Product Description

After years of abuse from his mother and neglect from his father, ninth-grader Sean Parker is headed for trouble until he is sent to do community service at a farm owned by an old man who teaches Sean that he can take control of his own life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #981153 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780141307015
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up. This earnest first novel tackles a topical subject?the emotional effects of child abuse and abandonment?and gives readers both a realistic picture of the damage done and reason to hope. Hot-headed, confused, and fiercely defensive, 15-year-old Sean is easily drawn into fights at school and then tangles with the law. What he is not telling anyone is that his alcoholic mother has been taking out her frustrations on him, physically as well as emotionally. Sean is sentenced to community service at a horse farm. Under Mr. Hassler's steady hand, the boy experiences, and sometimes resists, the structure and guidance for which he has hungered. When he assists at the birth of a foal that bonds with him, Sean discovers the rewards of attachment and trust, as well as the responsibility of caring for a young creature. However, patterns of distrust, violence, and isolation cannot be overcome in one week of community service. Sean is tested, fails, and emerges to try again, all the while gaining a sense of personal responsibility for his future. In places the plot is contrived; the foal is rejected by its mother, providing an oh-so-obvious substitute on which Sean vents his rage. Also, a concerned teacher keeps showing up at all the right moments to cheer the young man on. Nonetheless, Rottman avoids the expected ending. Through Sean, she gives readers a convincing and difficult protagonist and a fresh perspective on what it means to be a hero.?Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Rottman's first novel pits a bitter teenager against some caring adults and levels his defenses with the prospect of a secure future. Sean, nine years after his parents' divorce, has never recovered from their separation, which left him in the care of his alcoholic, abusive mother. His father sends support payments but, according to Sean's first-person narration, takes no other interest in his son. When Sean, after misbehaving at school, is assigned to perform community service at a ranch, he is confronted by the outwardly gruff Dave Hassler, a veteran of WW II and all-around old-timer. Called upon to help deliver a foal, muck out stalls, and spread manure over gardens and fields left fallow for the winter, Sean finds himself enjoying the hard work, sense of accomplishment, and security of Dave's environment. When a former best friend, Rick, comes to settle an old score, Sean strikes back, definitively. Convenient encounters (a teacher, Mrs. Walker, shows up at the oddest times), information-laden incidents of eavesdropping, and over-extended parallels between a mare who rejects its foal and Sean's home life mar this debut. A homework assignment about heroes forms an awkward bracket around the main story, in which Sean's surly, snarling mother is a caricature cast among other more realistically drawn adults, and Dave's shining heroism is a transplant from another era entirely. (Fiction. 12-16) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
Hero is the first novel by S.L. Rottman, a junior high school English teacher. It is about 15-year-old Sean who was abandoned by his father, abused by his mother, and is having trouble in school with his classes, teachers and fellow students. When Sean breaks curfew, he is arrested, charged, and sentenced to do community service on a nearby ranch. He grows to love and respect Dave Hassler, the rancher, who teaches him to believe in himself. A parallel to Sean's own situation is the birth of a foal who is rejected by its mother. With much compassion Sean takes care of little Knicker and learns responsibility for the first time in his life. This well-written book is a page-turner in which each character provides a greater understanding of human experiences. Junior high and high school English teachers will find this wonderful novel will provide provocative class discussions. Recommended for 6th grade and up. -- From Independent Publisher

Customer Reviews

An excellent book for the 9th grade classroom!
Hero is a sensitive and poignant portrait of a young man who has suffered physical abuse, but is offered an opportunity to learn some of life's most important lessons. Through the actions and dialogue of beautifully crafted characters, the author weaves themes of hope and redemption. I have used this book with at-risk 9th grade students who are very reluctant readers and, without exception, boys and girls alike love this book and respond to it very positively. Hero offers a myriad of wonderful discussion starters as well as journal writes and critical thinking opportunities. I use Hero in my English classes; however, I believe it could be used effectively in any course related to decision- and choice-making, relating to others in positive ways, and respecting others. I highly recommend this wonderful book!

excellent book
The first time I read this book, I was a young teenager. I thought the author really captured the essence of a teenager and what kind of pressures they face. I highly recomend this book... It was very well written.

This book is really NICE!!!!!
I think this is a good book. I like all the characters and I like how this book is setup. This book is good for all ages. Good classroom book for teachers. I read this book in my reading class. I got into the book really fast and I couldn't put the book down. My favorite character in this book was Sean. He was a nice kid inside and it shows you in the book. At first he seemed like a trouble maker and later he shows you the real him. With a farmers help (Mr. Hassler). I really don't read books. It's not my thing but when I read this one it had me going for another one.