Synopsis
Offers a look at ordinary children who have done incredible things with their young lives, such as battling prejudice at school and raising money to build a well in an African village.
Reviews
Grade 5-9-In introducing and concluding this assemblage of fictional and real-life characters, Barron differentiates between the terms "hero" and "celebrity" and probes the qualities that constitute the former. The remaining chapters categorize individuals according to whether they have responded to a crisis, survived dreadful circumstances, displayed inner faith, helped others near or far, or exhibited such extraordinary actions as to be notable "for all time." The stories of Merlin and Prometheus mingle with those of Lance Armstrong, Charles Eastman, and Helen Keller. There are many examples of courageous children from Ruby Bridges and Mattie Stepanek to the lesser known, but equally inspiring young people who have raised money for people suffering in third-world countries, successfully lobbied for changes in legislation, or saved a drowning sibling. Entries are footnoted, so readers have a wealth of books, articles, and Web sites to pursue for further information. Barron likens the journey through life to a hike on a trail; his thesis is that heroes serve as guides along the way and remind us that we are not "walking alone." These and other messages are interspersed with the descriptions and conveyed through invented dialogues between the author (I) and an imagined companion (you) on the trail. While these sections are well meaning, they seem unnecessary; the biographical accounts stand on their own, with a more subtle connection to the metaphor. Nevertheless, the stories are well worth sharing. Black-and-white photos and a list of uplifting quotations add to the book's value.
Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A year after the tragedy of September 11, a second wave of titles arrives to inspire and comfort youngsters (see Children's Forecasts, July 29 for additional titles). The Hero's Trail: A Guide for a Heroic Life by T.A. Barron profiles people who exemplify heroic qualities, both well-known and less recognizable. Illustrating the importance of survival instincts in times of crisis, for example, the author mixes stories about Satchel Paige and Abraham Lincoln, Ruby Bridges and Anne Frank with the story of 10-year-old Joshua Dennis, who sang and prayed before being rescued from the mine where he was trapped for five days in 1989. Each chapter opens with a hiking story that illustrates a heroic quality and an inspirational quote; "More Quotations for the Trail" rounds out the volume.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
*Starred Review* Gr. 4-7. In this affecting book, Barron, perhaps best known for his magical series about Merlin, compares life to a journey, explores the way heroes inspire and guide us along the way, and shows how to make life "a walk on the hero's trail." In eloquent, engaging prose that often directly addresses the reader, Barron defines the qualities of a hero by drawing on diverse, well-chosen examples from both history and myth--from ordinary kids to the likes of Prometheus, Harriet Tubman, and Stephen Hawking. Each section begins with a quotation and includes an imaginary scenario in which Barron and a young hiker face and survive various challenges during a wilderness experience. Barron's personal anecdotes and commentary enhance and provide context for the individual profiles. The preface by a noted child psychologist is too academic for the book's target audience, but the rest is a great fit, accessible and well organized. A rewarding, informative read, the book introduces and pays homage to heroes throughout time, literature, and life, and it can serve as an inspiring resource for triumphing over difficulties. Stirring quotations, religious to literary; footnotes; and an extensive bibliography make this a boon for educators as well as for readers intrigued by the myth of the hero and what it really means in both life and literature. Shelle Rosenfeld
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