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ladybohman's review
4.0
Creative. Delightful. Educational. A musical journey of self-discovery during the Summer of Love. 6th grade BoB.
cweichel's review
5.0
Deborah Wiles is bloody brilliant.
This is how history should be learned, integrating historical documents with a story that shows what it was like to live through these experiences. I loved that each chapter begins with a relevant song. I ended up creating a spotify playlist to accompany the book. In Anthem, the third of her Sixties Trilogy, Wiles takes us into America as the protests against the Vietnam War heat up.
Two cousins, Fourteen year old Molly and seventeen year old Norman, head off across America in search of Molly's older brother to let him know that his draft papers have arrived. Norman, a drummer, doesn't really want to go, but goes anyway with the proviso that he gets to focus on music as they make the journey.
I appreciated so much about this book: meeting characters from previous books in the series, seeing the war represented from multiple perspectives, and learning more about the music industry and the music of the times. I admire how deftly she integrates the women's movement and the onset of the gay rights movement into the novel without it ever being a big deal. I came to adore these two characters who come of age together as they make this momentous road trip.
I concede that since I was about the age of the two protagonists and have memories of some of this background, I might be somewhat biased towards it. Nonetheless, if this book doesn't win some kind of award this year, I will be peeved.
This is how history should be learned, integrating historical documents with a story that shows what it was like to live through these experiences. I loved that each chapter begins with a relevant song. I ended up creating a spotify playlist to accompany the book. In Anthem, the third of her Sixties Trilogy, Wiles takes us into America as the protests against the Vietnam War heat up.
Two cousins, Fourteen year old Molly and seventeen year old Norman, head off across America in search of Molly's older brother to let him know that his draft papers have arrived. Norman, a drummer, doesn't really want to go, but goes anyway with the proviso that he gets to focus on music as they make the journey.
I appreciated so much about this book: meeting characters from previous books in the series, seeing the war represented from multiple perspectives, and learning more about the music industry and the music of the times. I admire how deftly she integrates the women's movement and the onset of the gay rights movement into the novel without it ever being a big deal. I came to adore these two characters who come of age together as they make this momentous road trip.
I concede that since I was about the age of the two protagonists and have memories of some of this background, I might be somewhat biased towards it. Nonetheless, if this book doesn't win some kind of award this year, I will be peeved.
mrskatiefitz's review
4.0
This conclusion to the sixties trilogy is largely an engaging story with tons of interesting characters. It does require some suspension of disbelief a la Forrest Gump, as it is unlikely that a single pair of kids would experience everything that happens to Molly and Norman in this story. Still, in a book that wants to help readers appreciate the time period, it makes sense to stretch the limits a bit, and the unlikelyhood of the plot is balanced nicely by the very warm and believable friendship between the main characters. I had mixed feelings about the author's use of real musicians as minor characters in the story, and I was especially uncomfortable with the scene starring Elvis, as the author gave him a lot of dialogue that felt forced. I did, however, like all the references to music, and I think it is absolutely imperative that young readers unfamiliar with the oldies listen to the songs mentioned. I listened to many of them as I read, and it really enhanced the experience. The nonfiction information interspersed between the chapters is also really valuable, and helps place the fictional story in the proper historical context. I do wish this book had been as good as the two others of the trilogy, but though it wasn't quite a five-star read, it was still a strong finish to the series.
thisgrrlreads's review
3.0
Recommend to anyone who wants a true road trip adventure story! This is a great title to bridge that tween to teen gap in literature. The themes are definitely old enough, but they are often treated from the perspective of Molly who is 14 and dealing with way too much on this quest to get her brother, Barry, to come home after he receives a draft notice. She is on a school bus with her cousin Norman who is 17, and very reluctant to go even though he is the only one with any idea where Barry is. He insists if he can find places to experience music along the way.
And there is music in this book! At least, references to it constantly. These worked really well for me because I grew up with this stuff in the house, but if you don't know it, it's isolating. I wished there was an easy playlist to find for kids to listen to. The historical stuff is dealt with like the rest of this trilogy--in quotes and photos in between sections. The front section is enormous because there is SO much going on. I think it's fairly overwhelming if you come in without knowledge of this time period...and I think lots of young teens will not know this time period well.
Molly's emotional growth is great throughout the book, and finding Barry goes differently than you think but it works so perfectly. I'm not sure I bought all the interactions with "outsiders" throughout the book, especially some of the musical ones. It does give a real flavor to the time period though.
And there is music in this book! At least, references to it constantly. These worked really well for me because I grew up with this stuff in the house, but if you don't know it, it's isolating. I wished there was an easy playlist to find for kids to listen to. The historical stuff is dealt with like the rest of this trilogy--in quotes and photos in between sections. The front section is enormous because there is SO much going on. I think it's fairly overwhelming if you come in without knowledge of this time period...and I think lots of young teens will not know this time period well.
Molly's emotional growth is great throughout the book, and finding Barry goes differently than you think but it works so perfectly. I'm not sure I bought all the interactions with "outsiders" throughout the book, especially some of the musical ones. It does give a real flavor to the time period though.
manogirl's review
4.0
This was a really nice end to the trilogy, though...I did NOT see this ending coming.
Because this is middle grade, it's pretty heavy handed when it's teaching something.
Anyway, I highly, HIGHLY recommend the trilogy, and if you can get them in the hardcover versions, you should, because the collage sections work well on paper, and I'm not sure how they'd work in digital.
Because this is middle grade, it's pretty heavy handed when it's teaching something.
Anyway, I highly, HIGHLY recommend the trilogy, and if you can get them in the hardcover versions, you should, because the collage sections work well on paper, and I'm not sure how they'd work in digital.
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