Summer Soldiers

Adopting the voice of an 11-year-old boy, Lindquist (Walking the Rim; Wander) introduces two rural California families whose lives are dramatically affected by the patriotic fervor sweeping the nation during WWI. Joe Farrington takes on a host of new responsibilities on the sheep ranch after his father decides to ""go after that Kaiser Wilhelm."" Mr. Farrington is not the only one to enlist--all the other men in the neighborhood join up as well, except for Mr. Morgan, the father of Joe's friend Jim. Joe, struggling to be the man of the family, is also acutely aware of Jim's situation as prejudices and suspicions against the Morgans surface. The first several chapters, centering around the boys' run-ins with bullies, are fairly old hat, but the novel evolves into something more interesting and profound as both Joe and Jim confront personal tragedies. Rising from a cast of stock, fairly predictable characters, Joe and Jim emerge as true-to-life heroes embodying many different levels of courage. Ages 10-14. (June)