Heart of War

Gr 6 Up—This loosely related collection of short stories follows different members of the same family fighting in several of the 20th-century conflicts America has been involved in, specifically World War II and those in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. The book suffers from repetitive and clunky writing, formulaic plots, little to no analyses of the political reasons behind warfare, and overly simplistic "us-versus-them" narratives. However, the plots are certainly full of sustained action and suspense, with plenty of military details to intrigue more technical-minded readers. The different times and places might inspire an interest in further historical reading, and the few instances of continuity between generations, present in family heirlooms that characters take with them into battle, provide a satisfying sense of closure. Some readers will be discomfited by the jingoism in each story, while others will identify with the themes of patriotism and loyalty through militarism. And while each story takes place on an active battlefield, depictions of gore and violence are minimal.—Kyle Lukoff, Corlears School, New York City