Heroes for My Daughter

June 24, 2013
Listeners should have a box of tissues handy for this brief audio production in which Meltzer presents 60 noteworthy individuals whom he upholds as heroes for his six-year-old daughter, Lila. Meltzer opens by announcing that he will be reading the book to Lila with her right there in the studio, so she chimes in to say hello (and makes a brief appearance later as well). What Meltzer lacks in skills as an actor he makes up for in passion as a father seeking to broaden his daughter’s world. Every mini-biography rings with his enthusiasm as he elucidates what he admires about figures such as Susan B. Anthony, Christopher Reeve, Julia Child, and Rosa Parks. There are a couple of emotional moments when he relates more personal heroes, like the ninth-grade teacher who first recognized his talent as a writer, or the passengers on United Flight 93 who refused to let hijackers crash their airplane into Washington, D.C.—where Lila’s mother had been on her way to work at the U.S. Capitol. The second disc contains a 67-page PDF with photos of every hero mentioned in the book and additional pages for printing and journaling about the listener’s own heroes. A Harper hardcover.

March 1, 2013

In this she-version companion piece to his 2010 release Heroes for My Son, thriller writer Meltzer offers profiles of such important and inspiring women as Marie Curie, Audrey Hepburn, and Amelia Earhart. The entries are one to two pages each and include a photograph, the hero's profession, and a Meltzer-manufactured heading. (Anne Frank is listed as "Witness" and Judy Blume as "Truth Teller.") The entries pique interest for further research, more than provide any real information (Sally Ride "saw an opportunity and grabbed it"). But libraries with Meltzer's Son volume may want to acquire the companion. VERDICT This book may provide ideas for biography reports, but it is ultimately more of a coffee-table book than a library resource.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
After sentimental introductions directed at his sons and daughter (respectively), Meltzer compiles succinct one-spread profiles of men and women who represent his view of heroism; each bio includes a black-and-white photo and a quote. With some overlap, the books include both well-known figures (Amelia Earhart, Nelson Mandela) and more obscure ones, as well as personal role models (Meltzer's ninth-grade English teacher). The personal approach adds resonance.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)