Hero of Lesser Causes

by Julie Johnston

World War II has just been won, and everything seems possible to young Keely Connor. She sees herself as a hero on a white charger, able to conquer the world, even though in reality her charger is Lola, the placid horse that lives in the field behind her house.

One fateful summer day her brother Patrick is stricken with polio. Here is an enemy Keely cannot conquer. With all the will in the world, she cannot pass on to Patrick her zest or her energy or her own good health. Keely’s battle to save Patrick has become one of the classics of Canadian children’s literature and, in translations, around the world. This beautifully redesigned edition will capture the hearts of a whole new generation of readers.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Canada, Fiction, Childrens, Novels, 20th Century

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Julie Johnston grew up in a small town in eastern Ontario, then went to the University of Toronto to study physio and occupational therapy. After university she and her husband, whom she met while in Toronto, worked for over a year at the Ontario Hospital School for physically and mentally handicapped children in Smith Falls, then travelled for four months in Europe, moved to Kingston, then Toronto and, finally, settled in Peterborough where she raised four daughters. Over the years, she published many short stories in several magazines, but not until an encouraging interview with a writer-in-residence at Trent University, did she begin work on a novel. Hero of Lesser Causes was completed (the first time) in 1986. After many re-writes and several publishing delays, it was published to great acclaim in 1992, winning the Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for English text) that year. Julie Johnston's second novel, Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me, was also honoured with the Governor General's Literary Award, making her the first author to win the award for both her first and second books.

Awards

1992 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Hero of Lesser Causes.

1993 National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award for Hero of Lesser Causes.

1994 Governor General's Literary Award / Children's Literature (for best English text) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

1995 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award (Young Adult/Middle Reader Category) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

1995 Young Adult Canadian Book Award (Canadian Library Association) for Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (A re-read of a childhood favorite)

Setting: 1946/1947 Channing Ontario, Ottawa Valley, Canada

Channing closed its public swimming pool when it was learned that Patrick Connor had come down with a severe case of polio. Everyone in town said he would die.
But Patrick didn't die. He became paralysed

First published in 1992, Julie Johnston's main protagonist, Keely O'Connor wants nothing more than to be her older brother's hero and help him walk again. However, Patrick is angry at the world and not the hired hand next door, his nurse, his high school friends, or his optimistic sister are going to be able to fix him. But energetic and imaginative Keely is determined to change his mind.


What still works for me even after all these years is the solid and authentic relationship between Keely and Patrick. It's an excellent middle grade book. Perhaps some of the issues are not as deeply explored as adult readers might want them to be, but they are still handled with sensitivity.

[Nidos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for anything witty and this book is none of an exception. Full of sentences to quote, indeed. Not those pretty words but those honest, effortless reflexes came out from a middle-schooler.

I adore how the author developed her characters and the way the characters brought the story--so damn believable. I could say that I fell for her writing instead of her story. It's like, "I keep reading no matter what you write because I love the way you write and that's all that counts." Inspite of it, I gotta admit that what made it four-starred was how it ended. Yeah you might got bored (because me too, it took me A WEEK to finish!) in the middle because it's kinda slow-paced. But that's life, isn't it? Life is not everyday-is-miracle sorta thing. Life is a process. And happiness is not an ending--it's a journey. It's okay to feel upset, it's okay to act weird, it's okay to be afraid, it's okay to care about lesser causes.

My fav part was the eyebrow incident. Totally hilarious, couldn't stop laughing!

Ps: the font OMG it hurt my eyes so bad. And the translator--s/he did quite a good job yet the editor should did more, imho. "Trus" instead of "terus" and inconsistency of "nggak" and "tidak" slightly bothered me (pardon my so-called professional eyes).

PPs: Thanks to Trini (author of Almost 10 Years Ago) for recommending me her most favorite teenlit of all time! I definitely could see a bit of it in her pieces of writing--which is good. What you write is what you read, therefore I believe great authors should read great firstly.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep forgetting this book is only set in the 40's, not written then, because that's how completely the author submerges you. Noteworthy children's story, especially considering it features polio, which is not the easiest thing to work into a kid's book. Bonus: horses. It was mostly the horse on the cover that drew me in, to be honest, although I cannot seem to find a picture of the exact edition I read.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is set in the late 1940s. Keely Connor dreams of riding the horse who lives in the field behind her house. Patrick, her brother, is stricken with polio, is paralyzed and loses the will to live.

Keely tries her best to transfer her energy, health and zeal for life to her brother. A great young adult book about the hero in all of us.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A'm so ashamed that I've lost this lovely book.

[Mina Dahmardeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

دوباره دارم میخونمش!دوباره دارم لذت میبرم همدم خوبیه برام سر کلاس باکتری و اندیشه. خط به خطش منو یاد اون روزا میندازه .اینم میبرم واسشون!
میخوام بشن قهرمان آرمان هاشون

[Dejam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows true heroes, The one that are inside of you. I love this book alot.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery, thanks for this recommendation! I don't usually pick Historical Fiction, but this is A GREAT STORY!

[Ameen · Rating 5 out of 5]

وقتی هشت سالم بود این کتابو داداشم بهم هدیه داد و صفحه‌ی اولش یه حکایت از گلستان در مورد این‌که هنرمند اگر از دولت بیفتد غم ندارد که هنر در نفس خود دولت است، هرجا که رود قدر ببیند و در صدر نشیند.

[Mei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku ini menceritakan kedekatan dua saudara yang menyukai tantangan yang terkadang sangat sulit. Namun karena kesamaan tersebut keduanya sangat dekat walaupun terkadang mereka berbeda pendapat.

Masalah muncul ketika Patrick, sang kakak, mengalami sakit polio, menjadikan dia sosok anak laki-laki yang lumpuh. Patrick menghabiskan waktunya di kamarnya dan menjadi pendiam serta selalu berpemikiran dia itu tidak berguna dan ingin mati saja.

Namun, Patrick beruntung dikelilingi orang-orang yang menyayanginya,baik orang tua, teman-teman yang tetap mau mendukungnya walau dia tidak memberikan respon yang hangat terhadap mereka, terutama adik kesayangannya.

Adiknya selalu mencari cara untuk memulihkan semangat sang kakak walaupun sang kakak selalu membentak ataupun mengatakan sumpah serapah kepada sang adik. Namun itu tidak menyurutkan keinginan sang adik untuk membantu kesembuhan sang kakak.

Apakah sang kakak berhasil bangkit dari keterpurukannya karena kelemahan fisiknya ??

Silakan dibaca saja yagh,
hihihi

[Tantri 0314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keely, bagi saya buku ini menginspirasi. Memberikan teladan dan pelajaran bahwa kita harus selalu berusaha dan bertahan. Keely adalah buku tentang hubungan kakak adik (Patrick dan Keely), keluarga, persahabatan, dan dukungan dari seorang perawat.
Patrick terkena polio dan Keely selalu ingin menjadikan Patrick seperti dirinya yang dulu sebelum penyakit itu menyerangnya. Kehadiran Alex dan Peggy (perawat Patrick) membuat Keely mencapai keinginannya.
Buku ini juga menggambarkan bahwa dukungan keluarga dan orang-orang terdekat dari si sakit sangat dahsyat manfaatnya. Sungguh menyakitkan ketika Patrick dirawat oleh Mrs. Whinney. Perasaan Patrick sangat berbeda kala dia bersama oleh Peggy.
Sungguh buku yang mengagumkan. Walaupun entah mengapa saya membutuhkan waktu yang lama untuk menghabiskannya. Satu kata untuk buku ini, keren!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was fairly young and it shook me to my core and had me ugly crying for hours, I absolutely loved it, read it several times. Then a couple years ago I was just sitting around and it popped into my brain and I could not for the life of me remember the name or author, I could only recall that it was from the POV of a young girl who has an older brother and he becomes sick with polio, I just rediscovered it after many many failed vague google searches about a "book with a brother with polio" until I finally discovered the magical world of reverse book searching databases. Anyhow, I've just finished my re-read of it and it is absolutely incredible and heart-wrenching, it gets the sibling dynamic spot on. Would recommend it to anyone, it really did impact me greatly the first time and every other time I've read it since.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suka sekali dan sangat menikmati penggambaran keadaan di novel ini. Nyata banget. Kayak nonton film.

Di saat saya dikelilingi teman yang mempunyai teenlit percintaan, saya beli ini. Dan saya tidak menyesal. Hubungan kakak-adik itu lebih kuat dari sekadar sama gebetan. Terutama kepada saya, yang punya adik cowok berasa kembaran.

Deskripsinya menyentuh, alurnya rapi, SETTINGNYA JUARA. Nggak nyangka banget saya juga, bisa nikmati latar jadul kayak gitu. Ini novel dengan waktu lampau yang saya suka setelah To Kill A Mockingbird.

Endingnya pun kereeeeen banget. Nggak tahu. Saya terpana sama endingnya. Saya belajar banyak dari buku ini, dan itu menjadi indikator mengapa saya suka suatu buku: karena saya bisa belajar hal baru dari situ.

Salut juga buat penerjemahnya :)

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book that I remember reading several times. I'm kind of pissed at the cover though, the version I have has a really horrible horrible cover that makes the book look little-kiddy and cheesy. But it's not.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow really good reminded me of a more modern reality based version of the secret garden..i wish there the ending was a bit more revealing of Patrick's fate but i guess thats teh realism of it all - he didnt become completely healed like collin in secret garden..anywho good book!

[Monica Lukudu · Rating 4 out of 5]

HERO OF LESSER CAUSES was a great book. Keely and her Brother Patrick are as close as Siamese cats. I learned more about polio and things about it. I loved how all characters were all different and had different personalities. I truly recommend reading this novel.

[tuhseen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book while in middle school, and it was one of my favourites. The characters are well developed, and the relationship between brother and sister realistic. Heart-wrenching, funny, and always believable, this book is enjoyable for people of all ages.

[Rahmadiyanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is one of different teenlit. Story about bonding between brother and sister. The setting is 1946 (too old for teenlit, heh? :D)

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. thank you Dorothy for your confusion. I had to interlibrary loan it because MCL only has one of her books. Love the way she puts a little magic in her realism.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good-about a girl whos brother gets polio and is paralyzed and loses his will to live-and how she helps him

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

308th - 2011

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Keely is crazy and delightful. I couldn't stop reading.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Keely tries too hard to grow up but she is just as immature at the end as she was in the beginning.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful story: family coming to grips with the devistations of a disease the modern world is not familiar with anymore, and what it means to be a hero.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great YA read. A reread for me as I first read it when I was 11, and had fond memories of it.
Now as an adult and parent reading about Keelie and her relationship with her much admired older brother who is paralyzed due to polio, it hits a little harder.
A great book for young readers, but emotionally charged- so know your audience.

[Lisa Ferricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book. I loved how inspirational the sister was!

[Arin Goswami · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet children's book I found while cleaning my room.

[Lindsy Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a kid. I want to make sure I can find it again.

[Mohsen panahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب هم از محبوب‌های من در کانون پرورش فکری بود. اینقدر محبوب که دزدیمش😁 و نمیدونم چقدر پیش خودم نگهداشتم و سه چهار بار خوندمش. آخرش پسر عمه‌م برد پسش داد.

[Cws]

JAR4-Joh