A review by amysutton
Yonder by Ali Standish
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!