Brave Like That

This uplifting tale, which award-winning author Leslie Connor dubbed “a perfectly paced journey of the heart” is perfect for fans of Lisa Graff and Lynda Mullaly Hunt. 

Cyrus Olson’s dad is a hero—Northfield’s former football star and now one of their finest firefighters. Everyone expects Cyrus to follow in his dad’s record-breaking footsteps, and he wishes they were right—except he’s never been brave like that. But this year, with the help of a stray dog, a few new friends, a little bit of rhythm, and a lot of nerve, he may just discover that actually…he is.

Lauded as “remarkable” by the New York Times Book Review, Lindsey Stoddard’s heartfelt stories continue to garner critical acclaim, and her latest novel will have fans new and old rooting for Cyrus and Parker’s special bond and the courage it helps them both to find.

What happens when the boy everyone expects to be a hero discovers his own kind of bravery?

• Finding Courage: Cyrus thinks he’s not brave like his firefighter dad, but learns that quitting the football team to join the band takes a different, and maybe even bigger, kind of strength.
• An Unforgettable Animal Story: A scruffy, scared stray dog named Parker shows up on the firehouse doorstep, giving Cyrus a chance to be the rescuer and find a friend who understands him without a single word.
• Unlikely Friendship: When a new boy named Eduardo arrives at school, Cyrus has to choose between fitting in with his old friends and standing up for someone who sees the world differently.
• A Powerful Father Son Story: The bond between Cyrus and the man who adopted him is tested as Cyrus struggles to live up to his dad’s legacy and find his own path.