 |
by Audrey Couloumbis
Published 2005 |
The summer of her thirteenth birthday, Grace's brother torches his draft card. That draft card is pretty much Collin's invitation to the Vietnam War, and he isn't supposed to turn it down, much less burn it. At first, Grace is secretly thrilled that maybe "good boy" Collin will finally get into trouble.
But when Daddy puts Collin's belongings out on the porch and locks the door, Grace realizes her family has taken a turn down a road that could tear them all apart.
She runs away to her grandmother's farm, where her extended family has gathered, but even at the farm, she can't escape the war. Her cousins Dolly and Theo also have brothers who were drafted. Dolly's struggling with fear and worry for her brother, who went to fight. Theo's brother went to Canada, and some people, even Dolly, think Theo should be ashamed of him. Dolly and Theo mirror the two sides her parents have taken regarding Collin, and Grace is hopelessly stuck in the middle.
But when tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that all the arguing in the world won't change the fact that family can be taken away in a heartbeat.
Newberry Honor award winner Audrey Couloumbis again shows her talent for creating unforgettable characters in a story that will resonate with contemporary readers.
|
