For a child grappling with unsettling world events and how they impact their daily life, this story captures the complexity of growing up amid uncertainty.
A parent should reach for this book when their child is beginning to notice unsettling world events on the news and is feeling anxious or confused. Set during the summer of 1969, the story follows twelve-year-old Brody as he navigates typical summer joys like baseball alongside the intense stress of a family divided by the Vietnam War. One of his older brothers is an anti-war protestor, while the other is serving in the army, creating a tense home life. This book is a gentle, accessible entry point for conversations about how global conflicts impact individual families. It masterfully balances the heavy themes of war and anxiety with the lighter, more immediate concerns of a boy's summer, like a neighborhood watermelon theft. For ages 9-12, it's a poignant and realistic story that normalizes the worry a child might feel about big, scary topics and shows how life continues even amid uncertainty.
Presents differing, legitimate viewpoints on the Vietnam War without an easy answer.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals directly with the anxieties of war, specifically the Vietnam War, from a home front perspective. It addresses the fear of losing a loved one in combat and the intense political and familial disagreements the war caused. The approach is secular and character-driven. The resolution is realistic: the family conflict isn't magically solved, but there's a deeper understanding and a hopeful sense of enduring love despite their differences.
Ideal Reader
A thoughtful 10-12 year old who is starting to become aware of complex world news (like war or political conflict) and is trying to process the accompanying anxiety. It's also for a child who may be witnessing sharp disagreements between family members over politics or social issues and feels caught in the middle.
Parent Prep
No specific pages require previewing. However, parents should be prepared to provide simple, age-appropriate context about the Vietnam War, the draft, and the protest movement. The book stands on its own, but a brief historical primer would enhance comprehension and create a richer discussion. The parent notices their child seems worried after watching the news or overhears adult conversations about war or conflict. The child might ask, "Why are they fighting?" or express fear that something bad could happen to their own family.
Age Experience
A younger reader (9-10) will likely connect most with Brody's immediate problems: the baseball games, his friendships, the watermelon mystery, and the surface-level discomfort of his family arguing. An older reader (11-12) will better grasp the historical context, the nuances of the political divide, and the moral weight of the choices facing Brody's brothers and the country.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many historical fiction novels for this age that focus on WWII, this book's setting on the Vietnam-era home front is relatively unique. Its key strength is how it filters a massive, divisive national conflict through the very specific, personal, and relatable lens of one boy and his family. The juxtaposition of a major war with a minor watermelon theft makes the abstract anxiety of the era tangible for a young reader.
Read plot summary
Twelve-year-old Brody is spending the summer of 1969 playing baseball and hanging out with friends. This classic American summer is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the draft, the moon landing, and Woodstock. The primary conflict is within his own family: his oldest brother, Ryan, is a vocal anti-war protestor, while his other brother, Patrick, is serving in the army. Brody is caught in the middle, trying to understand the deeply divided opinions of the people he loves most, all while dealing with a local mystery about a prized stolen watermelon.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Brody's brothers, Ryan and Patrick, have completely opposite views on the Vietnam War. Do you think one of them is right and one is wrong, or is it more complicated? Why?
2
A lot of the story is about big, scary things like war, but there's also a smaller mystery about a stolen watermelon. How did focusing on the watermelon help Brody cope with his bigger fears?
3
Brody often feels caught in the middle of his family's arguments. Have you ever felt stuck between two people who disagree? What did Brody do to handle that feeling?
4
The story is set in 1969, a time with big events like the moon landing. How do you think these major world events happening in the background affected Brody's personal summer story?
5
At the end of the book, the family's problems are not perfectly solved. Why do you think the author chose to end the story this way, instead of with a simple 'happily ever after'?
