For kids who are 15, the Vietnam War happened 20 years before they were born--ancient history. But for many adults over 40, that conflict is seared into their memories as a crucial turning point in their lives. In Sonny's War Valerie Hobbs has mostly got the home-front picture right--the initial patriotic enthusiasm, the tense waiting for letters, the growing confusion and revulsion toward the war, the passion of the peace movement, the bitterness of the returning soldiers.
The story of the young man who goes off to Vietnam and returns forever emotionally damaged has become part of literary folklore, but is still a terrible reality in our society. Here Hobbs tells it through the voice of 14-year-old Corin, who loves and admires her strong big brother, Sonny. When he is drafted, Corin and her recently widowed mother wave him off to war as bravely as they can. But then Lawrence arrives to substitute for Corin's history teacher. Lawrence is young, tall, with long blonde hair, blue work shirts, and Jesus sandals. He is strongly opposed to the war, but lets his students read and debate about it. During the noon hour he stands silently outside the cafeteria windows beside a sign that reads "War is not the answer." It's not long before Corin is head over heels in impossible love, until one night she follows Lawrence to a peace rally that changes her feelings toward him. Those feelings grow even more troubling when Sonny comes home unbearably changed, in this historical novel that is newly relevant for today's young people. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell
The story of the young man who goes off to Vietnam and returns forever emotionally damaged has become part of literary folklore, but is still a terrible reality in our society. Here Hobbs tells it through the voice of 14-year-old Corin, who loves and admires her strong big brother, Sonny. When he is drafted, Corin and her recently widowed mother wave him off to war as bravely as they can. But then Lawrence arrives to substitute for Corin's history teacher. Lawrence is young, tall, with long blonde hair, blue work shirts, and Jesus sandals. He is strongly opposed to the war, but lets his students read and debate about it. During the noon hour he stands silently outside the cafeteria windows beside a sign that reads "War is not the answer." It's not long before Corin is head over heels in impossible love, until one night she follows Lawrence to a peace rally that changes her feelings toward him. Those feelings grow even more troubling when Sonny comes home unbearably changed, in this historical novel that is newly relevant for today's young people. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell
Used availability for Valerie Hobbs's Sonny's War
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
November 2008 : Library Binding
| Title: Sonny's War Author(s): Valerie Hobbs ISBN: 1-4395-7517-7 / 978-1-4395-7517-8 Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 2002 : Hardback
| Title: Sonny's War Author(s): Valerie Hobbs ISBN: 0-374-37136-9 / 978-0-374-37136-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
March 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Sonny's War Author(s): Valerie Hobbs ISBN: 0-374-46970-9 / 978-0-374-46970-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2004 : Paperback
| Title: Sonny's War Author(s): Valerie Hobbs ISBN: 0-14-240223-0 / 978-0-14-240223-8 (UK edition) Publisher: Puffin Books Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
© 2012 FantasticFiction
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk

