Looking For Heroes Kathryne Colvin

The theme of the book, Looking For Heroes: One Boy, One Year, 100 Letters, is finding a path to success despite disabilities. The author, Aidan Colvin, explores how to overcome the challenges presented by his dyslexia diagnosis, in his path success. Clearly, Colvin feels helpless and wants to reach out to people who have the same struggles as he does. Colvin writes to successful people who have dyslexia and asks them how they became successful.

At the beginning of his book, Looking For Heroes, Aidan Colvin sets out on a mission to write to 100 famous or successful people with dyslexia. Some of the people Colvin ends up getting responses from are Ms. Bancroft, Dr. Delos Cosgrove, Amanda Thirsk, Diane Swank, Ben Foss, Jay Leno and many more successful people who have struggled with dyslexia. After receiving responses from many of the successful people he wrote to, Colvin discovers that the thing that is holding him back is the same thing that can make him successful too! Dyslexia may be a challenge, but it can also be a gift!

In the book, Colvin tells how he reached out to famous people to gain insight on how to cope and overcome his difficulties in school and in life.

In chapter one, Colvin introduces his family to the readers and explains his mission to mail letters to famous dyslexics. As this book goes on, the famous people who Colvin mailed letters to, get back to him and tell him that he can overcome the challenges that dyslexia

presents.

Throughout the book, Colvin includes quotes from the responses he received, for example:

In chapter 3, “Blending In”, on pages 12 -13,

Actor, Henry Winkler says, “ what are your strengths? whatever they are. run with them.”

In chapter 6, “The First Letter”, on pages 26 - 30,

Famous surgeon, Dr. Delos Cosgrove writes, “ Dyslexia is a strength in that it makes you think more creatively… Hard work will get you there.”

In chapter 9, “Arming Oneself”, on pages 41-44,

Private secretary to the Princess Beatrice of York, Amanda Thirst writes, “ Her Royal Highness is confident that you, too, can do so (overcome dyslexia) and wishes you every success with your time in school.”

Further along in the book, in chapter 22, “The Jay Leno Show”, pages 99 - 102, Adian writes to his hero, Jay Leno. At first, Jay Leno doesn't respond, but Colvin doesn't give up hope of a response. Miraculously, Aidan actually gets to meet Jay Leno! Leno’s quote for Aidan was “Don't take a job taking down hundreds of phone numbers and you'll be fine.” Leno, obviously, added some comedy to his response, but the message is the same - Colvin can succeed!

At the end of Colvin’s journey, he realizes that the thing that's holding him back is the same thing that will help him become successful. Dyslexia is not all about deficits, it is also about creativity, developing persistence and searching for your unique talents. Colvin realized that each of the messages from successful people has similar insights for the path to overcoming the challenge of dyslexia. The most constant theme is the message that you can succeed if you focus on your strengths and develop your confidence. It’s not what you can’t do that matters, it’s what you can do!

This book was very important to me because, in addition to English being my second language,  I also struggle like Aidan Colvin, with severe dyslexia. My dyslexia has brought many tearful moments, but it has also led me to develop my musical and art talents. Fortunately, when I am on stage drumming, I rarely worry about being labeled dyslexic!