Title: We Can Be Heroes
Author: Kyrie McCauley
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: September 7, 2021
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Bookshop.org | Goodreads | StoryGraph
Summary
The town of Bell is known for one thing: they’re the home of Bell Firearms, one of the biggest gun suppliers in the US. After a tragedy at their high school leaves one casualty, Cassie, her two best friends think the town moved on too quickly. So, Beck and Vivian come together again for one reason: to get vengeance and to help Cassie’s ghost move on.
In order to do so, they start painting murals around town. Their acts catch the eye of a famous podcaster, someone who helps victims find justice. Soon, the town is caught in a debate about gun violence, one that finally cannot be ignored. Together, Beck and Vivian work to give Cassie the closure she needs. And to hopefully spark a change to keep it from happening again.
Review: We Can Be Heroes
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of We Can Be Heroes to review! Honestly, I was hooked by the cover for this one. It just looks stunning. I am happy to say that the story inside does this gorgeous cover justice!
This story is told by three narrators, Beck, Vivian, and Cassie, with snippets of the podcast between each of their chapters. Between the three of them, we can piece together what happened to Cassie and what sparked the debate about gun violence in their town. What I appreciated about this book was that we weren’t made to actually live through the school shooting itself. We get the gist of what happens, and that’s enough for the story.
I also appreciated the fact that this book draws a correlation between domestic abuse and gun violence. It also points out the fact that teen girls that come forward about domestic abuse often aren’t taken seriously because they’re teenagers. They’re told “it’s just a phase” or that it isn’t that serious because they’re young. However, abuse signs can be seen early and can often be just as deadly (as we can see in Cassie’s case).
The only reason this isn’t getting a full five stars is because I could see through the mystery aspect just a bit. However, I think if the right cast is selected, this could be a phenomenal audiobook with the podcast angle. So if you’re an audiobook listener, definitely keep an eye out for that!
All in all, I think this book was really well done and sheds light on a topic that definitely needs to be talked about more. From the characters to the message, this is definitely one that you’ll want on your radar.
4.5/5 stars