Park's Quest

Katherine Paterson's 'Park's Quest' is a poignant chapter book about eleven-year-old Parkington 'Park' Waddell Broughton V, who embarks on a journey to understand his father, a U.S. Marine Corps pilot who died in the Vietnam War when Park was three. Frustrated by his mother's silence, Park visits the Vietnam Memorial and later travels to his paternal grandfather's farm in Virginia. There, he encounters his inarticulate grandfather, his uncle, and a Vietnamese girl his age. Park's romanticized view of his father's past shatters as he uncovers a complex family truth: the Vietnamese girl is his half-sister, and his parents divorced due to his father's infidelity before his final tour. This powerful story explores themes of grief, identity, forgiveness, and the complexities of family, offering a rich narrative for children navigating difficult emotions and understanding their heritage. It is best suited for readers aged 8-12 who can engage with mature themes.

12 year old Park makes some startling discoveries when he travels to his grandfather's farm in Virgina to learn about his father who died in War.AND HIS MAMA TOO