Reading level: Ages 9-12 (Jenn’s opinion: 12 & up)
Hardcover: 184 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile; 1 edition (June 9, 2011)
Source: Publisher
It’s the summer of 1969 (yes, Bryan Adam’s song definitely comes to mind). Twelve year old Brody is spending the summer before starting junior high as most kids did at that age: swimming at the local pool, listening to music on the radio and hoping for more playing time on the football team. Around him, however, the world is changing. We’ve just landed on the moon, the Mets start their trek to the World Series.
But most importantly, the Vietnam War is raging on. His older brother, Ryan, is just weeks away from reaching eighteen years old and at risk for being drafted to go to war. Ryan battles with their father on a pretty continuous basis: he doesn’t want to be forced to go to college in order to avoid being drafted, but he also doesn’t believe in the war, as many did during this time period.
It’d be different if the war was over here,” Ryan says. “If they were tyring to kill Mom or Brody or Jenny. I’d be the first in line then. But I ain’t about to get ambushed over in that swamp…get bayonet stabbed between my ribs. Why in the hell are we even over there?”
When Brody joins Ryan on a trip to upstate New York for this amazing live concert called Woodstock, he suddenly becomes aware of the real world around him. People are dying in a war they don’t believe in, a war that could take his older brother away. Brody is already at a pretty difficult and trying age for a young boy and being forced to deal with the potential reality of losing his older brother to war is pretty frightening. Through Brody’s voice, the reader relives the summer and fall of 1969, a truly challenging time in America’s history.
Brody writes to to detail & express his feelings:
Woodstock Flock
Marching
Not to battle
Marching
All night long
Marching
Past barns and cattle
Marching
To hear a songMarching
With my brother
Marching
With thousands more
Marching
To hear another
Marching
Against the War
When I heard about this book, I was drawn to it for some reason. I didn’t grow up in the late sixties, I wasn’t born until nearly a decade later. What drew me to this book was Brody’s story. I feel compelled to read coming-of-age stories, especially those involving young boys. I myself have two young boys, one nearing Brody’s age.
It was my intent on reading this book along with my oldest son, John. The publisher lists the age range from 8-12 years but I tend to disagree. The subject matter, in my humble opinion, is more appropriate for 12 and above. There is mild language, talk of beer and smoking pot, and while my son & I have open discussions about these topics, I just didn’t find it appropriate for the age range for which it is “advertised.” Therefore, I believe this book would be more suited for the higher end of the middle grade age range or the lower part of the YA age range, around the 12-15 age range.
That said, I do think this is a book that should be read by young adults, and adults as well, frankly. It is a completely honest and engaging look at a critical part of our nation’s history. Don’t let the subject matter cause you to believe this is a dark and depressing book; since we are experiencing it through a teen boy there is a great deal of levity and humor. Bottom line: Recommended.
Thank you TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to participate in this tour. Learn more about this book and the author & check out the other blogs on this tour on the book’s blog tour page.
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