An Eclectic Mix of Role Models ...

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine Program.

HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER is a neat little book in which Brad Meltzer introduces fifty-five individuals he felt were appropriate role models for his young daughter. While the list of individuals Meltzer chose and his rationale in choosing them were personally directed toward his daughter, the book is diverse enough to reach a broader audience and spark a young child's interest in learning more about some remarkable people and events.

Short and sweet; 2-page chapters succinctly introduce each the "heroes" and explain why Meltzer feels they should matter to his daughter. It may be the person's role in a monumental event, a lifetime of achievement, a willingness to face adversity or an act of kindness; Meltzer outlines the specific reason he believes they are important enough to remember (and he doesn't necessarily focus on the obvious for the better-known individuals). What makes his chosen list interesting and unique is that while they are role models for his daughter, they are not all female, not all adults, not all famous and not necessarily real people. While some may scoff at the idea of the Three Stooges and Lisa Simpson making the cut, he explains why in each summary ... hinting that role models come in all forms. I especially liked the way each vignette is headed with the hero's name followed by a two or three word synopsis and a photo. The body of each summary provides the author's case for considering the individual "hero-worthy", with Meltzer oftentimes choosing to inject poetic emphasis in his explanation rather than providing a mundane Wikipedia-like entry. I particularly enjoyed the pattern of each chapter/vignette concluding with a quote for either the hero or someone associated with the hero (for example: the college softball coach commenting on selfless sportsmanship exhibited by two of his players). The inclusion of the author's own family members to the list adds a personal touch.

I found this book to be a wonderful way of introducing some amazing stories and people to my daughter. Reading a few entries to her nightly always generated a question-and-answer session following each chapter ... the book certainly sparks an interest. As with any finite list, there will be debate as to why some made the list, while others did not. But, the intent of the book is personal for the author, not universal ... and he is merely sharing his list with the reader. Yes, there are many books available that carry a similar message (role models for kids), what separates HEROES FOR MY DAUGHTER from the others is the personal touch and occasional curve-ball that Meltzer delivers with his own list of heroes.