Suitabook

Heroes for my son

Brad Meltzer

Reading: Read a few portraits at a time, pausing to name the quality being highlighted. Let your child add a personally chosen hero, then compare what the book includes with what it leaves unexplored.
Themes: How heroism is defined: The portraits connect people’s achievements or actions with qualities the book presents as admirable, including courage, kindness, persistence and peace activism. The collection clearly encourages readers to value these qualities, while its examples show that heroism can be attached to different kinds of contribution.
Whose stories are centred: The collection includes women, African-American figures and some world citizens, but is described as mostly white, male and Euro-American. The range is broader than a single demographic, yet the overall selection may shape a narrower picture of whose lives count as heroic.
Worth knowing: Some selections may feel surprising, and the portraits can present admiration more confidently than they explain complexity. Treat the book as a starting point for questions, not a complete account of anyone’s life.