Reviews

We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley

helmiz_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

stutzmaa14's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

what a unique + important story

apreadingme's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

shieldofapollo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness

mxmaggie__'s review against another edition

3.75

A very good morality tale. Made a lot of useful connections between gun violence and some abuse, while having somewhat clunky story.

littleduckreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

4.25

followinglilies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

slightlylostwriter's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sweetstar229's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

This book was a solid mid, but that's on me for picking up a book about grief when I was in a bad headspace. I might reread and have a different opinion later down the line. 

Nevertheless, I liked the overaching theme of grief, how the author captures the way grief lingers around the living. I felt the injustice of Cassie's death and I was rooting for Vivian and Beck to bring justice to her murderer as well as everyone who turned a blind eye. 

I live in a country where weapons, especially guns, are heavily regulated so I didn't resonate with the gun violence aspect, but I imagine that those who do would like this book much better than I did. 

Finished the book in 2-3 days, which is medium speed for me. The plot wasn't super interesting, and it's not meant to be. This is a character study about grief and the horrifying reality of gun violence, a tribute to both its victims and survivors, a reminder of the cruel world we live in. The ending bittersweet yet hopeful, which I like. 

Overall, it's something that I would recommend to others in specific circumstances and a good book to get a debate started at book club. 

jwinchell's review against another edition

4.0

Too much drinking for a middle school library, this is an empowering YA novel about surviving gun violence, understanding domestic violence even when people are not married, and the god damn gun industry. I think all teens should read this book. There was a ghost but it felt believable to me. Important.