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"Was it just today that Margie and I had that terrible fight, that I threw up in Mr. Mitchell's office, that Uncle Otts came home from the hospital, that Gale invited me to her party? All on the same day I found out that I might not live long enough to wake up in the morning? I'd better wrap up everything while I have a chance."
Franny Chapman is eleven years old, and lives outside of Andrews Air Force Base with her parents, uncle, older sister and younger brother. The daughter of an Air Force ma ...more
Franny Chapman is eleven years old, and lives outside of Andrews Air Force Base with her parents, uncle, older sister and younger brother. The daughter of an Air Force ma ...more
I really wanted to like this book, but it took me awhile to get into it. Interestingly enough, I was the same age as Drew-- in third grade in the fall of 1962. My experience was much different; we barely knew anything was happening in South Bend, IN, vs. the Washington, D.C. setting of the book. I vaguely remember a duck and cover drill. Our third graders weren't nearly as traumatized as Drew, Franny, and family.
I thought the pictures, etc. added a lot to the book; without them, I think today's ...more
I thought the pictures, etc. added a lot to the book; without them, I think today's ...more
It's 1962 and Franny is waiting for the world to end in nuclear war. At school she watches videos that tell her to "duck and cover" if she sees a bright flash, and she and her classmates wonder how to go on with their lives when their lives could end in an instant. The story is interspersed with real photos and quotes from the time -- JFK, Martin Luther King, Jr., Fidel Castro -- which are sometimes out of sync with the book's timeline (for example, a bio on JFK is in the middle of the book, and
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In many ways this one reminded me of Rex Zero and the End of the World, with less humor. I love Rex Zero, and I loved Countdown, too. Knowing how hard (and expensive) it is for authors to get permission to include pictures in books, this book is IMPRESSIVE! The visuals made the book for me. I enjoyed the story too, but I found my attention would sometimes wander because I was busy anticipating when there would be another insertion of "visual nostalgia". I'm excited that this is a trilogy and can
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Historical fiction, 1962, Cuba missile crisis, cold war with Russia
Documentary novel--first time I have heard this. Wiles intersperses photographs, poetry, songs, etc in between some chapters.
Franny is the middle child and eleven years old (older sister and younger brother) whose father is in the millitary. The opening chapter has her entire elementary school hide under their desks or fall out shelter for an emergency air raid.
I enjoyed learning about this historical time period.
Documentary novel--first time I have heard this. Wiles intersperses photographs, poetry, songs, etc in between some chapters.
Franny is the middle child and eleven years old (older sister and younger brother) whose father is in the millitary. The opening chapter has her entire elementary school hide under their desks or fall out shelter for an emergency air raid.
I enjoyed learning about this historical time period.
A great story centered around the Cuban Missile Crisis. The pop culture photographs and speeches lend a sense of urgency and fear that Frannie and her family live with during the days of the crisis. It is also a story of friendship trouble between Frannie and Margie. Since this is a planned trilogy of the 60s the story will continue. Chlidren today who are not familiar with the culture of the 60s- music, politics, civil rights- may not understand all of the photos, songs, and people. I enjoyed s
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Because I am a child of the late 50s and 60s, this book brought back so many personal memories of that era. I have to admit that I laughed at some and shivered at others because I remember the events surrounding that particular time.
This book engaged the reader throughout the book with an excellent storyline, but the reader could learn so much. However, I would hope that there could be some discussion before reading so that the reader could have some background knowledge. This book is the first ...more
This book engaged the reader throughout the book with an excellent storyline, but the reader could learn so much. However, I would hope that there could be some discussion before reading so that the reader could have some background knowledge. This book is the first ...more
Even though I lived during the time of this book I was so young I don't have many recollections of exactly how scary it was. I loved the fact that the background knowledge needed to understand the story was included in a kind of scrapbook style. I could relate to some of the cartoon and music references used through out the book. Can't wait for the other two!
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Really good book. A contender for the 2011 Newbery.
In Deborah Wiles’ documentary novel, the first of a planned Sixties Trilogy, the great and small dramas of Franny’s life are interwoven with a text-and-image collage of the pop singles, presidential television addresses, children’s books, and photojournalism of the historic moments of 1962. Underlying everything is the doomsday promise that was the Cuban Missile Crisis; Franny’s whole world is just one blinding flash away from total annihilation.
My entire review is posted at http://froztfreez.co ...more
My entire review is posted at http://froztfreez.co ...more
Wonderful historical fiction full of awesome documents, quotes, culture, etc from the era. A real Newbery contender I think.
I loved the documentary features in this novel. It added another dimension to the setting and worked well with the narrative. I'll definitely be reading the next installment.
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Sep 26, 2010
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
marked it as to-read
Nov 08, 2010
Stacey (secsec1)
marked it as to-read
Oct 22, 2011
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
Jan 27, 2012
Tracy
marked it as to-read
Feb 11, 2012
Donna
marked it as to-read
