We Can Be Heroes

Beck and Vivian grapple with the loss of their best friend, Cassie, after she is killed in a school shooting by her ex-boyfriend. They come up with a plan to memorialize her and also embark on a journey to give Cassie, whose ghost joins them in Beck’s van, the closure she needs. Big, complex themes and moving lyrical prose give readers insight into relationship abuse and violence and may also provide comfort to those whose lives have been touched by domestic violence, gun violence, or who have faced loss in the wake of such tragedies. Suitable for a senior secondary audience, the novel lends itself to a literature circle selection or class novel study. Teachers may choose to pair the story with other resources dealing with relationship abuse and violence.