Middle grade books about the aftermath of war
I read two books this week that both had to do with postwar trauma. One is historical fiction and one is present day and they were both terrific!
The first one is called "A Galaxy of Sea Stars" by Jeanne Zulik Ferruolo. Jeanne wrote a terrific book last year called "Ruby in the Sky" that I really enjoyed, so I was delighted to see she had a new book out. This one is just as good, and maybe even better! In "A Galaxy of Sea Stars", Izzy, the main character is starting middle school. She's nervous like most kids are but she's got a lot on her plate. Her mom has gone to stay and work with her sisters in their family restaurant, and although it seemed like she would be gone just a short time, it's turning out to be longer than Izzy figured it would be. Part of why her mom left, is that her dad is different now. Her dad served in the army in Afghanistan and came back different. He's had to take a different job, they've had to move into a smaller apartment that's above the marina, there have been a lot of big changes. One thing that hasn't changed is Izzy's best friends. Zelda, Piper, and Izzy have been best friends since they were in kindergarten but Zelda and Piper seem different. Zelda is very excited to be part of the morning news show that they produce at the middle school. Izzy really doesn't want to do it, but ends up getting roped in. Then Izzy's dad tells her about a surprise and the surprise isn't Izzy's mom coming home, like she'd hope, instead it's an Afghani family moving into the upstairs apartment. The Afghani dad was the interpreter when Izzy's dad was in Afghanistan and feels like he saved his life. Izzy doesn't want to be friends with their daughter, but finds that she's a really interesting and kind person. When Sitara gets bullied because of her hijab, Izzy has to decide how she's going to react. This is a story with lots of big themes-changing friendships, dealing with the aftermath of war, PTSD, racism and a small by-line of powerful women heroes in a bit of a storyline about Maria Bashir and Marie Tharp. I thought this story was terrific. It moved quickly, the characters were interesting and relatable and there are a ton of things to think about and talk about with this one. I can't wait to put it in my library.
And here's Jeanne talking about the book!
The first one is called "A Galaxy of Sea Stars" by Jeanne Zulik Ferruolo. Jeanne wrote a terrific book last year called "Ruby in the Sky" that I really enjoyed, so I was delighted to see she had a new book out. This one is just as good, and maybe even better! In "A Galaxy of Sea Stars", Izzy, the main character is starting middle school. She's nervous like most kids are but she's got a lot on her plate. Her mom has gone to stay and work with her sisters in their family restaurant, and although it seemed like she would be gone just a short time, it's turning out to be longer than Izzy figured it would be. Part of why her mom left, is that her dad is different now. Her dad served in the army in Afghanistan and came back different. He's had to take a different job, they've had to move into a smaller apartment that's above the marina, there have been a lot of big changes. One thing that hasn't changed is Izzy's best friends. Zelda, Piper, and Izzy have been best friends since they were in kindergarten but Zelda and Piper seem different. Zelda is very excited to be part of the morning news show that they produce at the middle school. Izzy really doesn't want to do it, but ends up getting roped in. Then Izzy's dad tells her about a surprise and the surprise isn't Izzy's mom coming home, like she'd hope, instead it's an Afghani family moving into the upstairs apartment. The Afghani dad was the interpreter when Izzy's dad was in Afghanistan and feels like he saved his life. Izzy doesn't want to be friends with their daughter, but finds that she's a really interesting and kind person. When Sitara gets bullied because of her hijab, Izzy has to decide how she's going to react. This is a story with lots of big themes-changing friendships, dealing with the aftermath of war, PTSD, racism and a small by-line of powerful women heroes in a bit of a storyline about Maria Bashir and Marie Tharp. I thought this story was terrific. It moved quickly, the characters were interesting and relatable and there are a ton of things to think about and talk about with this one. I can't wait to put it in my library.
And here's Jeanne talking about the book!
The second one is a piece of historical fiction. It's called "Blue Skies" by Anne Bustard. It's about Glory Bea, who lives with her mother and her grandparents in Gladiola, Texas in the early 1950s. Her dad has been MIA since D-Day (nearly 5 years now). Glory Bea is convinced that he will show up any minute and goes to great lengths to welcome him home. She also is trying to be a matchmaker like her grandmother. She wants her best friend, Ruby Jane, to connect with her next door neighbor, Ben, who's dad was also in the war, and came home suffering from PTSD. When her dad's best friend shows up to meet the family in person, Glory Bea is less than welcoming, because she believes that her dad still might be coming home. There's a lovely piece about a gesture from the French people called the Merci Train, where the French people were so grateful for the actions of the Americans that they sent train cars full of thank you gifts to each state. The author's notes indicate that this piece is true, which might send some kids scurrying to do research. The characters in this one are wonderful and compelling and unfailingly kind to each other. I liked this one a lot too and it gives a nice story about how far the effects of war reach, beyond the boundaries of the battlefield, into virtually every home. I think the kids are going to like this one a lot too.
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