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bethtrigg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
accidentalmuse's review against another edition
4.0
One of the set texts for school, it's pretty short only 100 or so pages but worth the read.
publius's review against another edition
4.0
For those of us who have never known war, there's something chilling about the post-war experience of those who have. For all the bullet-dodging action heroes that Hollywood produces and America consumes, we rarely get a taste for the horrors that the scarred veteran must face upon return to the home-front. Even when a movie does try to convey that horror, it remains a visual experience.
Robert Cormier's "Heroes" has no such problems. Francis, Cormier's young protagonist, has been marred by war, and in the most visceral way. He's lost his face to a grenade. He is unrecognizable, even by those who knew him well, and though cited for bravery, he hides a secret. As we read, we soon learn that he is not the only one. Unlike the gloss and gleam of Hollywood flicks, we are ensconced in Francis' head, fully exposed to his pain and guilt, his regrets and hopes. It's almost too close, and as the novel moves towards a final crushing denouement, we sense as much as we read, guessing and knowing the horrible truth before Cormier lets his protagonist reveal the chilling and even disturbing truth.
"Heroes" develops fast, and it is perhaps the parsimony of words that provides his story with such careful and pointed impact. Each word, section, and anecdote is calculated to one purpose only: the building of a story about a hero, and not just any, but one who is anything but what he seems.
I recommend the read, but because of content (nothing gratuitous or graphic, but merely the subject matter) suggest it for adolescents in their teens. I look forward to reading and discussing with my own children.
Robert Cormier's "Heroes" has no such problems. Francis, Cormier's young protagonist, has been marred by war, and in the most visceral way. He's lost his face to a grenade. He is unrecognizable, even by those who knew him well, and though cited for bravery, he hides a secret. As we read, we soon learn that he is not the only one. Unlike the gloss and gleam of Hollywood flicks, we are ensconced in Francis' head, fully exposed to his pain and guilt, his regrets and hopes. It's almost too close, and as the novel moves towards a final crushing denouement, we sense as much as we read, guessing and knowing the horrible truth before Cormier lets his protagonist reveal the chilling and even disturbing truth.
"Heroes" develops fast, and it is perhaps the parsimony of words that provides his story with such careful and pointed impact. Each word, section, and anecdote is calculated to one purpose only: the building of a story about a hero, and not just any, but one who is anything but what he seems.
I recommend the read, but because of content (nothing gratuitous or graphic, but merely the subject matter) suggest it for adolescents in their teens. I look forward to reading and discussing with my own children.
rosieereadss's review against another edition
2.0
(read for school)
the quote "sweet young things" will forever make me feel hella uncomfortable
the quote "sweet young things" will forever make me feel hella uncomfortable
nicoleoliver_x's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lucyellis's review against another edition
3.0
I was made to read this book for my English GCSE. I think that the fact I was told I had to read this book as well as having to do countless essays on it's characters and themes will definitely have dampened my opinion of it. The only unbiased thing I can say is that the start was definitely too slow and dull however I was captured into the story by the end. The writing style wasn't anything particularly special however it was fun to read in present day as well as flashbacks. I felt attached to some of the characters however I felt more work could have been done with Francis in order to have the reader connect with him more.
xb_bi's review against another edition
5.0
I liked this a lot. The writing style in this book has a sort of timeless feel to it, I think. Very interested in reading more of Cormier's work.
m_davies07's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thomas_ryan04's review against another edition
2.0
Heroes... was it engaging? Unfortunately not. When I was reading the book, I didn't feel that, at any point, I was fully engaged in the text. Instead, I felt I was following along a story without a real, gripping plot. I kept trying to like the book but I just couldn't find anything to make me go "wow".
I think the main problem is that the book is so short (just under 100 pages long), that there isn't a chance to really dig deeper into the characters, their motives and the real meaning behind certain parts of the book. Nevertheless, Cormier's moral of the story is clear and I do like how the message is conveyed - it's definitely thought provoking. "We weren't heroes, we were only there" - who are the real heroes in life?
I think the main problem is that the book is so short (just under 100 pages long), that there isn't a chance to really dig deeper into the characters, their motives and the real meaning behind certain parts of the book. Nevertheless, Cormier's moral of the story is clear and I do like how the message is conveyed - it's definitely thought provoking. "We weren't heroes, we were only there" - who are the real heroes in life?
sarahberra14's review against another edition
4.0
CATEGORIES SATISFIED: REQUIRED READING
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I was afraid it would be too dark for me, and it was quite dark, but in a way I found touching and meaningful. Francis, the main character, has just returned from war, and during the war he lost most of his face to a grenade. He was awarded a Silver Star for sacrificing himself to protect his comrades, but he doesn't feel like he deserves it. He returns home, but doesn't tell anyone who he is and no one recognizes him. His only goal is to kill a certain someone who should also be returning to the town. You eventually learn that the man he wants to kill was his childhood hero who raped his (Francis's) girlfriend. Francis knew what was happening but didn't do anything to stop it and has felt terribly guilt since. Instead of killing himself he decided to go to war to find a war to die in battle (it's less dishonorable that way), and his desire to die is what led him to jump on the grenade that took his face. Now Francis just wants to kill his childhood hero, and then himself. Ultimately he confronts his childhood hero, and then the childhood hero kills himself. Francis visits his old girlfriend planing to kill himself afterward, but the story ends ambiguously, and you don't actually know whether or not Francis decides to kill himself.
This book was very well written. It explores the horrors of war and the effect war has on soldiers, who can rarely talk about their experiences. It also questions what a hero really is as it explores the lives of the "war heroes" returned home who don't feel like heroes, because really they were just there.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I was afraid it would be too dark for me, and it was quite dark, but in a way I found touching and meaningful. Francis, the main character, has just returned from war, and during the war he lost most of his face to a grenade. He was awarded a Silver Star for sacrificing himself to protect his comrades, but he doesn't feel like he deserves it. He returns home, but doesn't tell anyone who he is and no one recognizes him. His only goal is to kill a certain someone who should also be returning to the town. You eventually learn that the man he wants to kill was his childhood hero who raped his (Francis's) girlfriend. Francis knew what was happening but didn't do anything to stop it and has felt terribly guilt since. Instead of killing himself he decided to go to war to find a war to die in battle (it's less dishonorable that way), and his desire to die is what led him to jump on the grenade that took his face. Now Francis just wants to kill his childhood hero, and then himself. Ultimately he confronts his childhood hero, and then the childhood hero kills himself. Francis visits his old girlfriend planing to kill himself afterward, but the story ends ambiguously, and you don't actually know whether or not Francis decides to kill himself.
This book was very well written. It explores the horrors of war and the effect war has on soldiers, who can rarely talk about their experiences. It also questions what a hero really is as it explores the lives of the "war heroes" returned home who don't feel like heroes, because really they were just there.