This book is courageous! Though this novel is geared towards middle and high school teens, Chris Lynch does not level or tone down the seriousness of his subject matter. Don't let the cover or subtitle mislead you - you'll find no chest-thumping pro-war propaganda here, but an unabashedly honest, frank and harrowing fictional portrait of one young man's experience of war. It's a perfect recommendation for teens who don't usually like to read. I was riveted from page one, and have already dived into the second book of the series. Hopefully it's just as daring as its forerunner. ( )

00012961

00014281

00013501

I absolutely loved this book. It is told through the eyes of Morris, one of four friends (Rudi, Beck, and Ivan are the other three). The four boys grow up in Boston and are the best of friends. They make a pact that if one gets drafted to go to war in Vietnam, the other three will enlist. When Rudi gets drafted, Morris, Beck, and Ivan enlist. Ivan joins the army, Beck the Air Force, Rudi the Marines, and Morris the Navy. Morris tells the story of the war through his perspective in the Navy. The book may be fiction, but there is enough nonfiction information on the war that I feel this book could be appropriate for high school students. There aren't any pictures, but the text is descriptive enough that they aren't needed. The end pages and cover are all military colors and camouflage, which is also appropriate. This is a definite page-turner. ( )