katieproctorbooks's review
5.0
I LOVED this beautiful middle grade historical fiction. The author’s note was fantastic.
tishreads's review
5.0
Set against the backdrop of WWII and small town America, Standish sets out to remind us that not all wars are fought by soldiers and that everyone can choose what is right.
rachaelannestoll's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
e_dng46's review
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
loalmdale's review
5.0
Highlights:
The deep furrow in Mama's brow softened, like she knew what I was thinking. "We can never see into another person's soul, Danny" she said. "And you just remember - nothing limits a big heart like a small mind."
____
"Maybe I just down know how to be a very good friend," I said.
[...]
"Some things you're born knowing, but other things you have to work at," Lou said finally.
____
"Danny, prejudice is like...like a germ, or a virus," she said. "Nobody is immune. That sickness - that evil - it can take many forms. In Germany, it created those camps. Here, it created segregation, and slavery before that."
____
Courage wasn't something you could save up for a rainy day. Courage took practice. Because if I didn't stand up for my best friend now, how could I hope to stand up for a neighbor, or a classmate, or a stranger when the time came? If I couldn't confront the small injustices, how could I fight the bigger ones?
____
I was starting to understand that a friendship could be broken in a single moment, but it took much longer to put it right again. And that made a certain kind of sense. It was just like mending a waterlogged watch or a dropped dish. You had to be patient and dedicated. You had to care enough about the thing you had broken to make it worth the time it took to fix.
The deep furrow in Mama's brow softened, like she knew what I was thinking. "We can never see into another person's soul, Danny" she said. "And you just remember - nothing limits a big heart like a small mind."
____
"Maybe I just down know how to be a very good friend," I said.
[...]
"Some things you're born knowing, but other things you have to work at," Lou said finally.
____
"Danny, prejudice is like...like a germ, or a virus," she said. "Nobody is immune. That sickness - that evil - it can take many forms. In Germany, it created those camps. Here, it created segregation, and slavery before that."
____
Courage wasn't something you could save up for a rainy day. Courage took practice. Because if I didn't stand up for my best friend now, how could I hope to stand up for a neighbor, or a classmate, or a stranger when the time came? If I couldn't confront the small injustices, how could I fight the bigger ones?
____
I was starting to understand that a friendship could be broken in a single moment, but it took much longer to put it right again. And that made a certain kind of sense. It was just like mending a waterlogged watch or a dropped dish. You had to be patient and dedicated. You had to care enough about the thing you had broken to make it worth the time it took to fix.
amysutton's review
5.0
This book is phenomenal! It has the depth and thematic complexity of a classic while still feeling like a relevant modern book very similar to Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk or The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. This one is award-worthy in my opinion.
Set in the 1940s in the middle of WWII, Danny Timmons is a boy in a small town community that is banding together in the face of war. Danny's dad joins the war and Danny is left to help his pregnant mother run the town paper and take care of business on the home front. He also struggles to face the school bullies who have made him into a target. Danny draws strength from his friend Jack, the town hero who seems to be fearless. He learns, though, that everyone has their bullies.
When Jack goes missing, Danny is distraught. He is worried that Jack's abusive father may have finally taken things too far and killed him. He owes it to his friend to get to the bottom of the mystery and help him, but the answers he finds will lead him to more questions.
The 1940s American homefront shows the best and worst of people. The community bands together to sacrifice and help the war effort, but it is also a time of deep prejudice. People of German decent, African Americans, and families who have sons who were draft dodgers or ran from battle were all ostracized and shamed.
This book explores the idea of what makes a hero. Does one heroic event negate every other negative thing you've done? Does one moment of cowardice negate all of the heroic moments of your life before then? Can anyone be defined by one choice they've made?
I received a review ARC from the publishers. Thank you!
Set in the 1940s in the middle of WWII, Danny Timmons is a boy in a small town community that is banding together in the face of war. Danny's dad joins the war and Danny is left to help his pregnant mother run the town paper and take care of business on the home front. He also struggles to face the school bullies who have made him into a target. Danny draws strength from his friend Jack, the town hero who seems to be fearless. He learns, though, that everyone has their bullies.
When Jack goes missing, Danny is distraught. He is worried that Jack's abusive father may have finally taken things too far and killed him. He owes it to his friend to get to the bottom of the mystery and help him, but the answers he finds will lead him to more questions.
The 1940s American homefront shows the best and worst of people. The community bands together to sacrifice and help the war effort, but it is also a time of deep prejudice. People of German decent, African Americans, and families who have sons who were draft dodgers or ran from battle were all ostracized and shamed.
This book explores the idea of what makes a hero. Does one heroic event negate every other negative thing you've done? Does one moment of cowardice negate all of the heroic moments of your life before then? Can anyone be defined by one choice they've made?
I received a review ARC from the publishers. Thank you!
optimaggie's review
4.0
I found it fascinating to read a book about an American child growing up during WWII and found myself wondering why I haven’t read more books written with this perspective. There is lot to like about this book and I want to read this again with my son when he is older as it brings up a lot of things to discuss. As an adult reader it feels a bit heavy-handed in its messaging, I would prefer a bit more subtlety and nuance, but I think writing about issues such as prejudice, abuse, the draft, heroes, etc. in a clear way is understandable in a book written for young people. I think I would have loved this book as a kid, I think reading it would have made me feel more grown up as it addresses so many “grown up” topics.
teacher2library's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kalynwebb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jmwilson's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75