True Heroes: A Treasury of Modern-day Fairy Tales Written by Best-selling Authors - Hardcover

Jonathan Diaz is an attorney by day and a photographer by night. When he isn't taking photographs of mermaids, dragon riders, and fairies, Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and family. Jon's favorite saying is,Ok, just one more picture!

Gr 4–8—Here are original fairy tales and hero stories written by authors such as Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull, Jennifer A. Nielsen, and Ally Condie, all inspired by Diaz's photography and his organization, Anything Can Be. Diaz takes vibrant photographs of children who are battling cancer. From being a baker to riding dragons to playing basketball with the Utah Jazz, the children live their fantasies through the photographs. In Liesl Shurtliff's "Jordan in Everywhere," Jordan experiences her final days and goes to a Wonderland-like place to find her father. In the photos, readers see Jordan dressed as Alice in Wonderland. In Condie's "The Drop-Off," Anna is going to a dance. She has a scar on her leg from an operation, and she debates with a friend whether she should kiss a boy at the end of the night. The accompanying image is of dancer Bre, who inspired the short story (Diaz merged two photos of Bre together to make her look as though she is leaping gracefully). Each tale is unique and begins with a short description of the child, his or her personal story, and the photograph. Scan codes direct readers to a behind-the-scenes video. VERDICT An inspiring anthology of well-told short stories accompanied by beautiful visuals.—Kris Hickey, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH