Armed with art, truth, and friendship, small town teens Vivian, Beck, and the ghost of Cassie, their murdered friend, combat the culture of guns, violence, and intimidation that have changed their lives forever. Told in alternating chapters voiced by each of the girls, with an investigator's podcast transcripts and murals of mythological heroines recast as an avenging Cassie rounding out its structure, this novel takes on a big subject. It mostly succeeds. The main characters and their relationships are well-developed (except for possible romantic tension between Vivian and Beck that's so unresolved it’s distracting). Cassie’s chapters are especially effective. While the podcast transcripts feel stagey and contrived at times, the basic information is good. Allusions to Greek myths and facts about gun violence create interesting rabbit trails.

Overall, We Can Be Heroes is a good read. Unfortunately, Beck’s spray-painted murals aren’t in the galley. Since they need to be seen, not just imagined, I dropped my rating from 3.5 to 3.

We Can Be Heroes is an interesting look at both grief and gun control - all with a paranormal twist!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book, but I thought it was a great look into the world of a teenager struggling with "adult issues". It tackles grief and abuse in a way that is thoughtful and kind to those who may be struggling with similar issues. I think that it was moving but it was hard to picture a lot of the things that were described. However, I do think it would make a fantastic miniseries or movie where we can really LOOK into this town of Bell

Loved, loved this book about Beck and Vivian deciding to seek vengeance when their best friend Cassie is killed by her abusive boyfriend, Nico, in school. Although Nico also killed himself, his dad owns a firearms store and their town is the heart of gun culture. The girls decide to secretly paint murals showing Cassie as certain Greek myths so people won’t forget her . Even more interesting is the girls can see the spirit of Cassie and can talk to her.They want to make a difference so that people realize they have the right to be kept safe from a gun. A podcaster gets involved and the town become divided. People begin to realize the girls are capable of making a difference, and they get more people to speak out against gun violence.Such a powerful, important and timely book.

McCauley KNOCKED it out of the park with her story of angry girls and a friendship that lasts beyond death. Timely, important, and oh so beautiful.