The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster
Published by Candlewick Press on 4/1/25
ISBN: 1536239046
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Oli is spending his spring break at Hero Club, a weeklong program for autistic children to learn social and self care skills.  On the way to his first session, Oli sees a dog that needs rescuing, but he freezes in the moment and doesn’t help the dog.  The guilt stays with Oli and he tries to think of ways to help the dog.  He is relieved to find out that other kids in the Hero Club have also seen this dog.  None of the adults believe the kids, so they decide to come up with a plan to rescue the dog on their own, before the building it is living in is demolished.  It’s a risky plan, especially for Oli, but he does not want to disappoint his new friends.

This chapter book is a great mirror/window book about neurodiversity.  Readers will enjoy the suspense of the Heroes trying to rescue the dog, but the backdrop of the book are the sessions where the kids work hard to learn about things autistic people often struggle with such as identifying emotions, making and keeping friends, and quieting their minds and bodies.  All of the main characters are neurodiverse, so they don’t stand out negatively in any way.  In fact, each character is celebrated for the unique skills they contribute to the dog’s rescue.  Oli also has a supportive and loving family, and his relationship with his sister is sweet to witness.  This book is highly recommended for any school or public library that has 3rd-5th grade readers.  

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library