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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I was very excited to give this book a read as it is set in America during the waning days of WWII (we actually experience V-E Day as well V-J Day). I haven't read many books during that time and lately have read mostly European-set war books.
Our protagonist is Levi whose aunt has been keeping him in Chicago while his father serves in the army but who is sent to join his father at camp in North Carolina. When Levi arrives, he discovers that he just missed his father and stays with an injured armyman before they journey to Oregon to meet up with the rest of the men. It's not exactly the most exciting novel given that it's all in the US but I appreciated it (just a warning for other readers).
There are however several bursts of intensity surrounding Levi's trips through the South, where he experiences Jim Crow laws and receives threats based solely on the color of his skin. This is scariest when a shopkeeper turns a gun on Levi, who's really one of the sweetest book boys I've ever read, while forcing him to drink. I was actually prepared for even worse things to happen based on the time period and location but that was definitely the most overt aggression although there are many other instances of discrimination.
One place of discrimination is in the army (remember that troops were still segregated although integration will be coming soon). Levi's father was part of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an all-black airborne unit, whose members crave to serve their country overseas but who are relegated to the homefront, including fighting fires in Oregon and searching for elusive Japanese fire balloons, the very existence of which they come to doubt although their work is eventually justified. Again this isn't something I know much about so it was great to learn something new.
Lastly I wanted to mention themes of family and sticking together. The members of Levi's family always seem to leave, starting with his mother and continuing with his father's wanderings. It makes Levi wonder about his own constancy until the events of this book prove his loyalty and consistency. I also really loved the family Levi stays with in North Carolina. They are a young couple who have a child during that time and they are just good people trying to do their best under difficult circumstances and of course I loved that they took care of Levi.
Overall: A sweet slower-paced book about the homefront toward the end of WWII; vivid descriptions and characterizations reward the reader.
Cover: I'm not a huge fan of the cover given the huge face on the cover although at least he's not staring at me but I do like the plane and paratrooper superimposed over his head.
Our protagonist is Levi whose aunt has been keeping him in Chicago while his father serves in the army but who is sent to join his father at camp in North Carolina. When Levi arrives, he discovers that he just missed his father and stays with an injured armyman before they journey to Oregon to meet up with the rest of the men. It's not exactly the most exciting novel given that it's all in the US but I appreciated it (just a warning for other readers).
There are however several bursts of intensity surrounding Levi's trips through the South, where he experiences Jim Crow laws and receives threats based solely on the color of his skin. This is scariest when a shopkeeper turns a gun on Levi, who's really one of the sweetest book boys I've ever read, while forcing him to drink. I was actually prepared for even worse things to happen based on the time period and location but that was definitely the most overt aggression although there are many other instances of discrimination.
One place of discrimination is in the army (remember that troops were still segregated although integration will be coming soon). Levi's father was part of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an all-black airborne unit, whose members crave to serve their country overseas but who are relegated to the homefront, including fighting fires in Oregon and searching for elusive Japanese fire balloons, the very existence of which they come to doubt although their work is eventually justified. Again this isn't something I know much about so it was great to learn something new.
Lastly I wanted to mention themes of family and sticking together. The members of Levi's family always seem to leave, starting with his mother and continuing with his father's wanderings. It makes Levi wonder about his own constancy until the events of this book prove his loyalty and consistency. I also really loved the family Levi stays with in North Carolina. They are a young couple who have a child during that time and they are just good people trying to do their best under difficult circumstances and of course I loved that they took care of Levi.
Overall: A sweet slower-paced book about the homefront toward the end of WWII; vivid descriptions and characterizations reward the reader.
Cover: I'm not a huge fan of the cover given the huge face on the cover although at least he's not staring at me but I do like the plane and paratrooper superimposed over his head.
Pearsall has a mastery of language -- using words to help the reader best understand the character. Her word choice allows the reader to better understand the character. The story paints a vivid, vivid picture of not only the plight of African American's in WWII (stateside), growing up in a 'leaving' family, and what family really means.
I thought the writing about first exposure to discrimination was very moving.
BOOK TALK:
Levi has been left behind all his life. First his mother left him. Then his dad left to be a traveling salesman leaving Levi with his grandmother. His grandma left this world and, now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella. Levi's dad is in the U.S. Army and World War II is almost over. Aunt Odella decides it's time for Levi to learn some leaving of his own. The next thing he knows Levi is on a train from Chicago to North Carolina, where Aunt Adella thinks he will find his dad. Levi is looking forward to doing some finding. What he finds are signs: white this way, no coloreds here. Levi would like to go back to leaving.
BOOK TALK:
Levi has been left behind all his life. First his mother left him. Then his dad left to be a traveling salesman leaving Levi with his grandmother. His grandma left this world and, now Levi's staying with his Aunt Odella. Levi's dad is in the U.S. Army and World War II is almost over. Aunt Odella decides it's time for Levi to learn some leaving of his own. The next thing he knows Levi is on a train from Chicago to North Carolina, where Aunt Adella thinks he will find his dad. Levi is looking forward to doing some finding. What he finds are signs: white this way, no coloreds here. Levi would like to go back to leaving.
13 year old Levi knows a thing or two about leaving, or rather being left. For one, his illiterate, immature mother left him when he was just months old in the front seat of her abandoned car in front of a Chicago nightclub with a pinned note that read, "I am Levin." People mistook the misspelling for his name and became Levi over the years. For another, his father was a wanderer himself and was forever leaving Levi in the care of a relative in pursuit of the unknown. Most recently, Levi spent 3 years with Aunt Odella, a middle-aged spinster. It is 1945 and World War II grips the world. Levi's dad says he's a lieutenant and part of the first ever negro paratroopers stationed in North Carolina. Aunt Odella decides one day that she's had enough of taking care of other people's trouble and that it's high time for her brother to own up to his fatherly obligations. She puts Levi unannounced on a one way train to Fayettville, NC where nothing is as Levi expects or hopes for. Levi has a rude and frightening welcome to the South only to discover that his father's regiment shipped out the previous day destination unknown. Levi is taken in by another soldier, recovering from an injury, and his expectant wife, until other arrangements can be made. Levi is eventually reunited with his vagabond father.
Levi has a spunky narrative voice and there are some interesting moments of historic significance. Unfortunately, the story never gains much momentum, the emotional tension never really develops, and the historical moments are a bit shortchanged. I had never once heard about the Japanese sending balloon bombs across the Pacific, something I'd like to learn more about. And though I know about the Tuskegee Airmen, I didn't know anything about the Triple Nickels. Still, a pleasant read.
Levi has a spunky narrative voice and there are some interesting moments of historic significance. Unfortunately, the story never gains much momentum, the emotional tension never really develops, and the historical moments are a bit shortchanged. I had never once heard about the Japanese sending balloon bombs across the Pacific, something I'd like to learn more about. And though I know about the Tuskegee Airmen, I didn't know anything about the Triple Nickels. Still, a pleasant read.
Ms. Pearsall has done an excellent job of highlighting a part of history little know to us. Legs is a young boy growing up in Chicago who is forced to travel south to be with his father. What follows is an eye opening account of the injustices experienced by African Americans in the south and in the U.S> Army.
The history behind this story (as mentioned in the author’s note at the end) is fascinating, and the plot has the potential to be intriguing, but there’s just no action. I can get past the lack of war action, because that isn’t really what the story is about anyway, but the author missed a lot of opportunities to show the reader how tough and heartbreaking life was for people of color in the Jim Crow south. Levi is a sweet enough character, but he doesn’t speak like any 13 year old I’ve ever heard—and I should know, considering I teach the 8th grade. It made him feel out of touch. His character isn’t particularly well developed, and I found myself not really caring one way or the other where he ended up. My takeaway: this book has an extremely engaging and misleading description. If you’re reading based on that, you aren’t going to get what you’re looking for.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Listened to it in the car, but when I got near the end, I used my iPad inside so I could finish. I am a sucker for good historical fiction, especially historical fiction that makes me feel ashamed that I didn't already know about it. I knew a bit about the Triple Nickels, but not nearly enough. I too thought the Japanese Firefly program sounded preposterous, but had researched it before it was revealed in the book that it really happened. Levi is a wonderful, admirable character, and I found his profound emotions tied to, "I'm leaving you" very emotional. What a wonderful, enjoyable way for students to learn history. The author's note at the end was very insightful as well.
I like a little-known historical fiction story as much as the next person, but it was like I kept waiting for the story to get exciting and it kept ALMOST getting exciting, but then meandering away to something else. Levi's voice wasn't strong enough for me to enjoy the book on his character alone and the plot meandered too much to be compelling. Part of my disappointment might be with the cover and title, both of which seem to promise a lot of wartime action, which is not necessarily the fault of the author, but I don't feel like the insides matched. So... it was okay? I think teens who enjoy a more leisurely-paced historical fiction would probably like it, or anyone with a special interest in the lives of African Americans on the WWII homefront.
Readalikes:
BUD NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis for the historical (1930s) adventures of a young black boy traveling on his own.
FLYGIRL by Sherri Smith for another story about African Americans on the homefront during WWII.
Readalikes:
BUD NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis for the historical (1930s) adventures of a young black boy traveling on his own.
FLYGIRL by Sherri Smith for another story about African Americans on the homefront during WWII.
Another winner from author Shelley Pearsall. It's 1945, and 13 year old Levi, after living three years in Chicago with his aunt, is suddenly sent away by her to live with his father on an Army base in South Carolina. Levi hasn't seen his father in three years, only has the occasional cryptic letter sent from a myriad of Army bases. But Levi is hopeful, despite being very nervous to travel alone for the first time on a train through the segregated South, that his dad will be glad to see him and their relationship will take up right where it left off. Unfortunately, when Levi arrives, his father is gone! Shipped out! The only person still on Base is Cal, a buddy of his dad's whose injury prevented him from shipping with his crewmates. So Levi has to figure out if he can stay here or how he'll find his dad, and is it true what Cal is saying, that Levi's father jumps out of airplanes? Really? An all-African-American paratrooper squadron? Levi's never heard of such a thing!
Based on the true-life stories of the 555th "Triple Nickle" squadron, and full of great period detail, memorable characters, action and humor, told by a warm and funny teen character you'll love to meet. At times this book reminded me of "Bud Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis, in its tone and the sweet funny nature of Levi.
Based on the true-life stories of the 555th "Triple Nickle" squadron, and full of great period detail, memorable characters, action and humor, told by a warm and funny teen character you'll love to meet. At times this book reminded me of "Bud Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis, in its tone and the sweet funny nature of Levi.