SHOOTING THE MOON
by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
2009
This story takes place during the Vietnam War. Twelve-year-old Jamie and her brother have both dreamed of following in the footsteps of their father, the Colonel. She is thrilled when her brother enlists in the army and is being sent to Vietnam. Her parents aren't as thrilled, because unlike Jamie, they know what the consequences could be.
She looks forward to letters from her brother, but instead of writing to her, he sends rolls of film to her to develop on a regular basis.
A lot of the story takes place in a rec room on the base where she volunteers at during the summer. She plays gin rummy with the soldier who works there. A friendship grows between the two and slowly Jamie grows to dislike the war and worries about her brother and that her friend might also be sent to Vietnam.
The end is a little abrupt and different, but all in all satisfying.
The Horn Book said "complicated and unpredictable -- just like war."
This historical fiction was a fairly quick read. I read it in one day. If you are interested in the Vietnam War and that time period, I would recommend it.
Click here to check out my post on Darlene Beck-Jacobson's web page today. It is about the research I did on my book, Duck and Cover.
Happy reading!
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