Recorvits (Goodbye, Walter Malinski) re-creates a slice of boyhood in the summer of 1956, twining themes of friendship, family loyalty and heroism around a series of escapades. Ten-year-old narrator Junior is happy hanging out with his best friends Bobby and Lenny; the latter limps due to a bout with polio. There's plenty to entertain the trio, from watching Elvis on TV and attending a 3-D movie, to a misadventure on a raft and earning money for new bikes—a feat which proves difficult for Junior (his elderly neighbor has an unfortunate habit of paying him in stuffed cabbage and potatoes). The presence of Junior's father, however, looms over the summer fun. A former WWII pilot, his bottled-up emotions erupt in frequent rages, particularly when it comes to Lenny ("That polio kid! I told you, I don't want you hanging around with him!"). Several explosive episodes keep Junior and his father at loggerheads until a box of memorabilia inspires an overly dramatic reconciliation ("War is terrible, Junior. It hurts people in so many ways. And it never stops hurting, even after the war ends," his father explains). A fire at the local mill seems rigged to give the father a chance to be a hero again and for Junior's father to finally accept Lenny. Yet Recorvits eschews a nostalgic tone, instead assuming a fresh voice, resulting in a solid period piece. Ages 8-12. (May)
