Heroes by Robert Cormier (2000)

Just before my English class ended for the semester my English teacher had us read this book. I wasn't expecting to like it because I don't generally like stuff I have to read for school. I loved it! It was a very well written book. ( )

Robert Cormier the author of the book “Heroes” describes the story of a young mean that has returned from world war II. His name is Francis Joseph Cassavant. Escaping from a crime that his friend had committed he lies about his age and enlists in the army. When he returns to his hometown he starts describing his childhood.

Cormier keeps us engaged with the reading by describing the man “with no face”. Francis has “no “face” because during the war a grenade blew up and disfigured his face. Francis is described as a mysterious , weird, hateful, and regretful person. Francis came back to his hometown looking for his ex-best friend who had committed a crime.

Francis describes how he meet his friend Larry LaSalle the one that committed the crime. They discovered a lot of things qualities that made them more united in The Wreck Centre. One of the things that they discovered was Francis talent for table tennis. In the Wreck Francis and Larry meet Nicole Renard which later on the story she would become one of their best friends and Francis lover. They would spend a lot of time together but everything would change.

Cormier kept me reading this book by not saying what had happen or what was the crime. When Francis had found Larry to explain why he did it and what had happened the story took a dramatic change that kept me reading it. I thing that that’s the key of keeping someone engaged in reading book.

I would recommend this book to those who like reading mystery, drama, and suspense books. I recommend it because I personally don’t like reading but this book kept me wanting to read. In conclusion I would evaluate this book with four stars out of five because of the dramatic changes and the sequence of events that happen in the book and that keep you wanting to read

This book takes place during the time of World War II. Francis Cassavant is a young boy (early teens) who is in love with a young girl, Nicole Renard. After a town hero (and war hero), Larry LaSalle comes back home, Francis witnesses the unthinkable act Larry does to Nicole. He joins the military, hoping to be killed in war, but instead gets his face blown off by a grenade and is sent back home a hero. Francis’ only goal is to find and kill Larry LaSalle and then end his own life. In the end, Larry kills himself, Francis talks with Nicole one last time, and he is considering to write a book one day.

I did not like this book at all. There was no suspense or excitement really. And the end was not satisfying. I think Larry should have been found out publicly to even further kill his “good” name before committing suicide. And something about the healing of Francis’ face after cosmetic surgery or anything definite about his future would have helped the ending have a better closure. It was dull and depressing to me. There just wasn’t any justice served for the cruel acts Larry committed…not satisfied at all!

Two extensions?! How am I going to come up with two extensions for a book I wouldn’t even use in my classroom? I guess an easy one would be to have the students research World War II and compare what they find with how the guys acted when they returned from war and provide an explanation for that behavior. Another extension could be to write a paper about what they believe has a more powerful effect on people: love or war. ( )

After three years fighting in World War II, Francis Cassavant returns home a mangled, faceless Silver Star war hero. He still has one final mission though – to find and eliminate the childhood hero who destroyed his life. The reasons for this intense hatred are unraveled through the main character’s flashbacks and examine the nature of heroism and cowardice, betrayal and revenge.

I really enjoyed this book – hence I got through it in one night! The mystery of what happened between Francis and his childhood hero and also how Francis received his war injuries were lures that kept me reading. The reasons behind both were quite unexpected for me. This novel is not for those looking for a light, feel-good read. It’s dark and depressing and leaves you with a sinking feeling in your gut. But its ‘real life’ and the ending, while not happy, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit to go on even when life throws you the worst. ( )