When Heroes Die

by Penny Raife Durant

Devastated to discover that Uncle Rob, his hero, is dying of AIDS, twelve-year-old Gary, in need of advice and guidance in his life, finds that it is Uncle Rob himself who gives him strength to face the future

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

136 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book moved me more than I was expecting it too. As well as being an examination of AIDS, it was about grief, and how young people can deal with grief when someone close to them dies. I didn't want to get choked up when I read this book, but I absolutely did. None of the tension felt manufactured, but some of the characters, particularly the best friend and the love interest, were one-dimensional.