Almost a Hero - Softcover

Gr. 6^-9. Twelve years may have passed since Neufeld has written for young adults, but he still knows his audience. Ben Derby is a 12-year-old whose teacher has assigned to him a week of charitable work during spring break. Ben works at a day care center for homeless children, one of whom Ben thinks he sees being abused in the grocery store, When "the system" is too cautious in its response, Ben and his friends plan a bold rescue of the child. Ben's experience opens his eyes to the complexities of homelessness, the fine line between helping and intruding, and even the unhealed grief within his own family. With a few exceptions, Neufeld's casual writing seems to flow straight from the heart of a 12-year-old. Right on target are Ben's wry observations of adults, his frustration and his youthful impetuosity. Dealing as well with family, friends, and a potential girlfriend, too, Ben is much more than a mouthpiece for social issues--he is a rich, three-dimensional character and worthy of the title, almost a hero. Julie Yates Walton

A 13-year-old boy befriends homeless children; PW said that the novel "tends toward the pedantic... and is almost entirely driven by coincidence." Ages 8-12.
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