by Sarah Lean (Author)
From the author of A Dog Called Homeless, winner of the Schneider Family Book Award, comes an action-filled adventure about friendship, imagination, and what it means to be a hero, perfect for fans of classic dog and friendship stories like Because of Winn-Dixie and Shiloh.
The short length makes Hero a great pick for reluctant readers and readers who have just graduated from chapter books, but its themes of bullying and finding courage to stand up for what's right mean the story is meaty enough for more advanced readers, too.
Leo is invincible when he's pretending to be a gladiator in his imagination, but in real life, he struggles to make friends--unless you count his neighbor's little dog, Jack Pepper. So Leo is thrilled when the cool kids invite him to hang out, even though they sometimes pressure him to do mean things.
When Leo accidentally does something that makes the whole town think he's a hero, he rolls with it--it feels nice to be celebrated, even if it's a lie. But when Jack Pepper needs Leo's help, can Leo find it in himself to be a genuine hero?
Front Jacket
Leo is a dreamer.
It's easy to feel brave when he's pretending to be a gladiator, battling ferocious beasts. But in real life, Leo feels like he never accomplishes anything--he can't even seem to make more than two friends, and one of those is his neighbor's little white dog, Jack Pepper.
Then, one day at school, Leo's imagination gets him in trouble, and suddenly some new friends are asking him to join them. Leo goes along, even though it means telling lies and making mischief. When things get out of hand and Jack Pepper saves Leo from his own misadventures, Leo's family and neighbors think Leo saved the dog. Leo revels in being the hero--it feels so good, even if it's a lie. But when Jack Pepper is really in danger, can Leo find the strength in himself to be the hero everyone already thinks he is?
From award-winning author Sarah Lean comes a heartwarming tale about a friendship between a boy and a dog, the power of telling the truth, and the extraordinary capacity of imagination to help you be yourself.
--ALA BooklistBack Jacket
Leo is a dreamer.
It's easy to feel brave when he's pretending to be a gladiator, battling ferocious beasts. But in real life, Leo feels like he never accomplishes anything--he can't even seem to make more than two friends, and one of those is his neighbor's little white dog, Jack Pepper.
Then, one day at school, Leo's imagination gets him in trouble, and suddenly some new friends are asking him to join them. Leo goes along, even though it means telling lies and making mischief. When things get out of hand and Jack Pepper saves Leo from his own misadventures, Leo's family and neighbors think Leo saved the dog. Leo revels in being the hero--it feels so good, even if it's a lie. But when Jack Pepper is really in danger, can Leo find the strength in himself to be the hero everyone already thinks he is?
From award-winning author Sarah Lean comes a heartwarming tale about a friendship between a boy and a dog, the power of telling the truth, and the extraordinary capacity of imagination to help you be yourself.