Two events were held this week with Kate Messner, author of the 2026 Richardson Reads One Book selection, “The Trouble with Heroes.” Messner gave a free lecture to about 900 people Tuesday night at First United Methodist Church and was interviewed by Richardson Assistant Fire Chief Gene Senter in front of a packed house at a luncheon Wednesday at the Eisemann Center.
Messner is a former news reporter and schoolteacher. Her novel follows a 13-year-old Finn Connelly who is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after losing his father, a veteran New York City firefighter, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. After damaging the headstone of a legendary mountain climber, he is offered a unique way to make amends: climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks with her dog. The book visits themes of resilience, redemption and the many forms courage can take.
Richardson Reads One Book cultivates community through the shared experience of reading and discussing important topics within an annual book selection and author visit. The goals of RROB are to build community participation in an annual program that selects and reads one particular book that is carefully chosen for its general interest as well as for its timely, thought-provoking issues. The 2027 Richardson Reads One Book selection will be announced in the spring.
