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This Means War!
October 1962. Juliet Klostermeyer's world is turning upside down. All she hears from her parents and teachers and on the news is the Russian threat and the Cuban Missile Crisis. And things aren't much better at home. Her best friend, Lowell, doesn't seem interested in being her friend anymore--he'd rather hang out with the new boys instead. When Patsy moves in, things are looking up. Patsy is fearless, and she challenges the neighborhood boys to see who's better, stronger a war between the boys and the girls. All the talk of war makes Juliet uneasy. As the challenges become more and more dangerous, Juliet has to decide what she stands for--and what's worth fighting for.
This is a powerful middle-grade coming of age novel from teen powerhouse Ellen Wittlinger.
This is a powerful middle-grade coming of age novel from teen powerhouse Ellen Wittlinger.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2010
7 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Wittlinger
34 books271 followersEllen Wittlinger is the critically acclaimed author of 15 young adult novels including Parrotfish, Heart on My Sleeve, Love & Lies: Marisol's Story, Razzle, What's in a Name, and Hard Love (an American Library Association Michael L. Printz Honor Book, a Lambda Literary Award winner, and a Booklist Editors' Choice). She has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. A former children's librarian, she lives with her husband in western Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
February 20, 2016
I've been a little disappointed with Wittlinger lately. Over a year ago, I read and enjoyed Parrotfish, but since then, I read Sandpiper and The Long Night of Leo and Bree, neither of which I enjoyed. I was beginning to worried that I wouldn't consistently enjoy Wittlinger's books, that Parrotfish was the only good book she'd written. Thankfully, that doesn't seem to be the case. This, Wittlinger's middle grade, historical fiction book, wasn't quite as good as Parrotfish, but still strong and enjoyable.
The plot was surprisingly strong for a Wittlinger book. Things moved along very briskly, largely without periods of nothing happening, which was nice. Contemporary books tend to have slow paces, but in this one, the pacing was great. But much more importantly the plot was genuinely interesting to me. It concerned a competition between boys and girls, to see which was better. The themes explored here - of gender roles and competition - were very interesting and engaging, even to an older reader. The competition mainly involves a difference in opinion of what boys and girls can do; the boys (mainly Bruce) think that boys are better than girls and that girls should stick to girl things, whereas the girls think that they're just as good as the boys. Wittlinger doesn't treat the fact that girls are just as good as a given, instead actually exploring it. This makes the book feel less didactic and more in-depth, which is always nice; I've never liked didactic books for kids. I also have to admire Wittlinger for not painting all the boys as unsympathetic jackasses in this situation - not all of them are on board with Bruce's ideas. I also admire her for not engaging in any doll-shamming; Linda and Annette (the more 'traditionally girly' characters) aren't quite as fleshed out as Juliet and Patsy, but it's only because they're not central to the plot - Wittlinger makes it clear that being girly isn't necessarily a bad thing. The entire thing was very fleshed out and very effective - it worked great.
It helped that Juliet was a very well-developed character. She kind of reminded me of a character from Beezus and Ramona, if Blume had taken a slightly more serious approach. I found her wondering about the world, her stress and her lack of understanding to be very true to a ten year-old girl. I also admire that Wittlinger wrote a middle grade book about someone young enough to read a middle grade book. I've never understood why, but for some reason, adults seem intent on writing for kids about teenagers. That always presents a two-fold problem for me - I think it's harder for kids to relate to teenagers, and they can't present teenagers with any accuracy. So because of that, I'm incredibly thankful that Wittlinger didn't just write a ten year-old, but she wrote a realistic ten year-old, with realistic worries and realistic friends and realistic... enemies.
Coupled with Wittlenger's always on-point writing, this was an overall strong book. I only have two complaints: unnecessary content, and a lack of completeness.
First, the unnecessary content. There was a running subplot throughout the book of the Cuban Missile Crisis making everyone afraid. This struck me as extremely tacked on, since it had nothing to do with the main story, in plot or in theme. It also had the effect of ruining a lot of the Judy Blume-esque feel to the story, as Blume rarely did anything this political. Juliet's fear was captured realistically, but the entire sub-plot was unnecessary, and the book would've been better if it had been removed.
Second, I feel like Wittlinger could've taken the theme a little further. I was surprised at the end of the book when the grand conclusion seemed to have nothing to do with gender politics; instead, it was just that conflicts were pointless, and nobody benefited. That's not a bad message, but it didn't seem to be what Wittlinger was leading up to - the exploration of gender politics was clearly more prevalent throughout the book. And I think the way to flesh out the theme more would've been to give us Lowell's perspective alongside Juliet's. There's no reason not to - the book was written in third person after all. The real reason I feel like we should've seen more of him is something that I think he would've been a more interesting character than Juliet. Lowell is the most effeminate boy in the story, doing the worst among the boys in most of the challenges and having hung out with Juliet before the start of the book. There's a lot of discussion about how girls can do boy things, but in spite of Lowell's presence, there was no discussion of how boys can do girly things as well. I felt like something was missing throughout the book, and that was what it was. Even today, it's much easier to be a masculine girl than an effeminate boy - I'm disappointed that Wittlinger didn't acknowledge and discuss that.
Nevertheless, this was one of the stronger historical fiction books I've read, and definitely an improvement over the Wittlinger books I've been reading lately. I'd recommend this for both kids and older readers, especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
An updated version of this review can be found on my blog.
The plot was surprisingly strong for a Wittlinger book. Things moved along very briskly, largely without periods of nothing happening, which was nice. Contemporary books tend to have slow paces, but in this one, the pacing was great. But much more importantly the plot was genuinely interesting to me. It concerned a competition between boys and girls, to see which was better. The themes explored here - of gender roles and competition - were very interesting and engaging, even to an older reader. The competition mainly involves a difference in opinion of what boys and girls can do; the boys (mainly Bruce) think that boys are better than girls and that girls should stick to girl things, whereas the girls think that they're just as good as the boys. Wittlinger doesn't treat the fact that girls are just as good as a given, instead actually exploring it. This makes the book feel less didactic and more in-depth, which is always nice; I've never liked didactic books for kids. I also have to admire Wittlinger for not painting all the boys as unsympathetic jackasses in this situation - not all of them are on board with Bruce's ideas. I also admire her for not engaging in any doll-shamming; Linda and Annette (the more 'traditionally girly' characters) aren't quite as fleshed out as Juliet and Patsy, but it's only because they're not central to the plot - Wittlinger makes it clear that being girly isn't necessarily a bad thing. The entire thing was very fleshed out and very effective - it worked great.
It helped that Juliet was a very well-developed character. She kind of reminded me of a character from Beezus and Ramona, if Blume had taken a slightly more serious approach. I found her wondering about the world, her stress and her lack of understanding to be very true to a ten year-old girl. I also admire that Wittlinger wrote a middle grade book about someone young enough to read a middle grade book. I've never understood why, but for some reason, adults seem intent on writing for kids about teenagers. That always presents a two-fold problem for me - I think it's harder for kids to relate to teenagers, and they can't present teenagers with any accuracy. So because of that, I'm incredibly thankful that Wittlinger didn't just write a ten year-old, but she wrote a realistic ten year-old, with realistic worries and realistic friends and realistic... enemies.
Coupled with Wittlenger's always on-point writing, this was an overall strong book. I only have two complaints: unnecessary content, and a lack of completeness.
First, the unnecessary content. There was a running subplot throughout the book of the Cuban Missile Crisis making everyone afraid. This struck me as extremely tacked on, since it had nothing to do with the main story, in plot or in theme. It also had the effect of ruining a lot of the Judy Blume-esque feel to the story, as Blume rarely did anything this political. Juliet's fear was captured realistically, but the entire sub-plot was unnecessary, and the book would've been better if it had been removed.
Second, I feel like Wittlinger could've taken the theme a little further. I was surprised at the end of the book when the grand conclusion seemed to have nothing to do with gender politics; instead, it was just that conflicts were pointless, and nobody benefited. That's not a bad message, but it didn't seem to be what Wittlinger was leading up to - the exploration of gender politics was clearly more prevalent throughout the book. And I think the way to flesh out the theme more would've been to give us Lowell's perspective alongside Juliet's. There's no reason not to - the book was written in third person after all. The real reason I feel like we should've seen more of him is something that I think he would've been a more interesting character than Juliet. Lowell is the most effeminate boy in the story, doing the worst among the boys in most of the challenges and having hung out with Juliet before the start of the book. There's a lot of discussion about how girls can do boy things, but in spite of Lowell's presence, there was no discussion of how boys can do girly things as well. I felt like something was missing throughout the book, and that was what it was. Even today, it's much easier to be a masculine girl than an effeminate boy - I'm disappointed that Wittlinger didn't acknowledge and discuss that.
Nevertheless, this was one of the stronger historical fiction books I've read, and definitely an improvement over the Wittlinger books I've been reading lately. I'd recommend this for both kids and older readers, especially if you enjoy historical fiction.
An updated version of this review can be found on my blog.
May 19, 2010
In Ellen Wittlinger's new middle grade novel THIS MEANS WAR, Juliet Klostermeyer is a typical bike-riding, roller skating, candy-bar-eating kind of kid, navigating the changes that always come with growing up. Her parents argue, her older sister keeps kicking her out of their shared bedroom to listen to music and talk about boys with her friend, and Juliet's best guy friend is hanging out with new neighborhood boys instead of her. Typical kid stuff.
But the year is 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis is looming large over Juliet's Air Force base town, and she is afraid. In a voice that is equal parts funny and poignant, Wittlinger captured that feeling perfectly in passages like this one, when Juliet reacts to a news bulletin and speech from President Kennedy on TV:
"Juliet had her legs tucked underneath her and her arms wrapped around her chest; she hadn't moved through the whole speech. 'I wanted to watch Mister Ed with Mom,' she said, and then the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. It suddenly seemed as if President Kennedy and the Russians and the newscasters had all stolen something precious from her that she could never get back."
And this one...just a few pages later, when Juliet looks to her teacher for reassurance:
"Juliet tried to look deep into Mrs. Funkhauser's eyes to see if she was telling the truth about not being worried. But it was hard to tell with
teachers. They all looked like they had varnish on their faces -- it was hard to see if there were any cracks underneath the shine."
(As a teacher, I particularly love that line!)
A contest between the boys and girls of the neighborhood serves as a great way to lighten the feeling of menace for a while, but even that challenge, which starts with things like running races and roller skating, escalates. It ends up serving as a great allegory for the kind of one-upsmanship that punctuates international relations in this period of history.
Overall, THIS MEANS WAR is a funny and wonderful book that will really give middle grade readers a sense for what it was like to be a kid in October of 1962. Highly recommended, and it would make a terrific class read-aloud. (Recommendation based on a review copy sent to me by Simon & Schuster)
But the year is 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis is looming large over Juliet's Air Force base town, and she is afraid. In a voice that is equal parts funny and poignant, Wittlinger captured that feeling perfectly in passages like this one, when Juliet reacts to a news bulletin and speech from President Kennedy on TV:
"Juliet had her legs tucked underneath her and her arms wrapped around her chest; she hadn't moved through the whole speech. 'I wanted to watch Mister Ed with Mom,' she said, and then the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. It suddenly seemed as if President Kennedy and the Russians and the newscasters had all stolen something precious from her that she could never get back."
And this one...just a few pages later, when Juliet looks to her teacher for reassurance:
"Juliet tried to look deep into Mrs. Funkhauser's eyes to see if she was telling the truth about not being worried. But it was hard to tell with
teachers. They all looked like they had varnish on their faces -- it was hard to see if there were any cracks underneath the shine."
(As a teacher, I particularly love that line!)
A contest between the boys and girls of the neighborhood serves as a great way to lighten the feeling of menace for a while, but even that challenge, which starts with things like running races and roller skating, escalates. It ends up serving as a great allegory for the kind of one-upsmanship that punctuates international relations in this period of history.
Overall, THIS MEANS WAR is a funny and wonderful book that will really give middle grade readers a sense for what it was like to be a kid in October of 1962. Highly recommended, and it would make a terrific class read-aloud. (Recommendation based on a review copy sent to me by Simon & Schuster)
May 28, 2010
In This Means War!, Wittlinger really connected with her setting and time period. Everything that happened to the characters and all the things they worried about seemed to arise naturally from the comic books, news casts, and town gossip that swirled around them.
The story is set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in a small town near an Air Force Base. The main character, Juliet, lives above her family's grocery store, which is threatened by the arrival of a local supermarket. But Juliet's primary concern at the beginning of the novel is that her best friend, Lowell, no longer wants to hang out with her, because she's a girl. Soon Lowell and Juliet are both entangled in a competition between the boys and girls in their neighborhood: ten tests of skills and bravery to prove once and for all whether boys or girls are the best.
It's the kind of kids game that parents never approve of. Each test is a little more dangerous than the last, and although most of the characters are aware that the challenges don't really prove anything, they all have their reasons for participating. I related most to Patsy, an Air Force brat who wants to be a pilot when she grows up and has no romantic interest in the boys. She just wants to beat them. I think this is one way girls cope when they hit adolescence and realize that people expect them to do certain things, but not others, and gender and sex become the most salient aspects of their identity. It can be a shock for a daddy's girl and a tom boy.
Lowell, on the other hand, doesn't really want to participate, because he's more of a brain than a physically dominant boy. But he suddenly feels like he has to prove his manhood. And that's part of the initial reason he rejects Juliet. The other characters have just as interesting stories, and together they reflect the myriad responses you get from kids when adult gender roles are suddenly imposed on them.
The story is set during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in a small town near an Air Force Base. The main character, Juliet, lives above her family's grocery store, which is threatened by the arrival of a local supermarket. But Juliet's primary concern at the beginning of the novel is that her best friend, Lowell, no longer wants to hang out with her, because she's a girl. Soon Lowell and Juliet are both entangled in a competition between the boys and girls in their neighborhood: ten tests of skills and bravery to prove once and for all whether boys or girls are the best.
It's the kind of kids game that parents never approve of. Each test is a little more dangerous than the last, and although most of the characters are aware that the challenges don't really prove anything, they all have their reasons for participating. I related most to Patsy, an Air Force brat who wants to be a pilot when she grows up and has no romantic interest in the boys. She just wants to beat them. I think this is one way girls cope when they hit adolescence and realize that people expect them to do certain things, but not others, and gender and sex become the most salient aspects of their identity. It can be a shock for a daddy's girl and a tom boy.
Lowell, on the other hand, doesn't really want to participate, because he's more of a brain than a physically dominant boy. But he suddenly feels like he has to prove his manhood. And that's part of the initial reason he rejects Juliet. The other characters have just as interesting stories, and together they reflect the myriad responses you get from kids when adult gender roles are suddenly imposed on them.
August 23, 2015
Wow, what a sweet book! This Means War was a short read - but certainly not light, as it seems in the beginning of the book. At first, I was just kind of like "This book is good... BUT IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" And it totally went somewhere. Why do I doubt?
- Emily @ forthebookish.com
- Emily @ forthebookish.com
November 27, 2025
The complicated early sixties is captured in this MG story that appears to be about friendships and the rivalry between boys and girls, but subtly addresses changing values that occurred post WWII.
Juliet’s parents own a neighborhood store and are worried about its survival as big box grocery stores move into town. There is also the tension of the Cuban missile crisis that is felt by both adults and children.
There is underlying change in gender roles which is presented in a variety of ways. While Juliet’s mother must work, Patsy’s mother doesn’t and Juliet wonders if that’s a better arrangement. Patsy claims girls can do anything boys can from being interested in mechanical things to physical endeavors, which hints at the gender equality issues that began in the sixties.
This sets up the story’s main action which involves a series of competitions between four boys and four girls. The tasks become increasingly dangerous and almost end in tragedy.
The author captures well homelife interactions and prepubescent dialogue and interests, and though it is set in the sixties the story covers relevant issues that still apply today. It is refreshing to read a MG story where the kids acted their age and weren’t overly clever or exhibited special powers.
Juliet’s parents own a neighborhood store and are worried about its survival as big box grocery stores move into town. There is also the tension of the Cuban missile crisis that is felt by both adults and children.
There is underlying change in gender roles which is presented in a variety of ways. While Juliet’s mother must work, Patsy’s mother doesn’t and Juliet wonders if that’s a better arrangement. Patsy claims girls can do anything boys can from being interested in mechanical things to physical endeavors, which hints at the gender equality issues that began in the sixties.
This sets up the story’s main action which involves a series of competitions between four boys and four girls. The tasks become increasingly dangerous and almost end in tragedy.
The author captures well homelife interactions and prepubescent dialogue and interests, and though it is set in the sixties the story covers relevant issues that still apply today. It is refreshing to read a MG story where the kids acted their age and weren’t overly clever or exhibited special powers.
Read
December 4, 2015Title: This Means War!
Author: Ellen Wittlinger
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme(s): Gender Stereotypes, Boy-Girl Relationships
Opening line/sentence: “Juliet had hardly spoken to Lowell in weeks, or maybe he was the one who hadn’t spoken to her.”
Brief Book Summary: This book is set during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The protagonist is Juliet, who is a very active girl, which is seen to be tomboy-ish. She grew up with her best friend, Lowell, who is a boy her age. He begins to hang out with his guy friends solely, because it is “not cool” to hang out with a girl. Even in the first couple of pages the reader is introduced to how Lowell acts when he is around his friends and says, “We’re busy. We don’t want any girls around.” The anxiety from the Missile Crisis is an undertone that is throughout the story. Juliet then finds a new friend, Patsy, who is much different than her. Initially, she thinks their friendship will work, but it turns out that she is a little too loud and forward for Juliet’s liking. They do still remain friends while the boys and girls in their fifth grade begin to battle each other to see which gender beats out the other. The competitions seem harmless at first, but they become more dangerous as the time goes on. This type of dangerous competition parallels the history that is taking place at the time of the story. In the end, the kids recognize the value of friendship and the importance of equality among both genders.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2010 (Vol. 78, No. 6))
It's the fall of 1962. With Soviet missiles in Cuba, a war with Russia seems imminent. Amid community-wide fears of annihilation, Juliet Klostermeyer is experiencing her own personal problem. Her longtime best friend Lowell has decided it is uncool to be friends with a girl. Friendless for the first time, Julia meets Patsy, a spunky Air Force brat new to town. Patsy's father is a mechanic on the nearby base. When Patsy learns of Lowell's transgression and his new friends' attitude that girls are inferior, she suggests a series of tests to prove the boys wrong. As the standoff between Kennedy and Khrushchev intensifies, so does the war between the sexes. When their final test provokes a near-tragedy, both sides come to realize what is really important. The characters are solid and believable, while the dialogue is fresh, poignant and funny. The children's fear about the end of the world is realistically portrayed, yet Wittlinger never lets it overshadow the good-humored story of friendship. Will appeal to fans of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's The Boys Start the War (1993) and The Girls Get Even (1994). 2010, Simon & Schuster, 224p, $16.99. Category: Historical fiction. Ages 8 to 12. © 2010 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2010.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Horn Book Guide
Wittlinger, Ellen This Means War!
213 pp. Simon (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing) 2010. ISBN 978-1-4169-7101-6
(2) 4-6 For Juliet, the Cuban Missile Crisis coincides with turbulence in her fifth-grade relationships. While her former best friend ignores her, a new friend's brash fearlessness can be annoying and even scary. Wittlinger conveys a sober knowingness that deepens the seemingly bland innocence of 1960s girlhood. Her prose has the same bracing good sense and down-to-earth humor of her main character.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: These reviews recognize the parallel between the “battle of the sexes” and the Missile Crisis happening in the 1960s. This book is relatable to every child because they all understand the invisible barrier between girls and boys on the brink of their teenage years. The children fear the end of their world as they know it, and they take this fear and turn it into their competitive drive to beat out the opposing gender. Overall, this book was a compelling narrative that incorporated a time in history that many children may not be familiar with in US history.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: Character development is the most effective literary element used, in my opinion. Juliet and Lowell are separated by peer pressure to not hang out with each other because they are of the opposite gender. However, as they compete for the “survival of the fittest” between genders, they realize that the competition is not worth losing their friendship. Their relationship comes full circle as they realize the real problems of the world and that they need to stick together and respect both genders equally.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book introduces ideas from both girls and boys, which could be discussed in a debate style. Boys and girls would be seated on opposite sides of the room, and they would discuss the different stereotypes of boys and girls. This debate-like discussion would give each gender an opportunity to explain how they feel as either a girl or a boy, which would result in the opposing gender to contemplate the certain societal stereotypes given to each gender. This upper elementary school discussion could encourage the students to voice their own opinions in a mature manner.
Author: Ellen Wittlinger
Genre: Historical Fiction
Theme(s): Gender Stereotypes, Boy-Girl Relationships
Opening line/sentence: “Juliet had hardly spoken to Lowell in weeks, or maybe he was the one who hadn’t spoken to her.”
Brief Book Summary: This book is set during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The protagonist is Juliet, who is a very active girl, which is seen to be tomboy-ish. She grew up with her best friend, Lowell, who is a boy her age. He begins to hang out with his guy friends solely, because it is “not cool” to hang out with a girl. Even in the first couple of pages the reader is introduced to how Lowell acts when he is around his friends and says, “We’re busy. We don’t want any girls around.” The anxiety from the Missile Crisis is an undertone that is throughout the story. Juliet then finds a new friend, Patsy, who is much different than her. Initially, she thinks their friendship will work, but it turns out that she is a little too loud and forward for Juliet’s liking. They do still remain friends while the boys and girls in their fifth grade begin to battle each other to see which gender beats out the other. The competitions seem harmless at first, but they become more dangerous as the time goes on. This type of dangerous competition parallels the history that is taking place at the time of the story. In the end, the kids recognize the value of friendship and the importance of equality among both genders.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2010 (Vol. 78, No. 6))
It's the fall of 1962. With Soviet missiles in Cuba, a war with Russia seems imminent. Amid community-wide fears of annihilation, Juliet Klostermeyer is experiencing her own personal problem. Her longtime best friend Lowell has decided it is uncool to be friends with a girl. Friendless for the first time, Julia meets Patsy, a spunky Air Force brat new to town. Patsy's father is a mechanic on the nearby base. When Patsy learns of Lowell's transgression and his new friends' attitude that girls are inferior, she suggests a series of tests to prove the boys wrong. As the standoff between Kennedy and Khrushchev intensifies, so does the war between the sexes. When their final test provokes a near-tragedy, both sides come to realize what is really important. The characters are solid and believable, while the dialogue is fresh, poignant and funny. The children's fear about the end of the world is realistically portrayed, yet Wittlinger never lets it overshadow the good-humored story of friendship. Will appeal to fans of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's The Boys Start the War (1993) and The Girls Get Even (1994). 2010, Simon & Schuster, 224p, $16.99. Category: Historical fiction. Ages 8 to 12. © 2010 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2010.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Horn Book Guide
Wittlinger, Ellen This Means War!
213 pp. Simon (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing) 2010. ISBN 978-1-4169-7101-6
(2) 4-6 For Juliet, the Cuban Missile Crisis coincides with turbulence in her fifth-grade relationships. While her former best friend ignores her, a new friend's brash fearlessness can be annoying and even scary. Wittlinger conveys a sober knowingness that deepens the seemingly bland innocence of 1960s girlhood. Her prose has the same bracing good sense and down-to-earth humor of her main character.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: These reviews recognize the parallel between the “battle of the sexes” and the Missile Crisis happening in the 1960s. This book is relatable to every child because they all understand the invisible barrier between girls and boys on the brink of their teenage years. The children fear the end of their world as they know it, and they take this fear and turn it into their competitive drive to beat out the opposing gender. Overall, this book was a compelling narrative that incorporated a time in history that many children may not be familiar with in US history.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: Character development is the most effective literary element used, in my opinion. Juliet and Lowell are separated by peer pressure to not hang out with each other because they are of the opposite gender. However, as they compete for the “survival of the fittest” between genders, they realize that the competition is not worth losing their friendship. Their relationship comes full circle as they realize the real problems of the world and that they need to stick together and respect both genders equally.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This book introduces ideas from both girls and boys, which could be discussed in a debate style. Boys and girls would be seated on opposite sides of the room, and they would discuss the different stereotypes of boys and girls. This debate-like discussion would give each gender an opportunity to explain how they feel as either a girl or a boy, which would result in the opposing gender to contemplate the certain societal stereotypes given to each gender. This upper elementary school discussion could encourage the students to voice their own opinions in a mature manner.
January 7, 2020
This means war by Ellen Wittlinger was a good book. I enjoyed this book in the begging and a bit towards the middle but once I got closer to the end it was very predictable of what was going to happen. This is a fun and adventurous book to read. Its a battle to the finish. A group of girls and a group of boys all who live on the same street team up with each other to see who is the finest of them all! I recommend this book to 6 graders
March 26, 2018
The book was okay. The main ideas of the book was girls can do things just as good as guys. My favorite part was the last challenge. The last one tied everything together,they realized that girls are as good as boys and it doesn’t matter if you are a girl or boy you can still be friends no matter what. The only thing was that it was a little boring, some parts could be shorter.
January 7, 2025
It was a good book but a little sad
October 9, 2016
2.5 stars.
This book hit on a lot of personal dislikes. I dislike when characters lie (especially to their parents), when parents act irresponsibly, when children engage in danergous acts for no particular reason, when characters are somewhat nasty throughout the whole book and never really learn to change.
The upsides of this book were that the setting (a small town near an air-base in Illinois during the Cold-War) was realisitic, the characters acted fairly consistently, and as a reader I wanted to know what ridiculous hi-jinks the kids would cook up next.
This book hit on a lot of personal dislikes. I dislike when characters lie (especially to their parents), when parents act irresponsibly, when children engage in danergous acts for no particular reason, when characters are somewhat nasty throughout the whole book and never really learn to change.
The upsides of this book were that the setting (a small town near an air-base in Illinois during the Cold-War) was realisitic, the characters acted fairly consistently, and as a reader I wanted to know what ridiculous hi-jinks the kids would cook up next.
April 3, 2024
What I wanted to be a short, easy(ier) historical fiction story was a historical take on the classic boys vs. girls fight. I was left wanting so much more for this one. Easily forgettable.
August 14, 2010
The threat of war often evokes a wide range of emotions, but fear is always at the top of the list for children as well as adults. Perhaps it is the uncertainty that causes fear more than the actual circumstances? Ellen Wittlinger provides a thorough examination of the topic during October 1962 when the threat of war was imminent.
This Means War tells the story through a group of children whose conflict between boy and girls challenged their own alliances and allowed them to see how the resolve of individuals could push each side toward an outcome that was dangerous for everyone.
Although Wittlinger’s intended audience is aged 10-14 years, there is a sense of universal appeal in both her characters and the historical era. The notion that people are constantly at war with one another and themselves over trivial matters is played out in multiple scenarios. Many of the characters maintain the innocence that was part of the collective conscience of the early 1960s despite the undercurrents of change that was in the air.
Teachers and students should find ample background to capture what it was like to come home from civil defense drills and ponder the question of what they might take to their own bomb shelter, if they were lucky enough to have one. Similarly, older students will be able to make connections between the Kennedy-Khrushchev posturing and that of the battle between the boys and girls. Then, and now, one decision can change everything,
The book does take a while to get things rolling to the point where all the characters are sufficiently developed to achieve the outcome Wittlinger desires for her story. The younger readers may find this too much to wade through without encouragement. While older readers may not need the cultural background and story development, it could easily be aided by reading aloud as a class or in small groups. The importance and relative age of the event also lends itself to many opportunities such as oral history interviews and scores of available news footage and popular culture artifacts. The opportunities for extended use in the classroom are without limit.
Purchase This Means War for the classroom and library in the upper elementary and middle school with confidence that it will circulate. Be prepared for requests that ask for more from the time period. School librarians may want to create and circulate a pathfinder of the Cuban Missile Crisis to accompany the arrival of the book, or to mark the event during the month of October.
4 of 5
John Parker
Media Coordinator
Andrews High School
50 HS Drive
Andrews, NC 28901
www.slamguy.wordpress.com
This Means War tells the story through a group of children whose conflict between boy and girls challenged their own alliances and allowed them to see how the resolve of individuals could push each side toward an outcome that was dangerous for everyone.
Although Wittlinger’s intended audience is aged 10-14 years, there is a sense of universal appeal in both her characters and the historical era. The notion that people are constantly at war with one another and themselves over trivial matters is played out in multiple scenarios. Many of the characters maintain the innocence that was part of the collective conscience of the early 1960s despite the undercurrents of change that was in the air.
Teachers and students should find ample background to capture what it was like to come home from civil defense drills and ponder the question of what they might take to their own bomb shelter, if they were lucky enough to have one. Similarly, older students will be able to make connections between the Kennedy-Khrushchev posturing and that of the battle between the boys and girls. Then, and now, one decision can change everything,
The book does take a while to get things rolling to the point where all the characters are sufficiently developed to achieve the outcome Wittlinger desires for her story. The younger readers may find this too much to wade through without encouragement. While older readers may not need the cultural background and story development, it could easily be aided by reading aloud as a class or in small groups. The importance and relative age of the event also lends itself to many opportunities such as oral history interviews and scores of available news footage and popular culture artifacts. The opportunities for extended use in the classroom are without limit.
Purchase This Means War for the classroom and library in the upper elementary and middle school with confidence that it will circulate. Be prepared for requests that ask for more from the time period. School librarians may want to create and circulate a pathfinder of the Cuban Missile Crisis to accompany the arrival of the book, or to mark the event during the month of October.
4 of 5
John Parker
Media Coordinator
Andrews High School
50 HS Drive
Andrews, NC 28901
www.slamguy.wordpress.com
April 17, 2013
A war is in progress. No one knows what will happen, and in this war comes another challenge. It's the face off between the two genders, girls vs. boys. It all started when Juliet decided to hang out with her best friend Lowell. He lived across the street, so she decided to go and see if they could hang out. She was surprised when she got there because Lowell didn't even look at her. He was too busy playing with his friends so Juliet decided to forget about him and she walked around the block. On her walk she met someone else, Her name is Patsy. Patsy is a courageous girl who is fearless. Juliet and Patsy became friends right off the bat.
Both girls and a couple of friends decide to go to Juliet's. when they go to Juliet's house, they see the school bully there. Then it happened, Patsy placed a bet between the girls and boys to see who's stronger. Each day there was a new challenge. The team that won the previous challenge got to decide the new challenge. After a couple of challenges came the most dangerous challenge yet. The two teams have to sit in this creepy house and the last one to get out is the winner. The bully decided that this challenge was to easy so he did the worst thing possible. He set the building on fire. To find out what happens get the book.
Ellen Wittlinger is such an outstanding author. The way she wrote this book made you feel like you were there. The book was kid friendly and you can understand what was going on. You can understand the reasons and what each kid was thinking. She also included a little love section between two of the kids. The beginning was interesting because it started off with an argument. The middle was full of action and the ending was simple and positive.
I gave this book four starts because it started to get a bit predictable in the middle. I felt like I could guess what would happen next. The book was also a little boring in some sections. But the rest of the book was well written so that is why I gave it four stars. I would recommend this book for kids who love action and stories about kids or friendship.
Both girls and a couple of friends decide to go to Juliet's. when they go to Juliet's house, they see the school bully there. Then it happened, Patsy placed a bet between the girls and boys to see who's stronger. Each day there was a new challenge. The team that won the previous challenge got to decide the new challenge. After a couple of challenges came the most dangerous challenge yet. The two teams have to sit in this creepy house and the last one to get out is the winner. The bully decided that this challenge was to easy so he did the worst thing possible. He set the building on fire. To find out what happens get the book.
Ellen Wittlinger is such an outstanding author. The way she wrote this book made you feel like you were there. The book was kid friendly and you can understand what was going on. You can understand the reasons and what each kid was thinking. She also included a little love section between two of the kids. The beginning was interesting because it started off with an argument. The middle was full of action and the ending was simple and positive.
I gave this book four starts because it started to get a bit predictable in the middle. I felt like I could guess what would happen next. The book was also a little boring in some sections. But the rest of the book was well written so that is why I gave it four stars. I would recommend this book for kids who love action and stories about kids or friendship.
May 24, 2010
This review contains spoilers because honestly, I don't know how to communicate its full impact without giving away a bit of the ending.
Juliet's friend Lowell has suddenly stopped wanting her around, all because she's a girl. Juliet befriends bossy and adventurous Patsy, and the girls begin a neighborhood rivalry that pits the girls (headed by Patsy) against the boys (headed by bully Bruce). They undertake a series of "tests" to determine who is better: boys or girls.
This story is set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it starts out slowly, quietly, like any tussle does. But the rivalry quickly heats up, and, paralleling the relationship of the US and the USSR, it escalates out of control.
This book is about war, literally. It's about how normal, everyday people can get swept into something much bigger than themselves, how they will choose to follow someone or some policy, even if they don't fully believe in it or what it stands for. The very best part of the book, though, is the ending: Ms. Wittlinger doesn't just give us an overview of war and leave us dangling. No, she, through Juliet, helps us see how we can recover from war, and maybe even prevent it in the first place. ***SPOILER*** When Juliet forgives Bruce and befriends Patsy (again) at the end of the story, we see the first steps in regaining peace. Peace through forgiveness, through understanding.
I hope that kids will continue reading through this book's quiet beginning; I have a feeling Ms. Wittlinger chose this type of beginning intentionally, to mirror our everyday feelings of security. This book would make an excellent read for classroom discussion or book clubs.
Juliet's friend Lowell has suddenly stopped wanting her around, all because she's a girl. Juliet befriends bossy and adventurous Patsy, and the girls begin a neighborhood rivalry that pits the girls (headed by Patsy) against the boys (headed by bully Bruce). They undertake a series of "tests" to determine who is better: boys or girls.
This story is set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it starts out slowly, quietly, like any tussle does. But the rivalry quickly heats up, and, paralleling the relationship of the US and the USSR, it escalates out of control.
This book is about war, literally. It's about how normal, everyday people can get swept into something much bigger than themselves, how they will choose to follow someone or some policy, even if they don't fully believe in it or what it stands for. The very best part of the book, though, is the ending: Ms. Wittlinger doesn't just give us an overview of war and leave us dangling. No, she, through Juliet, helps us see how we can recover from war, and maybe even prevent it in the first place. ***SPOILER*** When Juliet forgives Bruce and befriends Patsy (again) at the end of the story, we see the first steps in regaining peace. Peace through forgiveness, through understanding.
I hope that kids will continue reading through this book's quiet beginning; I have a feeling Ms. Wittlinger chose this type of beginning intentionally, to mirror our everyday feelings of security. This book would make an excellent read for classroom discussion or book clubs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2010
It's 1962. The Cuban Missile Crisis is looming and 5th grader Juliet has just lost her beloved grandpa. On top of that, her best friend dumped her just because she's a girl. Left alone, Juliet befriends a new girl named Patsy who decides they should hold a contest to prove that girls are just as good as boys.
This is not an upbeat book. You'd think that the competition between boys and girls would at least be a little fun, but it's mostly not thanks to the older bully, Bruce, bossing everyone else around and Patsy's ferocious need to win. So while the book has good characters, good writing, and an interesting historical context, it didn't wow me because it felt like a big downer. The stress of the looming Cold War greatly affects Juliet, to the point where she seems constantly anxious and depressed. I think the author was worried about the book being too sad, so she had the characters tell a lot of corny jokes. I like a good corny joke, but they didn't really make up for all the gloom and doom.
Another complaint is that the story was a touch on the didactic side. I was especially weary of Juliet's prayers to God and her wondering over whether God exists (not because it wasn't believable, but because it seemed cliched).
This is a good book if you want to learn more about how ordinary kids were affected by the Cold War or if you want a book about how to deal with fear and loss. But it's not the best choice if you want boys vs. girls fun like in The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
This is not an upbeat book. You'd think that the competition between boys and girls would at least be a little fun, but it's mostly not thanks to the older bully, Bruce, bossing everyone else around and Patsy's ferocious need to win. So while the book has good characters, good writing, and an interesting historical context, it didn't wow me because it felt like a big downer. The stress of the looming Cold War greatly affects Juliet, to the point where she seems constantly anxious and depressed. I think the author was worried about the book being too sad, so she had the characters tell a lot of corny jokes. I like a good corny joke, but they didn't really make up for all the gloom and doom.
Another complaint is that the story was a touch on the didactic side. I was especially weary of Juliet's prayers to God and her wondering over whether God exists (not because it wasn't believable, but because it seemed cliched).
This is a good book if you want to learn more about how ordinary kids were affected by the Cold War or if you want a book about how to deal with fear and loss. But it's not the best choice if you want boys vs. girls fun like in The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.
November 5, 2010
Fifth-graders Juliet and Lowell have been best friends for years--but suddenly he'd rather hang out with the guys and pretend Juliet doesn't exist. Juliet is in the market for a new friend, and she finds one in Patsy: brave, strong, wonderful Patsy, who won't accept being considered less able than the boys. Patsy riles both the girls and the boys into a competition to prove which sex is better: 9 tests, boys v. girls, best five wins. Running races, climbing trees, and other tasks prove not only who the best athletes are, but where the lines are between bravery and foolhardiness.
Set against the cold war and Cuban missile crisis, This Means War lacks the subtlety of Wittlinger's other books. The "girls can do anything boys can do" message is part of nearly every scene through the first half of the book; the second half--in which the Cuban Missile Crisis becomes a major threat--carries a heavy-handed message about the inevitability of war, its potential to hurt innocent people, and its ultimate uselessness. This is aimed at upper-elementary/middle school readers, but the characters are too bland to hold much interest. It's a quick read when kids need a historical fiction book, but it's not likely to grab a more general audience. There's plenty of material here for a book discussion--gender roles, historical setting, bullies, coming-of-age, competition, etc--but it seems more a book written with these issues in mind than one that raised these issues organically in the plot.
Set against the cold war and Cuban missile crisis, This Means War lacks the subtlety of Wittlinger's other books. The "girls can do anything boys can do" message is part of nearly every scene through the first half of the book; the second half--in which the Cuban Missile Crisis becomes a major threat--carries a heavy-handed message about the inevitability of war, its potential to hurt innocent people, and its ultimate uselessness. This is aimed at upper-elementary/middle school readers, but the characters are too bland to hold much interest. It's a quick read when kids need a historical fiction book, but it's not likely to grab a more general audience. There's plenty of material here for a book discussion--gender roles, historical setting, bullies, coming-of-age, competition, etc--but it seems more a book written with these issues in mind than one that raised these issues organically in the plot.
March 1, 2013
This Means War takes us into a girls vs. boys neighborhood battle of former best friends challenging each other with double-dog-dare-like contests to see which gender comes out on top. Set against the cultural backdrop of the Cold War and Cuban missile crisis, the kids soon see how easy it is to escalate conflict to dangerous levels. Sometimes, Juliet feels torn between her loyalty to her new girl friends and long-standing best friend Lowell who doesn't seem to want to be her friend anymore. Complicating matters is the stress at home where her parents, who run the corner grocery store, see their livelihood threatened by the new supermarket craze. Add to this the national crisis of potential atomic war, and poor Juliet doesn't know what the future will hold, or if there is to be a future at all for her. Under this stress, we do see her parents fight an awful lot, and her Dad expresses his frustration with a fair amount of coarse language. At first, Juliet seems to be handling the strain well with a heart-felt prayer life, but the author undoes this positive element by revealing that Juliet not only doubts the existence of God, but decides that she is just praying to her deceased grandfather instead. Although the story held my interest until the end, I ended up feeling like the story wasn't all it could have been.
November 25, 2010
Juliet has been friends with Lowell for years. Now things seem to be changing. He seems to have drawn a line that says boys can do things girls can't and they can do them better. Juliet is hurt because they never seemed to have that problem before. Then she meets the new air force brat, Patsy. Patsy befriends her and together they have their own adventure until Juliet and the girls are told to get lost. Patsy lets the boys know that girls can do anything they can do only better. Led by the town bully the boys propose a series of tests to prove the girls wrong. This eventually becomes a "war" between them. The fact that the time period is when the U.S. is watching Russia and there are rumors of War, only heighten the war between the kids. How far will the kids to go to win?
This was a wonderful book about growing up and fears and how kids often handle them. It sets the time period wonderfully. Kids get a history lesson about the time period without being bombarded with a lot of historical facts in a dry way. I believe this is a book many students will be able to relate to on some level.
This was a wonderful book about growing up and fears and how kids often handle them. It sets the time period wonderfully. Kids get a history lesson about the time period without being bombarded with a lot of historical facts in a dry way. I believe this is a book many students will be able to relate to on some level.
December 27, 2013
In the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Juliet is not only worried about a bomb dropping on her at any moment and facing her mortality; she's also reeling from rejection by her former best friend, Lowell. Lowell has started hanging out with boys, and doesn't want to be around her anymore. Juliet makes friends with the new girl in town, who's tom-boyish, outspoken, and maybe a liar. Things come to a head when the neighborhood bully decides it's time for a war of his own: boys vs. girls. Now Juliet has to prove herself, but will it help her win her friend back? And just how far will she go?
This is a good historical fiction novel that shows how young children coped with the Cold War and the anxiety that it created. It also shows small town America gradually coming into the modern age. But the main feature of the story is growing up, losing and making friends, and learning to find yourself. Not sure if modern students might find some of it too quaint, but it's a sweet story of friendship with a lot of potential curriculum connections.
This is a good historical fiction novel that shows how young children coped with the Cold War and the anxiety that it created. It also shows small town America gradually coming into the modern age. But the main feature of the story is growing up, losing and making friends, and learning to find yourself. Not sure if modern students might find some of it too quaint, but it's a sweet story of friendship with a lot of potential curriculum connections.
August 10, 2010
Like Countdown, this is set in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Juliet is worried about the Russians and nuclear war, worried that her parents will lose their neighborhood grocery store because of all the supermarkets going in, and worried about losing her best friend Lowell, who suddenly doesn't want to hang out with a girl anymore. When a new girl, Patsy, moves into the neighborhood, Juliet has a new friend, but when Patsy starts a contest to see whether girls or boys are better, all-out-war breaks out, with each dare getting more and more dangerous. This is a good coming of age story, but not as compelling as Countdown. I think it suffers in comparison, especially coming out the same year and aimed at the same age level.
Still, a worthwhile book for ages 8-12.
Still, a worthwhile book for ages 8-12.
May 29, 2012
Set during the Cold War of 1962, fifth grader Juliet Klostermeyer is scared about a lot of things...her parents losing their grocery store business, nuclear missiles attacking America, and losing her best friend. When a new girl, Patsy, moves in down the road, she seems like the answer to all of Juliet's problems. Patsy is brave and courageous, but when she involves Juliet in an all-out war of bravery against the neighborhood boys, Juliet has to decide what bravery really means.
The book deals with multiple topics including the Cuban missile crisis, friendship, and coming of age. It wasn't the most gripping book ever, but I think that younger grades would enjoy it.
The book deals with multiple topics including the Cuban missile crisis, friendship, and coming of age. It wasn't the most gripping book ever, but I think that younger grades would enjoy it.
October 30, 2013
This is a great example of children's literature that isn't fantasy. The story follows Juliet (a 5th grader) struggle with friends, what boys and girls can do, and the concept of bravery. The backdrop of the story is October 1962 and the Cuban Missle Crisis. I felt the author did a good job of incorporating that, so parallels and discussion of fear could be present. I have always felt that Ellen Wittlinger has a great ear for dialogue of her young characters, this is no exception. I can easily imagined this book being the one that teacher reads at the end of the days (last 10-20 minutes) and all thoroughly enjoying it.
June 1, 2010
I love reading kids book that take place during my growing up years. While this one is earlier than my growing up years, it was still insightful to see how kid's handled very scary things like the Cuban Missile Crisis and bomb shelters along with daily bomb practices.
Best Friends--Juliet and Lowell--find themselves on the opposite side of a gender war in their neighborhood with bigger and bigger stakes.
This Means War
Best Friends--Juliet and Lowell--find themselves on the opposite side of a gender war in their neighborhood with bigger and bigger stakes.
This Means War
July 20, 2010
Recommended for gr. 5-8. This story is set in 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Fifth-grader Juliet is worried not only about the news and announcements from President Kennedy, but also about her best friend's indifference to her. She has made a new friend, Patsy, who gets them involved in a boys vs. girls challenge. The challenge escalates as the international crisis escalates. Readers may draw conclusions about how wars start sometimes over nothing just because people can't back down from things they start. A good read.
June 21, 2015
Julia is dealing with a lot of changes (supermarkets threaten the family grocery store business, grandfather has passed away, grandmother lives in a nursing home, many kids are moving to town due to the local Air Force Base, her former best friend now hangs out only with other boys, etc.). Set in October 1962, the adults are present but distracted by the Cuban missile crisis. The kids are struggling to understand the politics while juggling a girls-can-do- anything-boys-can-do contest.
J and I both enjoyed this read.
J and I both enjoyed this read.
October 20, 2015
A meaty book for middle grades. I would definitely recommend to any parent. A great read aloud. Set in the Cold War period, the themes are authentic and appropriate for that age--- learning that sometimes people put up tough exteriors to mask deeper uncertainties about themselves; living as a child in an uncertain time in history; chasm that develops between boys and girls in these middle years-- the pain of young friendship lost solely because of gender differences; the reality that we are not as invincible as we think. I was so pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book.
January 22, 2010
During the Cuban missile crisis, a 5th grade girl loses her best friend, a boy, to two new boys whose father arrives to work at the local airbase. She meets new girls and a boys vs girls contest begins to turn into a war as the adults are more concerned about the future of the world than about the kids' war games. The story is entertaining and young readers will learn about the frightening crisis.
January 14, 2016
1/28/11-The library called this one back for the second time...back to the 'to read' list.
6/28/11-Once I really got into this book I could not put it down. I have never read any books set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. That made it extremely interesting. Also, the author is quite clever, setting a "war" between the boys and the girls as the main story arc, with the backdrop of impending war between Russia and the US floating throughout the story. I would definitely recommend it.
6/28/11-Once I really got into this book I could not put it down. I have never read any books set during the Cuban Missile Crisis. That made it extremely interesting. Also, the author is quite clever, setting a "war" between the boys and the girls as the main story arc, with the backdrop of impending war between Russia and the US floating throughout the story. I would definitely recommend it.
June 5, 2010
The Reds lover in me hated the dad because he was rooting for the Cardinals, but I moved past it. This is about kids who live near an Air Force base during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The boys and girls challenge each other to more and more dangerous challenges to prove which sex is best. It's an interesting play between boys-vs-girls, and USA-vs-Russia.
September 25, 2011
During the book, some girls and some boys have a small competetion to see who is better, but soon, it goes too far. When Bruce set the barn on fire with Patsy sitting inside, Juliet and Lowell had to go in and save her. The ambulance came. The lesson I learned is that what is it really mean to fight for something?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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