Hostetter, Joyce Moyer. Aim.

Hostetter, Joyce Moyer.  Aim.  Boyd’s Mills/Calkins Creek  2016       287p    $17.95  ISBN 978-1-62979-673-4     ms/hs  Historical fiction  VG-BN           

Growing up in Hickory, North Carolina, fourteen-year-old Junior Bledsoe has his insufferable paternal grandfather moving in with his family. Junior’s father and grandfather do not get along, but Junior has no idea why. Then, Junior suddenly loses his father, whose heart has given out. As if that’s not enough to deal with, Junior is struggling in school and with family and friends, and he is battling anger issues, all while World War II is raging overseas and threatening the United States.

In this heartwarming coming-of-age historical novel, readers will be entranced by the plot. The story is totally appealing to young readers who are in the midst of adolescence and transitioning into young adulthood. Although the setting is the World War II era, readers will understand and feel empathy for Junior, who is struggling with his emotions and his determination to find the truth about his father’s death and the reason for his cantankerous grandfather’s behavior.

In this prequel to Blue and Comfort, Joyce Moyer Hostetter has created a novel that will appeal to and engage its intended readership. Although it is a prequel, it also does well as a stand-alone book.
           

Summary: Growing up in Hickory, North Carolina, fourteen-year-old Junior Bledsoe has two problems: his insufferable paternal grandfather has moved in, and he suddenly loses his father. As if that’s not enough to deal with, he is struggling in school, with family and friends, and he is battling anger issues, all while World War II is raging overseas and threatening the United States.          

World War II-Fiction, Coming-of-age-Fiction                                                —Virginia McGarvey