A review by chantelleatkinswriter
We Can Be Heroes by Catherine Bruton

4.0

I found this book a little bit slow in the beginning, as all the various storylines are set up. But things soon get going and the characters are so well drawn, that I warmed to them very quickly. Ben is the narrator, and has been sent to live with his grandparents while his mother is recovering from an illness. His dad died in 9/11 and Ben does not remember him. Also at his grandparents for the summer is his cousin Jed. A boy who hangs on every word his bitter father says, which has led him to cut his mother out of his life. Jed's father Ian is an angry man who blames all Muslims for what happened to his brother. Across the street lives Priti, an Asian girl, with a very vivid imagination. She believes her older sister Zara is at risk of being a victim of an honour killing, due to her involvement with local white thug Tyreese. When her, Jed and Ben join forces, their pasts, uncertainties and imaginations create even more drama, as they begin to suspect Priti's older brother Shakeel of being a suicide bomber. There is a lot going on, and several storylines to follow, all of which culminate in a very dramatic and explosive ending. I couldn't put the book down towards the end and felt increasingly sorry for the three mixed up children. I bought this for my daughter and I think she is going to love it! Lots of difficult issues tackled in a sensitive and witty manner.