The Road Home
Ellen Emerson White
ISBN 0-590-46738-7
469 pages
Scholastic, 1995
Genre: Historical Fiction
Readers Annotation
Rebecca Phillips, 21, serves as a nurse in the Vietnam War and is scarred by the suffering she sees there. When she returns home, she finds herself haunted by memories, unable to resume a normal life.
Plot Summary
Whip-smart Rebecca Phillips comes from a well-to-do family in Massachusetts. Though she's always longed to be a doctor, her physician father discouraged her from entering the profession, thinking it to be unsuitable for a woman. After her childhood best friend dies in the Vietnam War, and her brother goes to Canada to dodge the draft, she impulsively decides to join the Army as a nurse. While there, she turns out to be excellent at her job, having impeccable medical judgment. She also sees horrors she never dreamed of. A friendship with her boss, a feisty, sarcastic kindred spirit named Maggie Doyle, and a budding romance with Michael, whose platoon saved her after she was stranded in the jungle on a rescue mission, help keep her sane, along with a healthy amount of beer and bad attitudes. But when Michael is sent home after being wounded and losing his leg, she spirals into depression.
Coming home after her tour of duty, the enormity of what she went through suddenly hits her. She suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, unable to sleep or resume her normal life, and still continues to drink too much. Though her parents love her, they are unsure how to help her. Eventually Rebecca decides that the only way she will find peace is to reconnect with Maggie and Michael in the States.
Critical Evaluation
The Road Home is a haunting, affecting exploration of the Vietnam War. White has clearly researched what life was like for the doctors and nurses serving in Vietnam, and young readers who are relatively unfamiliar with the conflict will come away with a new understanding of what the war was and why it was so horrific.
Rebecca's emotional journey is moving and believable. The reader grows to love her funny, sarcastic sense of humor in the book's beginning, though it's clearly at least in part a defense mechanism to the daily atrocities she sees, and when that vibrant voice disappears as Rebecca grows more and more depressed, the reader worries as much about her as do her loved ones surround her.
The relationship between Rebecca and Michael, and Maggie and Rebecca's friendship, are beautifully characterized. The only way these characters can begin to find peace is to share their feelings with others who experienced the same hell.
Other Books in the Series
While the book The Road Home stands alone as an independent work, it can also be seen as a companion to the Echo Company series, which White penned under the name Zack Emerson. The series tells the story of Michael and his platoon, and also explains the story of how Rebecca came to be stranded in the jungle.
About the author
Ellen Emerson White, best known for her books about Meghan Powers, is known for her smart, sarcastic heroines. She also explores the issues of PTSD, as experienced by Rebecca, in two of the Meghan books (Long Live the Queen and Long May She Reign). White first began writing YA as a young adult herself; her first novel was published while she was still a student at Tufts University.
Curriculum Ties
The book would be a great tie-in to a unit on the Vietnam War, especially as it tells the story of the female nurses stationed in Vietnam, a side of the war not often explored in high school history books.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Explore the romance between Rebecca and Michael.
2. Talk about Rebecca and her father, and how their expectations for her life differ.
3. Explore the deep friendships Rebecca develops "in the trenches."
Reading/Interest Level
Because of the scenes of graphic violence and some strong language, this book is probably appropriate for high school readers and above.
Challenge Issues
The book might be challenged due to its graphic scenes of violence. Also, Rebecca, though over 21, does abuse alcohol. Should the book be challenged, the librarian should be aware of the library's selection policy and be prepared to explain and defend it to the challenger. The librarian could argue that the book's scenes of violence are historically accurate and point to its value as a teaching tool about the horrors of war. The librarian could also point to the book's positive reviews, including a starred review in Publishers Weekly, and its status as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Selection Criteria
The Road Home was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
Flygirl
Sherri L. Smith
ISBN 978-0-399-24709-5
275 pages
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2008
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reader's Annotation:
In World War II, Ida Mae passes as a white woman to join an army program for female pilots.
Plot Summary:
It's 1943, and Ida Mae Jones' brother is serving as a doctor in WWII, while she's left behind in New Orleans to clean houses and look after her mother, grandfather, and younger brother. Ida's inherited a plane and a love of flying from her father, who taught her how to pilot a plane before dying in a plane crash. When Ida learns about a new army program, the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), she's convinced it's her opportunity to really contribute to the war effort. To join the WASP, though, she'll have to pass as white, which means abandoning her family at a time she needs them most.
Ida forms deep friendships with the other WASP recruits, who, despite coming from very different backgrounds, all share a certain sense of daring and adventure. They learn that though the women pilots are desperately needed, they'll have to work twice as hard to prove themselves to the many men who are ambivalent, at best, about letting girls into this boys' club.
Critical Evaluation:
What a fascinating piece of history--one I knew nothing about! Flygirl actually interweaves two historical stories together, the story of the WASP and the story of the African-American experience in WWII. While Ida's story is fictional--there's no evidence anyone ever passed as white to join the WASP--Smith researched the WASP and the factual details in the novel are all true.
Some of the racial facts are stunning and slyly incorporated; as a black military doctor, Ida's brother is only allowed to treat other black soldiers. Smith also includes a very moving scene, where Ida's mother visits her at training camp to inform her that her brother is missing in action and to beg her to use her military contacts to help find him. So that she doesn't blow Ida's cover, however, Ida's mother introduces herself as Ida's servant. Ida realizes for the first time what the hidden costs of her lie have been and what she may have to give up in order to continue as a pilot.
In addition to all these historical goodies, the book is fun to read from a young adult perspective. There's a minor romance element and a very strong sense of female friendship. I loved reading about Ida and her friends; they were all so spunky and vivacious and the friendships they formed were quite moving. When Ida returns home for a visit, Smith incorporates a moving scene where Ida realizes she has more in common with her new friends than with her best friend from home, who shares her personal history, but doesn't share her spirit of adventure.
About the author:
Sherri L. Smith became a young adult writer after starting her career in film animation. She has written three previous books for young adults, which often deal with issues of race and identity. One previous book, Lucy the Giant, features a teenage girl who passes an adult on a crab boat in Alaska. Another book, Hot Sour Salty Sweet, details the experiences of a multiracial modern girl.
Curriculum Ties:
Could be used either as a tie-in to a discussion about women's participation in the WWII war effort or about racial identity before the Civil Rights movement.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Speak in character as Ida, trying to decide whether or not she should pass to join the WASP.
2. Speak about the WASP program and women's involvement in the WWII military.
3. Speak about the racial aspect of the book and the challenges Ida faces as a black woman in 1943.
Reading/Interest Level:
7th & up.
Challenge Issues:
None
Selection Criteria:
This was nominated by multiple people as a Distinguished Book at a recent meeting of the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California, so, when I saw it on a shelf of new releases in the young adult area of my branch library, I decided to pick it up. It's also been recommended as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2010.
Sherri L. Smith
ISBN 978-0-399-24709-5
275 pages
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2008
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reader's Annotation:
In World War II, Ida Mae passes as a white woman to join an army program for female pilots.
Plot Summary:
It's 1943, and Ida Mae Jones' brother is serving as a doctor in WWII, while she's left behind in New Orleans to clean houses and look after her mother, grandfather, and younger brother. Ida's inherited a plane and a love of flying from her father, who taught her how to pilot a plane before dying in a plane crash. When Ida learns about a new army program, the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), she's convinced it's her opportunity to really contribute to the war effort. To join the WASP, though, she'll have to pass as white, which means abandoning her family at a time she needs them most.
Ida forms deep friendships with the other WASP recruits, who, despite coming from very different backgrounds, all share a certain sense of daring and adventure. They learn that though the women pilots are desperately needed, they'll have to work twice as hard to prove themselves to the many men who are ambivalent, at best, about letting girls into this boys' club.
Critical Evaluation:
What a fascinating piece of history--one I knew nothing about! Flygirl actually interweaves two historical stories together, the story of the WASP and the story of the African-American experience in WWII. While Ida's story is fictional--there's no evidence anyone ever passed as white to join the WASP--Smith researched the WASP and the factual details in the novel are all true.
Some of the racial facts are stunning and slyly incorporated; as a black military doctor, Ida's brother is only allowed to treat other black soldiers. Smith also includes a very moving scene, where Ida's mother visits her at training camp to inform her that her brother is missing in action and to beg her to use her military contacts to help find him. So that she doesn't blow Ida's cover, however, Ida's mother introduces herself as Ida's servant. Ida realizes for the first time what the hidden costs of her lie have been and what she may have to give up in order to continue as a pilot.
In addition to all these historical goodies, the book is fun to read from a young adult perspective. There's a minor romance element and a very strong sense of female friendship. I loved reading about Ida and her friends; they were all so spunky and vivacious and the friendships they formed were quite moving. When Ida returns home for a visit, Smith incorporates a moving scene where Ida realizes she has more in common with her new friends than with her best friend from home, who shares her personal history, but doesn't share her spirit of adventure.
About the author:
Sherri L. Smith became a young adult writer after starting her career in film animation. She has written three previous books for young adults, which often deal with issues of race and identity. One previous book, Lucy the Giant, features a teenage girl who passes an adult on a crab boat in Alaska. Another book, Hot Sour Salty Sweet, details the experiences of a multiracial modern girl.
Curriculum Ties:
Could be used either as a tie-in to a discussion about women's participation in the WWII war effort or about racial identity before the Civil Rights movement.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Speak in character as Ida, trying to decide whether or not she should pass to join the WASP.
2. Speak about the WASP program and women's involvement in the WWII military.
3. Speak about the racial aspect of the book and the challenges Ida faces as a black woman in 1943.
Reading/Interest Level:
7th & up.
Challenge Issues:
None
Selection Criteria:
This was nominated by multiple people as a Distinguished Book at a recent meeting of the Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California, so, when I saw it on a shelf of new releases in the young adult area of my branch library, I decided to pick it up. It's also been recommended as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2010.
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