Whenever you fail a test you can bury your head in the sand and pretend it never happened. Or you can get up and try to do something about it.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and from all around us. Finding Heroes begins with the ordinary world and explores the notion of its safety in both positive and negative aspects. The authors encourage young people to venture beyond their ordinary world to see what they can discover about themselves and their world. Along the way, they discuss failure and mistakes and encourage readers to see the opportunities in their situation. This book facilitates considered decision-making and personal growth. Carnegie and Stynes have drawn examples of heroic behaviour from history, politics, sport, fiction and movies.
Finding Heroes is a magazine-styled book which intersperses information with anecdotes and first person reports. Information is in manageable bites and is reinforced using a wide range of examples. There are quotes from current sporting heroes like netballer Liz Ellis and swimmer Ian Thorpe and well-known international figures like Nelson Mandela, Anne Frank and Martin Luther King. There are personal stories from real people who share their mistakes as well as their triumphs. But what gives this book something extra is the use of fictional heroes like Charlie from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, Simba from ‘The Lion King’ and Frodo from ‘The Lord of the Rings’. They allow the serious subject of building resilience in our youth to be explored in an entertaining, accessible way. Each chapter is summarised at its end, reaffirming the messages throughout. Finding Heroes has wide application for 9-14 year olds. A wonderful resource.
Finding Heroes, by Dr Jon Carnegie and Jim Stynes
Allen & Unwin 2006
ISBN: 9780741147575