About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is witnessing deep conflict between loved ones or struggling to understand how people can be good and yet profoundly disagree. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the story follows Becca as her older brother Stevie flees to Canada to avoid the draft, an act that shatters their family's peace. It explores the difficult space between loyalty to one's country and loyalty to one's conscience. While the historical setting provides the framework, the emotional core is about the complexity of love. It is appropriate for middle schoolers who are beginning to develop their own moral compass and may feel caught in the middle of adult tensions. Meg Wolitzer offers a realistic look at how a family survives a crisis without easy or perfect resolutions, making it a valuable tool for normalizing feelings of confusion and divided loyalty.
