My heroes
One of the reasons that I love literature geared to middle-school students is the fantastic array of protagonists, the main characters, the heroes. Authors who bring out the possibilities, the opportunities, the crossroads, the good and bad decisions, and give readers a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes without being preachy, that is the best!
I read a great book on the Lone Star list called Runaway by Wendelin Van Draanen. Holly is a 12-year old orphan who is fed up with her foster home nightmare. Her bid for freedom is unexpectedly successful and she records her thoughts in a journal that is her sole companion as she tries to make a new life. Street-smart though she is her daily struggles keep anyone from envying her “independence.” Fortunately, she meets someone she can trust before she does become a statistic.
Only after reading the author note did I realize that Holly’s friend is another of Van Draanen’s quirky female characters, Sammy Keyes. Its been a number of years since I read one of these delightful mysteries (Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf) but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sammy also is a survivor and original thinker and I think that readers of mysteries should give her a chance.
Firegirl by Tony Abbott also expands the concept of hero. A “new” girl enrolls in Tom’s ordinary seventh grade class creating fear and revulsion. Jessica has endured countless procedures because she was trapped in a burning vehicle. No one can see past her disfigurement until Tom is “guilted” into dropping off her school work after an absence. Slowly he begins to know the “real” Jessica. Each is a model of courage.
Comment on these books or tell me about other characters who are heroes. What are their heroic traits?
