XD But Seymour was so sweet!
Kelly was so nice! And all the babysitters for the hikes were so fun and nice!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
N/A
Violence/Gore:
There are mentions of alcohol and having issues with it, of COVID and the 9/11. There is mentions of blood, injuries, scraps, cuts, mauling by wild animals, etc. Everything is kept clean, but for sensitive readers (or kids who are already afraid of nature) you might want to use some caution.
Overall:
This was a beautiful story of the healing power of nature. I loved that aspect, especially since nature is one of the places where I feel close to God. This isn't a Christian book, but there are some beautiful lessons woven into the pages.
Recommed age 10+
May 19, 2025
Finn Connelly (13, white), is struggling with anger and grief after his paramedic/firefighter father's death, and now he is facing vandalism charges after kicking over the gravestone of one Edna Grace Thomas. Edna’s adult daughter, Kelly, agrees to dismiss the charges if Finn will become a “46er” this summer, someone who has hiked all 46 Adirondack mountains higher than 4,000 feet. She arranges for various 46ers to accompany him, and he has to take Edna’s old dog, Seymour, along. Finn reluctantly agrees.
He is also behind in school—he needs to complete a poetry project about heroes. When his teacher gently suggests he write about his dad, he dismisses the idea. His dad was a hero in the truest sense of the word; there is a photo of him carrying a dust-covered woman out of the rubble of a collapsed World Trade Center tower. When the pandemic began, his dad stayed behind in the Bronx to work while Finn and his mom moved to be near Finn’s grandma, who owns a chocolate shop in Lake Placid, NY. Now that his dad is dead, Finn feels some resentment that his dad was always choosing to help others rather than be with his family.
This book is well written on a sentence level, but the plot is exactly as predictable as you would expect. Finn starts off grumpy, sarcastic, and disagreeable, and the more he hikes, the more he appreciates nature, his “nannies” (the climbers who accompany him), and the dog. He writes the poems required for his project, both about his dad and nature. He also finds, in his mom’s closet, his father’s ashes, which he scatters on the peaks that his dad never got around to climbing. And he finds a bunch of letters from Edna Grace Thomas, who was the first woman 46er and kept up correspondence with anyone who wrote to her about their own attempts to become a 46er.
There’s also a subplot about Finn’s love of baking and his grandma’s failing chocolate shop; Finn decides to come up with a cookie recipe for each mountain and sell the cookies and recipe book in the shop. (Once again, a middle grade plot about a child saving a business! Enough already.) I have a strong suspicion that this is a book adults will like and kids will find completely boring. For the first half, Finn is an unpleasant character to spend time with, and in the second half, he becomes unbelievably self-aware and earnest. I just felt like I could hear the author's voice throughout the whole book. Finn also programs his phone to send an auto-reply text to his mom whenever she texts him, something like “I am not being bitten by a snake, attacked by a panther, or eaten by a bear.” The first couple of times this happened, it was really funny. After that it was just obnoxious.
Finally, in addition to Finn saving the chocolate shop, there were two events I found totally unrealistic:
He is also behind in school—he needs to complete a poetry project about heroes. When his teacher gently suggests he write about his dad, he dismisses the idea. His dad was a hero in the truest sense of the word; there is a photo of him carrying a dust-covered woman out of the rubble of a collapsed World Trade Center tower. When the pandemic began, his dad stayed behind in the Bronx to work while Finn and his mom moved to be near Finn’s grandma, who owns a chocolate shop in Lake Placid, NY. Now that his dad is dead, Finn feels some resentment that his dad was always choosing to help others rather than be with his family.
This book is well written on a sentence level, but the plot is exactly as predictable as you would expect. Finn starts off grumpy, sarcastic, and disagreeable, and the more he hikes, the more he appreciates nature, his “nannies” (the climbers who accompany him), and the dog. He writes the poems required for his project, both about his dad and nature. He also finds, in his mom’s closet, his father’s ashes, which he scatters on the peaks that his dad never got around to climbing. And he finds a bunch of letters from Edna Grace Thomas, who was the first woman 46er and kept up correspondence with anyone who wrote to her about their own attempts to become a 46er.
There’s also a subplot about Finn’s love of baking and his grandma’s failing chocolate shop; Finn decides to come up with a cookie recipe for each mountain and sell the cookies and recipe book in the shop. (Once again, a middle grade plot about a child saving a business! Enough already.) I have a strong suspicion that this is a book adults will like and kids will find completely boring. For the first half, Finn is an unpleasant character to spend time with, and in the second half, he becomes unbelievably self-aware and earnest. I just felt like I could hear the author's voice throughout the whole book. Finn also programs his phone to send an auto-reply text to his mom whenever she texts him, something like “I am not being bitten by a snake, attacked by a panther, or eaten by a bear.” The first couple of times this happened, it was really funny. After that it was just obnoxious.
Finally, in addition to Finn saving the chocolate shop, there were two events I found totally unrealistic:
March 30, 2025
It's no secret that I love novels in verse; I love how fast paced they are, but are still able to pack even more of an emotional punch than a traditional novel.
Messner's story focuses on Finn, a troubled 13-year-old who gets caught kicking over a gravestone, and is then required to hike 46 Adirondack peaks as reparations.
Finn is not only dealing with the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic that we all experienced and can relate to, but is also in the epicenter of grief over the death of his father, who was a firefighter and a hero during the September 11th tragedy.
As he begins to hike each trail, with the help of a group of 46ers, his pain, anger, and confusion begin to melt away in the nature and wildness that surrounds him. He grows stronger both physically, mentally, and emotionally, and works through his resentment and pain in a way that is unique to him.
I loved how the 46ers are supportive of Finn, but never give him the option to use his grief as an excuse to give up.
This is such a wonderful story of hope after tragedy, and the healing powers that nature and the earth offer all of us. We just have to be willing to open ourselves up to it.
Messner's story focuses on Finn, a troubled 13-year-old who gets caught kicking over a gravestone, and is then required to hike 46 Adirondack peaks as reparations.
Finn is not only dealing with the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic that we all experienced and can relate to, but is also in the epicenter of grief over the death of his father, who was a firefighter and a hero during the September 11th tragedy.
As he begins to hike each trail, with the help of a group of 46ers, his pain, anger, and confusion begin to melt away in the nature and wildness that surrounds him. He grows stronger both physically, mentally, and emotionally, and works through his resentment and pain in a way that is unique to him.
I loved how the 46ers are supportive of Finn, but never give him the option to use his grief as an excuse to give up.
This is such a wonderful story of hope after tragedy, and the healing powers that nature and the earth offer all of us. We just have to be willing to open ourselves up to it.
January 23, 2026
I saw another review that said the reader wasn’t really in the mood to read this, but it had just become available through Libby and they needed up loving it. That was my experience too! I found myself crying at Finn’s journey through grief/loss and the line how we need to let hero’s rest. It also made me want to turn to the mountains more when I get overwhelmed! As someone who lives in a literal canyon, I don’t appreciate the natural beauty I’m surrounded by. Like Finn, I’m intrigued to see how the mountains can help me sort through the overwhelming moments that come up in my own life.
November 21, 2025
A boy gets in trouble after kicking over a headstone and breaking it. What follows is the discovery of where all his anger is coming from. Instead of paying for the damage the family of the tombstone says he has to join the hiking club (that the dead women founded) and hike 46 peaks in the nearby mountains within a certain timeframe. At first I thought the book was about reparations and I didn’t like the sarcastic angry boy ( the author captures the sassy teenager a bit too well). But as the story unfolds you see what the kid has suffered and why he’s so angry. Beautiful writing and a terrific story about healing, support, grief and love.
November 13, 2025
Oh how I loved this book. Although middle grade, it is a book anyone would love. Dealing with grief, obstacles, and love - all set against the backdrop of the Adirondacks. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic.
This is my pick for the Newbery award.
This is my pick for the Newbery award.
July 4, 2025
Such a good MG book. It felt like a Gary Schmidt book. Hearfelt and simple story but deep in emotion. I was rooting for the MC the whole time. Redeeming ending.
Made me tear up and get some summer chores done!
CW: parent death, Covid, 9/11
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
Thank you Lirbo FM for my free audio!
Made me tear up and get some summer chores done!
CW: parent death, Covid, 9/11
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
Thank you Lirbo FM for my free audio!
July 22, 2025
Finn is in a mess of trouble and in danger of not passing 7th grade. Then he makes matters worse by getting arrested for kicking over a headstone. Finn's anger and hurt run deep. Primarily it's centered on the death of his firefighter father who was a bona fide 911 hero, then later died working the front lines during the COVID pandemic. Finn feels that his father was available to everyone who needed help, except he wasn't there for his wife and son. Lucky for Finn, the damaged headstone belonged to a well-known climber, Edna Grace Thomas. Her daughter gives him a chance to make reparations by climbing 46 mountains in the Adirondack with Edna's dog. This will not only help with his vandalism arrest but allow him to finish his PE requirement and give him another chance to finish his English assignment about writing poems about a hero. Although this story is about grief and healing, there's also humor, good storytelling, and an absolutely wonderful dog. A fabulous must-read life affirming verse novel!
"I am not lost in the woods or being stalked
by a panther or getting swatted by a bear."
"Sometimes the person they need to remember
is themselves.
And sometimes people don't know why
they're climbing.
They only know it's better than hurting
standing still."
"It must be nice to know you can put your foot down
and find something solid
even when it looks like there's nothing there to hold you,
nothing to catch you if you fall.
I need to get me some of those magic sticky shoes."
"Because maybe being a hero
isn't about doing the right thing
all the time -- the brave thing -- the running
into buildings thing. Maybe it's about choosing
a path, even when there's no good one.
Choosing anyway.
And sometimes choosing wrong.
And being brave enough to try again."
"I am not lost in the woods or being stalked
by a panther or getting swatted by a bear."
"Sometimes the person they need to remember
is themselves.
And sometimes people don't know why
they're climbing.
They only know it's better than hurting
standing still."
"It must be nice to know you can put your foot down
and find something solid
even when it looks like there's nothing there to hold you,
nothing to catch you if you fall.
I need to get me some of those magic sticky shoes."
"Because maybe being a hero
isn't about doing the right thing
all the time -- the brave thing -- the running
into buildings thing. Maybe it's about choosing
a path, even when there's no good one.
Choosing anyway.
And sometimes choosing wrong.
And being brave enough to try again."
Read
June 4, 2025The Trouble with Heroes is one of @librofm 's free educator copies for May, so I'm posting this now so that my teacher friends have time to run and get it if they haven't already 😘.
Writer friends- it's in verse, but it feels so FRESH. I don't know how to explain it. There was a purpose to the poems (like in Iveliz, where she is writing them in her diary), and I love how Messner incorporated so many different types of poetry while still managing to make them feel authentically written by Finn's hand.
I'm told the physical is great because of the visual component of the mixed formats (newspaper articles, recipes, etc), but Mack Gordon did such a good job with Finn's voice that I don't think you're missing out by doing the audio.
Long story, short - I'm a fan. As both a writer and a reader✌🏼.
Writer friends- it's in verse, but it feels so FRESH. I don't know how to explain it. There was a purpose to the poems (like in Iveliz, where she is writing them in her diary), and I love how Messner incorporated so many different types of poetry while still managing to make them feel authentically written by Finn's hand.
I'm told the physical is great because of the visual component of the mixed formats (newspaper articles, recipes, etc), but Mack Gordon did such a good job with Finn's voice that I don't think you're missing out by doing the audio.
Long story, short - I'm a fan. As both a writer and a reader✌🏼.
September 19, 2025
Finn is struggling. He is failing two classes and he was caught vandalizing a gravestone. His family has struggled since 9/11 – his father was a firefighter/hero that day. The pandemic only worsened their family issues. When he is offered a unique way to make restitution for his crime, he reluctantly agrees. He must hike all 46 of the Adirondack Mountain high peaks by the end of summer. Along the way, he writes poetry to make up his missing ELA classwork. This is a heartbreaking and yet hopeful look at grief and trauma.
Read
March 21, 2026Sometimes you need a stupid children’s novel to inhale in two hours as a bedtime story. And then you crash asleep, entirely exhausted, yet really quite content. You may have wasted time reading fluff, but man does it feel good to be an 11 year old again, curled up with a fun book and no respect for tomorrow.
December 1, 2025
captured the spirit of the Adirondacks (and also grief) so beautifully i cried 15 times
March 13, 2025
This book would have done a lot for me at nine years old. It did a lot for me as an adult too!
May 2, 2025
If I hadn’t known, I might have thought I was reading a Gary D. Schmidt verse novel, which I mean as the highest compliment. Not quite Wednesday Wars or Lizzie Bright, but still memorable and poignant with a complicated father relationship and other adults as mentors.
Two years after the death of his father, Finn reluctantly accepts an alternative punishment for vandalism, leading to self-discovery and healing. His challenges (in addition to grief, include the 9/11 legacy, covid, and alcoholism) hit that “just right” middle grade level of being realistic and emotional without being too intense for most readers.
Most verse novels are very irritating to me, but Messner wove in a poetry assignment into the plot, and Finn turns out to be pretty good at it.
I’m a bit ashamed to say that until now I have only read Kate Messner’s picture books. Though her novels are favorites of my daughter, I (unfairly) didn’t think they were “serious literature.” I’m going to be borrowing some from her shelves to catch up now and cheering for Trouble to be recognized with a Newbery.
Two years after the death of his father, Finn reluctantly accepts an alternative punishment for vandalism, leading to self-discovery and healing. His challenges (in addition to grief, include the 9/11 legacy, covid, and alcoholism) hit that “just right” middle grade level of being realistic and emotional without being too intense for most readers.
Most verse novels are very irritating to me, but Messner wove in a poetry assignment into the plot, and Finn turns out to be pretty good at it.
I’m a bit ashamed to say that until now I have only read Kate Messner’s picture books. Though her novels are favorites of my daughter, I (unfairly) didn’t think they were “serious literature.” I’m going to be borrowing some from her shelves to catch up now and cheering for Trouble to be recognized with a Newbery.
January 14, 2026
The vibe of this book is Gary D. Schmidt meets Love That Dog. I listened to the audiobook, but I have the print copy on hold so I can see how the poetry looks on the page. I will hold off on a longer review until I have it in front of me.
UPDATE: I have seen the print book and I'm impressed! The diversity of formats (poems, text messages, handwritten notes, recipes, documents, quizzes, dictionary definitions, etc.) will appeal to a lot of readers.
I think I like the audiobook better than the print book because it forced me to slow down and appreciate the repetition of "I am not lost in the woods or being stalked by a panther or getting swatted by a bear" (which is the Chekhov's gun of this story).
I hope this gets a Newbery!
UPDATE: I have seen the print book and I'm impressed! The diversity of formats (poems, text messages, handwritten notes, recipes, documents, quizzes, dictionary definitions, etc.) will appeal to a lot of readers.
I think I like the audiobook better than the print book because it forced me to slow down and appreciate the repetition of "I am not lost in the woods or being stalked by a panther or getting swatted by a bear" (which is the Chekhov's gun of this story).
I hope this gets a Newbery!
April 27, 2025
Wow! This is such an incredible book. I experienced a gamut of emotions with Finn. Kate Messner has written a beautiful story that will hook readers from the beginning and have them root for Finn both as friend and cheerleader the whole way.
July 2, 2025
I cried. I laughed. I cried more. I loved this book.
September 8, 2025
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this. Makes me want to go hiking in the Adirondacks.
I really enjoyed this. Makes me want to go hiking in the Adirondacks.
November 15, 2025
If you read this book and finish with a dry eye, I’ll be shocked! This book should be on every list, win awards, be given as a gift, and definitely in every library. Wow!
November 26, 2025
I read this because it’s getting Newbery buzz and I’m trying to catch up. First off, this is trying to do WAY too much. We got (spoilers, obviously):
-9/11 parent
-COVID
-death of a parent
-vandalism
-hiking
-alcoholic parent
-grief
-a failing chocolate store
-reparations
And all of this in a novel in verse
I found Finn bratty through most of the book. Clearly he needed some therapy and that should’ve been a priority. Additionally, the idea of an untrained child hiking hundreds of miles up cliffs with a dog in three months? Insanely unlikely. Add in child and the dog fighting off a bear and it makes it worse.
But the thing I am stunned no one has caught (at least as far as these reviews) is the “dad climbed the mountains with me” twist? Is incomplete. Finn finds out his dad was hiking the mountains and “completed forty of them.” So there are “6 left” and it’s supposed to be this healing process. Except I counted. And then I printed out a list of the peaks and marked them off as I read down the list of mountains dad hiked to double check. Dad has climbed *39*. Not 40. Mt. Marshall is missing from his list and Finn climbed it very early in the book. I did a search for “Marshall” in the ebook copy. Which means by the end of the book, FINN has climbed 46, but dad has only climbed 45. Kinda messed up the plot. There’s also a part where Finn says “This is 44” as he’s sprinkling ashes, but Finn still has Mt. Colden, Esther & Whiteface to climb. All on dad’s list. Which means it’s 43 for Finn and 42 for dad. Where was the editor? 🧐
I continue to be disappointed by the books adults choose as exceptional for children. I think this one will at least have an audience, but I didn’t enjoy it. I don’t think it needed to be in verse. And I would like to know how the author, editor, and countless adult readers have missed that the numbers don’t add up.
-9/11 parent
-COVID
-death of a parent
-vandalism
-hiking
-alcoholic parent
-grief
-a failing chocolate store
-reparations
And all of this in a novel in verse
I found Finn bratty through most of the book. Clearly he needed some therapy and that should’ve been a priority. Additionally, the idea of an untrained child hiking hundreds of miles up cliffs with a dog in three months? Insanely unlikely. Add in child and the dog fighting off a bear and it makes it worse.
But the thing I am stunned no one has caught (at least as far as these reviews) is the “dad climbed the mountains with me” twist? Is incomplete. Finn finds out his dad was hiking the mountains and “completed forty of them.” So there are “6 left” and it’s supposed to be this healing process. Except I counted. And then I printed out a list of the peaks and marked them off as I read down the list of mountains dad hiked to double check. Dad has climbed *39*. Not 40. Mt. Marshall is missing from his list and Finn climbed it very early in the book. I did a search for “Marshall” in the ebook copy. Which means by the end of the book, FINN has climbed 46, but dad has only climbed 45. Kinda messed up the plot. There’s also a part where Finn says “This is 44” as he’s sprinkling ashes, but Finn still has Mt. Colden, Esther & Whiteface to climb. All on dad’s list. Which means it’s 43 for Finn and 42 for dad. Where was the editor? 🧐
I continue to be disappointed by the books adults choose as exceptional for children. I think this one will at least have an audience, but I didn’t enjoy it. I don’t think it needed to be in verse. And I would like to know how the author, editor, and countless adult readers have missed that the numbers don’t add up.
August 19, 2025
Thanks to an angry outburst in the cemetery resulting in a broken headstone, Finn is going to be spending his summer making reparations: if he can climb all 46 Adirondack Peaks, Edna's family will forgive him for the vandalism. Finn will be busy this summer, because he's also got PE and English credit to make up. He's definitely struggling, and it mostly stems back to his father's death during the COVID-19 pandemic; his dad, a first responder in New York City, was trying to save everyone but himself, just like he did on 9/11/01 when he carried a woman out of the wreckage of the Twin Towers. But the trouble with heroes, according to Finn, is that they're actually flawed people, and his dad should never have abandoned him and his mom. As Finn climbs each mountain, he comes to properly grieve his dad's loss -- and he finds himself completing more than his missing assignments.
I have heard nothing but good things about this novel in verse. I read the print version and enjoyed the varying styles of poetry, newspaper clippings, and text message threads woven together to tell a story. There were some really beautiful moments and ideas here; I love that this project connected Finn with his dad in unexpected ways.
I did feel like this was a tad on the long side; 46 peaks are a LOT of hiking to read about, particularly when they all feel kind of the same (muddy and steep).
I have heard nothing but good things about this novel in verse. I read the print version and enjoyed the varying styles of poetry, newspaper clippings, and text message threads woven together to tell a story. There were some really beautiful moments and ideas here; I love that this project connected Finn with his dad in unexpected ways.
I did feel like this was a tad on the long side; 46 peaks are a LOT of hiking to read about, particularly when they all feel kind of the same (muddy and steep).
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