Heroes by Robert Cormier is a novel set in the fictitious town of Frenchtown, Massachusetts, in the north-east of the United States of America. The majority of its inhabitants are of French descent and French is widely spoken there.
The story is narrated by Francis Cassavant and tells of his life and experiences in Frenchtown; growing up, falling in love and later going to war. The opening paragraph is short and shocking, ending with the dramatic line: I have no face.
This is the hook which intrigues the reader and invites him/her to read further. The novel questions what is meant by a hero, and the narrative moves back and forth between 1939 and 1945.